Gálatas 6
John Calvin · Citado em PreceptAustin
Gálatas 6
Calvin - Considering thyself. It is not without reason that the apostle passes from the plural to the singular number. He gives weight to his admonition, when he addresses each person individually, and bids him look carefully into himself. “Whoever thou art that takest upon thee the office of reproving others, look to thyself.” Nothing is more difficult than to bring us to acknowledge or examine our own weakness. Schreiner on looking to yourself - - One does not focus on the sins of others, provoking and discouraging them because they have fallen. Instead, those who restore the fallen remain humble because they remember their own fallibility and propensity to sin. They realize that they too may be tempted and fail. Today they are reinstating one who has sinned, but tomorrow they may need to be reinstated. Recognition of one’s own failures will keep believers from triumphalism or arrogance. (Galatians)
Gálatas 6:7
Calvin put it how disgraceful is would be to "refuse an earthly recompense to those from whom we receive heavenly benefits. But it is, and always has been, the disposition of the world, freely to bestow on the ministers of Satan every luxury, and hardly to supply godly pastors with necessary food!" (Calvin's Commentary) (Now that's a prophet, for Calvin didn't even have cable television!)" Note that some like John MacArthur do not think this refers to compensation of the pastor (see his Sermon) Henry Alford labels the section beginning in Gal 6: 6 through Gal 6:10 as an Exhortation (in pursuance of the command in Gal 6:2), to liberality towards their teachers, and to beneficence in general… From the mention of bearing one another's burdens, he naturally passes to one way, and one case, in which those burdens may be borne--viz. by relieving the necessities of their ministers and then in (Ga 6:7) regarding our good deeds done for Christ as a seed sown for eternity, he warns them not to be deceived: in this, as in other seed-times, God’s order of things cannot be set at nought: whatever we sow, that same shall we reap. God is not mocked: -- though men in their own minds mock God, this mocking has no objective existence: there is no such thing as mocking of God in reality (Ed: Interesting thought!) (Galatians 6 New Testament Commentary for English Readers) It is not obvious how Gal 6:7 ties in with the preceding section. Some commentators think Gal 6:7 ties directly to Gal 6:6 and paraphrase it as "What, you hold back! (from those who teach you the word) Nay, do not deceive yourselves.” (Adapted from J B Lightfoot's paraphrase). The renowned expositor John Eadie however feels this is too narrow and suggests the following explanation that… probably the warning (do not be deceived… ) has been suggested by the preceding context, and not simply or solely by the previous verse, as there is no formal connecting particle (Ed: Such as "for, because, therefore, hence, etc"). The paragraph treats of duties which spring out of love, the fruit of the Spirit (Ed: Which would go back to Gal 5:22, Gal 5:23), and are themselves forms of spiritual beneficence (Ed: that which produces good such as performing acts of kindness and charity) or well-doing,—duties, however, which one may be tempted to neglect, or regard only in a negative aspect, so far as not to be acting in direct opposition to them. One may let a fallen brother alone, but without insulting him when he is down. One may refuse to bear another's burden, but without adding to its weight (Gal 6:1). One may decline communication in temporal things with a spiritual teacher, but without inflicting on him a positive and harmful expenditure (Gal 6:6). Men may in this way deceive themselves; or in some other form selfishness and the world may so hold them in bondage, that they may be sowing to the flesh. In passing from the more ideal to the more palpable forms of Christian beneficence, the apostle throws in the awful warning of the verse before us (Gal 6:7). (Commentary on the Greek text of the epistle of Galatians - Online) Do not be deceived - Stop being led astray. Stop "wandering off the path". While this warning often implies there are false teachers (and there were in Galatia - cp Gal 3:1, 2, 3 - the readers had been "bewitched" by Judaizers who advocated the necessity of obedience to the Law, especially circumcision, in order to "successfully" live the Christ life - even as men today try to impose "rules" on others, ostensibly that they may be "free", when in fact such legalism [whether subtle or overt] only brings one into bondage to Sin and the flesh [cp "sinful passions aroused by the law" = Ro 7:5-note]!) Eadie writes that… The same abrupt warning is found in 1Co 6:9 as a sudden and earnest dissuasive from sinful practices which exclude from heaven; in the same epistle, 1Co 15:33, as a guard against Epicurean indulgence; and in Jas 1:16, where it is rendered, “Do not err.” The warning implies a liability (Ed: susceptibility) to deception or error: in this case the deception appears to be, that a man may be sowing to the flesh, and yet be hoping to reap of the Spirit, or that for him might be changed the unchangeable order which God has ordained—“like seed, like harvest.” (Commentary on the Greek text of the epistle of Galatians - Online) Calvin comments on the abrupt command to stop being deceived… The