Galatians 6:8

Galatians 6:8

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.

a. NLT: Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

b. Amplified Bible: For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

c. NIV: Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

1. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption…”

a. soweth [4687 * speiro][Strong: to scatter, i.e. sow (literally or figuratively):--sow(- er), receive seed.]

b. flesh [4561 * sarx][Strong: probably from the base of 4563; flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such):--carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).]

1). When the Scriptures refer to “the flesh”, the context will determine whether it is speaking of the physical body, which is not evil, or it is referring to the “nature” of the flesh, which is evil. It is these things that come out of the spirit of man.

a). Matthew 15:18, 19   But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

2). It is this ungodly “nature” of the flesh which proceeds out of the spirit of man and is manifested through actions of the physical body that will prevent us from going to heaven and prevent us from receiving any of the inheritance that God desires for us to have here in our earthly life.

a). Galatians 5:19-21   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

3). When the context does refer to the physical body, the actual flesh on our bone, it does not refer to it as evil. When the context does refer to the evil of flesh, it is the nature of the flesh, “the law of sin and death” that we all have inherited from the fall of Adam & Eve that the Scripture is referring to. Paul describes that “law” in Romans 7:14-25. It is only through the New Birth and all its provisions and promises that this law can be overcome.

a). Romans 8:2-4  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

b). Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

c. reap [2325 * therizo][Strong: to harvest:--reap.]

d. corruption [5356 * phthora][Strong: from 5351; decay, i.e. ruin (spontaneous or inflicted, literally or figuratively):--corruption, destroy, perish.]

e. God created the eternal and universal law of sowing and reaping when he created the seed.

1). Genesis 1:11, 12 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

2). In his book Many Infallible Proofs Henry Morris writes: “This is the first mention in the Bible of seed, the marvelous mechanism by which God assures the continuance of each form of life after its kind. Each organism whose seed is in itself is a mute but eloquent witness against the age long scientific belief in “spontaneous generation” and transmutation of species.” Modern genetic research, with its amazing insights into the preprogrammed “genetic code” of each organism, (the intricately structured molecular system which is designed to transmit hereditary ‘information’ and to assure the continuance of the specific kind), has strongly confirmed, though unwillingly, this primeval divine injunction.” Many Infallible Proofs, Henry M. Morris, Creation-Life Publishers, 1974. p.236.

3). The eternal universal law in seeds not only covers the physical universe but also the spiritual universe and words and actions, godly and ungodly.

a). Isaiah 55:10, 11 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

b). Romans 8:5, 6 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

c). Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

d). Hosea 8:7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

2. “…but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

a. soweth [4687 * speiro][Strong: to scatter, i.e. sow (literally or figuratively):--sow(- er), receive seed.]

b. Spirit [4151 * pneuma][Strong: a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

c. All of the Commentaries I found were unanimous in saying the “Spirit” referred to here is the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Triune Godhead. One commentator made the distinction in the text between “his flesh” and “the Spirit”. Paul is clearly making the distinction between man’s nature and God. Below is one good example of the many Commentaries.

1). John Gill: But he that soweth to the Spirit; not his own, but the Spirit of God; or that soweth spiritual things, that minds and savours the things of the Spirit, lives in the Spirit, and walks in the Spirit; that lays out his worldly substance in promoting spiritual things, in encouraging the spiritual ministers of the word, in supporting the interest of spiritual religion, in relieving the poor of Christ's churches, in contributing to the spread of the Gospel, and the administration of the word and ordinances in other places, as well as where he is more immediately concerned: shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting; in the use of such spiritual means, though not as meritorious, or as causes, he shall attain to, and enjoy eternal happiness in the other world; or of, and by the Spirit of God, by whose grace and strength he sows, and does all the good things he does, by and of him sanctifying him, and making him meet for it, and not of himself, or any works of righteousness done by him, shall he inherit eternal life; which is the pure gift of God through Jesus Christ, and bestowed as a reward of his own grace.

d. reap [2325 * therizo][Strong: to harvest:--reap.]

e. life [2222 * zoe][Strong: from 2198; life (literally or figuratively):--life(-time).]

f. everlasting [166 * aionios][Strong: from 165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well):--eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).]

1). The primary meaning of this part of the verse is referring to eternal life found in Christ Jesus.

a).  John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2). But it is also referring to all the things we reap because of sowing into the Spirit. In order to reap the fruit of the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, the flesh must be crucified.

a). Galatians 5:22-25 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

b). 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

3). Our responsibility is obedience, yet that is impossible without the God giving us the ability to co-labor with Him. It is only then we will reap.

a). Romans 2:7-11 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11 For there is no respect of persons with God.