“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:7-8
The beginning of Paul’s Maxim (a short, pithy statement expressing a general truth or rule of conduct) here is almost a warning: “Be not deceived.” The Greek verb “deceived”is “planao,” meaning “to stray, to wander, to roam” heedlessly. (Our word “planet” comes from it, from “planao.” Something “wandering around in outer space,” amidst all that darkness!)
This Proverb is in a paragraph (of Galatians 6) which cautions again and again about being “overtaken” (synonymous with being “deceived”) by sin! Verse 1 … “Brethren, if a man BE OVERTAKEN in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Or again in verse 3 … “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he DECEIVETH HIMSELF.”
Wow!
No wonder our Text today begins with such a strong imperative, a stark command … “Be not deceived.” (I once taught a Bible Class, a series of them really, on “The Commands of the Apostle Paul,” almost too many to count in his 14 Epistles!)
“Mocked” is an interesting verb indeed! Spelled “mukterizo” (used only here in all the New Testament) the word means “turning up one’s nose (one’s ‘snout’ literally)” at someone, here at Almighty God! The root of “mukterizo” is “muzo,” meaning “to moo” like a cow! Yes, that’s mockery! The height of disrespect!
Wow!
Then comes the “common sense” law instituted by our Lord Creation Week! “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
The verb “sow” (in Greek “speiro”) means “to scatter.” As in broadcasting seed all over a plowed field. The verb “reap” (“therizo”) comes from a noun meaning “summer!” Then (even further back into its etymology) from a root verb meaning “to heat, to warm” something. (Exactly what must happen to “seed” before they can germinate!)
Has this law ever been violated?
Now, Paul illustrates.
From two extremes!
The flesh and the Spirit!
“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption,” shall reap “decay, rot, putrefaction!” Not a good thing!
But … “He that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” This is the Holy Spirit of God, Who is the Bestower of real Life, eternal Life, Life abundant!
Paul has been talking about the flesh/Spirit conflict now for two chapters, two Galatian chapters! Here his argument comes to a logical (Holy Spirit inspired) Conclusion!
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Dear reader, Bible student following this Lesson today … the choice is yours!
What are you sowing day by day?
I once heard of a young smart aleck who boasted: “I am going to sow my wild oats and pray for crop failure!” A word of warning: that is NOT going to happen!
“God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”