design of this observation is to reply to the dishonest excuses which are frequently pleaded. One alleges that he has a family to support, and another asserts that he has no superfluity of wealth to spend in liberality or profusion. The consequence is, that, while such multitudes withhold their aid, the few persons who do their duty are generally unable to contribute the necessary support. These apologies Paul utterly rejects, for a reason which the world little considers, that this transaction is with God. The supply of a man’s bodily wants is not the sole question, but involves the degree of our regard for Christ and his gospel. (Calvin's Commentary) C H Spurgeon… I Find, on reference to Luther’s Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, and to Calvin’s Commentary on this passage, that both those learned expositors consider that this refers to the treatment of ministers by their people in the matter of their pecuniary support. They very properly point out the connection between the 6th verse and the 7th: “Let him that, is taught in the Word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” I suppose that there was a need for such an injunction in Paul’s day, and there is a need for it now. There were some hearers of the gospel, then, who contributed generously towards the maintenance of the preacher, and the apostle says that what they gave would be like sowing good seed, in return for which God would give to them an abundant harvest; but there were others who gave sparingly, and who would therefore have a proportionately small return. But I feel sure that the apostle had a wider range than that, and that these words express a general principle: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” So I begin my discourse by reminding you that our present lives are of the utmost possible importance for on these winged hours hang eternal issues. Our present actions are not trifles, for they will decide our everlasting destiny. Everything we do is, to some extent, a sowing of which eternity will be the reaping. (Galatians 6:7: Sowing and Reaping Harry
Gálatas 6:9
Calvin wrote that "It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone." We are not saved by faith plus good works, but by a faith that works. Any profession of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a spurious profession. True saving faith can never exist by itself, for genuine faith brings supernatural life, and that life produces supernatural good works. The person with dead faith has only an intellectual experience. In his mind, he knows the doctrines of salvation, but he has never submitted himself to God and trusted Christ for salvation. He knows the right words, but he does not back up his words with his works. Faith in Christ brings eternal life right now (John 3:16), and where there is life there will be fruit. (cf James 2:17-note) Many believers minimize the place of good works in the Christian life reasoning that because we are not saved by good works, then good works are something to be shunned. But our Lord reminds us that our incredible privilege is to "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.” (Mt 5:16-note) It is not only by words that we give testimony to the greatness of God, but also by our works. Our good works in fact pave the way for witness with good words. If our walk contradicts our words, we lose our testimony. Our “walk” and our “talk” must agree. Good works and good words must come from the same yielded heart. Too many believers today emphasize guarding the truth, but downplay living the truth. One of the best ways to guard the truth is to put it into practice. It is good to be defenders of the faith, but we must not forget to be demonstrators of the faith by letting them see our good works! You are writing a Gospel, A chapter each day, By the deeds that you do And the words that you say. Men read what you write, Whether faithful or true: Just what is the Gospel According to you? --- Author unknown When doing good works, also remember that the following question is irrelevant "Does this person deserve my good works?" We are to "abound to every good work" (NIV, 2Cor 9:8). Please do not misunderstand. Believers do not manufacture these good works but instead they are the fruit of God's Spirit working in our heart for as Paul reminds us in (Php 2:13-note) it is God Who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Paul acknowledges that the key to his good works was the grace of God which made him adding that God's grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (1Co 15:10). Peter writes Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1Pe 2:12-note). Thus our good works serve as testimonies to the lost and even win us the right to be heard. In sum, all of these truths about good works indicate that God has a plan for our lives and that we should walk in His will and fulfill His plan. If you'd like some additional study on the topic of "good works (deeds)" study the following passages -- Good works = Matt 5:16; John 10:32; Eph 2:10; 1 Tim 2:10; 5:10; 6:18. Good deeds = John 5:29; Titus 2:7, 14; 3:8, 14; Heb 10:24; 1Pet 2:12 Good deeds are God deeds, deeds prepared by, initiated by and empowered by the Spirit of Christ, Who lives in us. As such these "supernaturally" energized deeds are designed to glorify our Father (Mt 5:16-note). See related resource by A W