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Selected Verse: Galatians 6:7 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ga 6:7 |
King James |
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
God is not mocked--The Greek verb is, literally, to sneer with the nostrils drawn up in contempt. God does not suffer Himself to be imposed on by empty words: He will judge according to works, which are seeds sown for eternity of either joy or woe. Excuses for illiberality in God's cause (Gal 6:6) seem valid before men, but are not so before God (Psa 50:21).
soweth--especially of his resources (Co2 9:6).
that--Greek, "this"; this and nothing else.
reap--at the harvest, the end of the world (Mat 13:39). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Be not deceived - That is, in regard to your character, and your hopes for eternity. This is a formula of introduction to some admonition that is especially weighty and important. It implies that there was danger that they would be deceived in reference to their character. The sources of the danger were the corruption of their own hearts, the difficulty of knowing their true character, the instructions of false teachers, etc.; see the note at Co1 6:9.
God is not mocked - He cannot be imposed on, or mocked. He knows what our real character is, and he will judge us accordingly. The word rendered "mocked" (μυκτηρίζω muktērizō), means, properly, to turn up the nose in scorn; hence, to mock, or deride, or insult. The sense is, that God could not be imposed on, or could not be insulted with impunity, or successfully. To mock is, properly:
(1) To imitate, to mimic: to imitate in contempt or derision.
(2) to deride, to laugh at, to ridicule.
(3) to defeat, or to illude, or to disappoint.
(4) to fool, to tantalize - Webster.
Here it cannot mean to imitate, or to mimic, but it refers to the principles of the divine administration, and must mean that they could not be treated with contempt, or successfully evaded. They could not hope to illude or impose on God. His principles of government were settled, and they could not impose on him. To what the reference is here, is not perfectly plain. In the connection in which it stands, it seems to refer to the support of the ministers of the gospel; and Paul introduces the general principle, that as a man sows he will reap, to show them what will be the effect of a liberal and proper use of their property. If they made a proper use of it; if they employed it for benevolent purposes; if they appropriated what they should to the support of religion, they would reap accordingly. God could not be imposed on in regard to this. They could not make him think that they had true religion when they were sowing to the flesh, and when they were spending their money in purchasing pleasure, and in luxury and vanity.
No zeal, however ardent; no prayers, however fervent or long, no professions, however loud, would impose on God. And to make such prayers, and to manifest such zeal and such strong professions, while the heart was with the world, and they were spending their money for every thing else but religion, was mocking God. Alas, how much mockery of God like this still prevails! How much, when people seem disposed to make God believe that they are exceedingly zealous and devoted, while their heart is truly with the world! How many long prayers are offered; how much zeal is shown; how many warm professions are made, as if to make God and man believe that the heart was truly engaged in the cause of religion, while little or nothing is given in the cause of benevolence; while the ministers of religion are suffered to starve; and while the "loud professor" rolls in wealth, and is distinguished for luxury of living, for gaiety of apparel, for splendor of equipage, and for extravagance in parties of pleasure! Such professors attempt to mock God. They are really sowing to the flesh; and of the flesh they must reap corruption.
For whatsoever a man soweth ... - See the note at Co2 9:6. This figure is taken from agriculture. A man who sows wheat, shall reap wheat; he who sows barley, shall reap barley; he who sows cockle, shall reap cockle. Every kind of grain will produce grain like itself. So it is in regard to our works. He who is liberal, shall be dealt with liberally; he who is righteous, shall be rewarded; he who is a sinner, shall reap according to his deeds. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Be not deceived (μὴ πλανᾶσθε)
For the phrase see Co1 6:9; Co1 15:33; Jam 1:16. Deceive is a secondary sense; the primary meaning being lead astray. See on Mar 12:24. The connection of the exhortation may be with the entire section from Gal 6:1 (Eadie and Sieffert), but is more probably with Gal 6:6. The Galatians are not to think that it is a matter of no consequence whether their fellowship be with their Christian teachers who preach the word of truth, or with the Judaising innovators who would bring them under bondage to the law.
Is not mocked (οὐ μυκτηρίζεται)
N.T.o. Quite often in lxx. See Kg1 18:27; Kg2 19:21; Job 22:19; Pro 1:30. Also the noun μυκτηρισμός mockery, Job 34:7; Psa 34:16. See Ps. of Sol. 4:8. The verb, literally, to turn up the nose at. Comp. Horace, Sat. i. 6, 5, naso suspendis adunco, ii. 8, 64; Epist. i. 19, 45.
That (τοῦτο)
Most emphatic. That and nothing else. Comp. Mat 7:16; Co2 9:6. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| God is not mocked - Although they attempt to mock him, who think to reap otherwise than they sow. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Be not deceived - Neither deceive yourselves, nor permit yourselves to be deceived by others. He seems to refer to the Judaizing teachers.
God is not mocked - Ye cannot deceive him, and he will not permit you to mock him with pretended instead of real services.
Whatsoever a man soweth - Whatsoever kind of grain a man sows in his field, of that shall he reap; for no other species of grain can proceed from that which is sown. Darnel will not produce wheat, nor wheat, darnel. |
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
19 The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
21 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,