Gal 6.1-17 tells us about Paul’s final instructions to the Galatians
v 1…Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass (one of the things mentioned in Chapter 5), you who are spiritual (those walking in the Torah), restore (as commanded in the Torah-Lev 19.17) such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself, lest you be tempted (the spiritual ones needed to have the foundation, so that they didn’t fall into the very sin they were trying to correct in others, keeping in mind that they, too, may need to be corrected someday).
v 2… Bear (Hebrew “nasa”= to lift up, means the one who forgives “lifts up” the sin from the sinner and it lightens his burden and bearing it for him) one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ (the Torah is the law of Messiah-Psa 40.7; Matt 5.17; Rom 8.2; John 5.39-47).
v 3…For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
v 4… Let everyone examine his own work (his life; 1 Cor 11.31; according to the Torah) and then he will have a reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another (we have enough to concern ourselves with. In doing this we will be able to find our own wrongdoings and correct them. God will find no reason to judge us because we are doing things for the right reason. We don’t need to look at others for approval if the Lord has accepted us).
v 5…For each one shall bear (lift up) his own load (in Greek it carries the idea of your own “soldiers pack”).
v 6… And let the one who is taught the word (we all have a teacher who has spent countless hours studying in order to teach others. We need to be careful about who we choose to teach us. They need to be grounded in the truth and experienced in the things of God) share all good things (that he has learned) with him who teaches (so they can pass it on to others).
v 7…Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows he shall also reap.
v 8… For the one who sows (pampers, gratifies, does the work of) the flesh shall reap corruption (eternally in hell, moral decay) but the one who sows to the Spirit shall reap from the Spirit eternal life (it is impossible to do the right thing all the time because we are still flesh. But, the Spirit will lead us to the Lord, leaving the flesh behind. Paul had the same struggles with the flesh that we do in Rom 7.21-8.4).
v 9… And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in time (Greek “kairos” and the Hebrew equivalent is “moed” or appointed time) we shall reap (in the end) if we do not grow weary.
v 10… So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
v 11… See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand (he emphasizes that he is writing this book himself, not a scribe).
v 12…Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised (and feel good about yourself; remember, circumcision is another way of saying “convert” to their form of Judaism. They wanted to boast that they converted the Galatians. This was the prevailing view of the Jewish leaders), simply that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ (the Jewish leaders would not give them any reproach, resentment, floggings or even death like they tried to do to Paul. These leaders didn’t have a problem with them believing that Yeshua was the Messiah, Gamaliel said they should be left alone-Acts 5.33-39. But, they thought one had to be a Jew to be saved-Acts 15.1. The truth is, being a Jew or converting to Judaism does not impress the Lord at all. He doesn’t care what you are in the flesh as far as ethnicity goes. It doesn’t matter if you are male or female, free or slave -Acts 10.35).
v 13… For those who are circumcised do not even keep the law themselves (to the point they are righteous themselves, so it doesn’t make sense for them to tell you that you need to get circumcised to gain merit with God, because they can’t even do it themselves because it is impossible to keep the Torah as long as we are in the flesh) but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh (and feel good about themselves because they made a convert).
v 14…But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jer 9.23-24), through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (this view will make him look like he is “cursed” to the Jewish leaders and the world of his time. Just like today, when a person teaches that the Torah should be observed, church leaders will look upon you as being “cursed” and in error. The cross is the only way to redemption, and Torah observance is the will of God for those who have already received this redemption by faith).
v 15… For neither circumcision is anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation (the new creation is a work of God, not by any work by man-John 1.13).
v 16…And those who walk by this rule (believe that salvation is a free gift of God, through faith in Yeshua), peace and mercy be upon them, and the Israel of God (the Jewish remnant, the Jewish believer in particular, but Jews and Gentiles together ultimately in the Eschatological Kahal- Rom 9.6-8; Eph 2.11-22; 3.6).
v 17… From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of our Lord Jesus (even though the Judaizers try to avoid persecution by avoiding the truth of the cross and the salvation it brings without works of righteousness, like circumcision, Paul proves that he did not avoid persecution because he bears the marks of their reproaches on his body. He did not teach works righteousness through circumcision or any other work to the Gentiles, but boasted in the finished work of the cross by Yeshua and on this basis they should listen to him).
v 18…The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua ha Mashiach) be with your spirit, brethren. Amen (certainly true; so be it).
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