Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

And {G1161} let us {G1573} not {G3361} be weary {G1573} in well {G2570} doing {G4160}: for {G1063} in due {G2398} season {G2540} we shall reap {G2325}, if we faint {G1590} not {G3361}.

So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest.

Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Commentary on Galatians 6:9 (KJV)

Galatians 6:9 is a powerful exhortation to perseverance in Christian living, assuring believers that consistent effort in good works, done in faith, will ultimately yield a reward. This verse provides immense encouragement for those who might feel discouraged by the challenges or apparent lack of immediate results in their spiritual endeavors.

Context

This verse comes at the end of Paul's letter to the Galatians, where he has been addressing critical issues of Christian freedom versus legalism. Chapter 6 shifts to practical exhortations for Christian conduct. Paul begins by encouraging believers to bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to support those who teach them (Galatians 6:6). Immediately preceding verse 9, Paul introduces the foundational principle of sowing and reaping outlined in the preceding verses (Galatians 6:7-8), emphasizing that one reaps what one sows, whether to the flesh or to the Spirit. Verse 9 then applies this principle specifically to "well doing," urging believers not to give up, because a spiritual harvest is guaranteed if they persist.

Key Themes

  • Perseverance in Good Works: The primary message is an earnest plea for endurance. Christian service, acts of kindness, and faithful living are not always easy or immediately rewarding. Paul urges believers to resist the temptation to grow weary or lose heart in these pursuits.
  • The Principle of Sowing and Reaping: This verse reinforces the universal spiritual law that actions have consequences. "Well doing" is presented as a spiritual sowing, and a harvest of blessing, spiritual growth, or divine reward is the inevitable outcome.
  • Divine Timing ("In Due Season"): The phrase "in due season" is crucial. It signifies God's perfect timing for the harvest, which may not align with our own expectations or desires for immediate gratification. It calls for patience and trust in God's sovereignty.
  • Assured Reward: The promise, "we shall reap," offers strong motivation. It assures believers that their efforts in faith are never in vain and will certainly be rewarded by God, whether in this life or in the life to come.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Weary" (Greek: ekkakéō): This word means to lose heart, to grow faint, or to give up due to exhaustion or discouragement. It suggests a process of becoming disheartened to the point of abandoning a task.
  • "Well doing" (Greek: kalopoieō): Literally "to do good" or "to do what is noble, honorable, or beautiful." It encompasses actions that are inherently righteous, virtuous, and beneficial, often done for others. This refers to living a life consistent with the fruit of the Spirit described earlier in Galatians.
  • "Faint not" (Greek: mē eklyomenoi): This phrase, similar to "weary," means not to grow slack, not to become utterly exhausted, or not to collapse from fatigue. The repetition of the idea emphasizes the persistent effort required and the danger of giving up too soon.

Practical Application

Galatians 6:9 is a vital source of encouragement for every believer. It reminds us that:

  • Persistence is Key: Many aspects of the Christian life, such as prayer, evangelism, serving others, or pursuing personal sanctification, require sustained effort and often don't show immediate results. This verse urges us to keep going.
  • God's Timing is Perfect: We are called to sow faithfully, trusting that God will bring the harvest in His perfect time. This perspective helps us to avoid discouragement when our efforts seem to yield little fruit.
  • Our Labor is Not in Vain: Every act of "well doing" done in Christ's name contributes to a spiritual harvest, even if we don't see the full outcome. This truth offers comfort and motivation, reminding us that God sees and values our faithfulness.
  • Endurance Leads to Reward: This call to endurance echoes similar admonitions found throughout Scripture, such as in Hebrews 10:36, which states, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." The promise of reaping assures us that our perseverance will be eternally rewarded.

This verse encourages us to maintain a long-term perspective on our faith journey, focusing on faithfulness in the present and trusting God for the future harvest.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:58

    ¶ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:13

    But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
  • Isaiah 40:30

    Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
  • Isaiah 40:31

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.
  • Hebrews 10:35

    Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
  • Hebrews 10:39

    But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
  • Hebrews 12:3

    For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
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