SOWING AND REAPING
Galatians 6:7

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"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap."

The harvest is according to the seed.

I. Sow to the flesh, reap corruption (Galatians 6:8a): "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption." Whoever "sows to his flesh" is contrasted to whomever "sows to the Spirit" (v.8b). To sow in this manner is to perform "the works of the flesh ..., which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like" (5:19-21a).

This sower to his flesh, his old Adamic nature, will "of the flesh reap corruption", which is contrasted to the "everlasting life" reaped by whomever "sows to the Spirit" (v.8b). "[T]hose who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (5:21b); "For if you live according to the flesh you will die" (Romans 5:13).

II. Sow idolatry, reap destruction (Hosea 8:7): "They sow the wind, and reap the whirlwind." The "wind" (Hebrew rûah = Greek pneuma) in this instance is "that which is nothing, vanity". In the context it refers to idolatry (vv.4b-6), which is the worship of any deity other than Jehovah. Jehovah declares that even "molded images are wind [rûah]" (Isaiah 41:29). This means that idols, whether physical (such as Baal) or imaginary (such as Allah), are devoid of divine substance, like the breeze is devoid of material substance. Paul concurs in saying "we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live" (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

All who sow the wind by worshiping any deity other than Jehovah will "reap the whirlwind" – a wind as empty of substance as the gentlest breeze, but wreaking destruction (Proverb 1:27): "your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you." All who sow to nothing reap nothing but their own eternal damnation.

III. Sow discord, reap calamity (Proverb 6:14f): "He sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy." "Discord" is "strife, contention", as in "A perverse man sows strife [or discord], and a whisperer separates the best of friends" (Proverb 16:28). This sin is one of seven abominations to Jehovah (Proverbs 6:16-19). It is the sin of schismatic men who divide friends and families into opposing parties, and of "those who cause divisions and offenses" in the church of Christ (Romans 16:17f; cp. 1 Corinthians 12:25; contrast Psalm 133).

All ungodly men who sow discord in the church of Christ will be separated from the godly and reap the calamity of their own irremediable destruction. This was the bitter end of Korah's party who withstood Moses and tried to divide Israel (Numbers ch.16).

IV. Sow trouble, reap trouble (Job 4:8): "Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same." "Plow" and "sow" here refer to the same act. The Hebrew word translated "iniquity" (awen) means two things: "trouble which moves on to wickedness", and "emptiness which moves on to idolatry". The Hebrew word translated "trouble" (amal) often has the nuance of "drudgery of toil", and here refers to that which is performed in "wickedness" (KJV). Here is the person who labors hard at sowing wickedness.

He will "reap the same". "Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity [awen]; yes, he conceives trouble [amal] and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, and has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble [amal] shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown" (Psalm 7:14-16).

V. Sow iniquity, reap vanity and sorrow (Proverb 22:8): "He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail." The Hebrew word translated "iniquity" (awel) means "injustice, unrighteousness, wrong, an act or deed that is contrary to what is right". It is contrasted to "righteousness" (Leviticus 19:15) and "truth" (Deuteronomy 32:4). Iniquitous acts identified by this Hebrew word include partiality in judgment (Psalm 82:2), dishonest trade dealings (Deuteronomy 25:16), robbery (Ezekiel 33:15), murder (2 Samuel 3:34), oppression (Psalm 89:22), perverse words (Isaiah 59:3) - to name a few.

He who sows such things will reap "sorrow" and/or "vanity". Such "vanity" is indicated by Paul when asking saints regarding the time when they were slaves of sin, "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?" (Romans 6:21). Such "sorrow" is indicated in the law of "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

VI. Sow to the Spirit, reap life (Galatians 6:8b): "but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (contrast first part of verse; see notes on it above). To sow in this manner is to live according to "the fruit [singular, not plural] of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22f). It is to "walk in the Spirit" (5:16) and be "led by the Spirit" (5:18), and thereby live as Christ lived (as in Luke 4:1) - for He most perfectly manifested the fruit of the Spirit!

All who sow in this manner will reap "everlasting life" - and the eternal Christ will be their never-ending life. Believers in Christ are assured that "your life is [presently] hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears [in the reaping day], then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:3f). "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9f).

VII. Sow sparingly, reap sparingly; sow bountifully, reap bountifully (2 Corinthians 9:6): "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully." This principle is true universally. Paul uses it specifically in regard to monetary offerings to the Lord's work (vv.6ff).

God justly curses all who would rob Him, and graciously blesses those who give generously to Him (Malachi 3:8-12). "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:7f). All such persons will say with Paul, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" – His grace in Christ (v.15).

VIII. Sow mercy to men, reap honor from God (Psalm 112:9): "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor." Paul cites this text as an example to those who give generously to the Lord's work (2 Corinthians 9:9).

IX. Sow the gospel in tears, reap souls in joy (Psalm 126:5f): "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing [lit. "a bag of seed for sowing"], shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 4:11), the gospel of Jesus Christ through which souls are born again (1 Peter 1:23, 25). It is to be sown "continually", as in taking advantage of every opportunity to tell the gospel. It is to be sown with "weeping", as one who with his own tears continually waters the gospel seed sown in the hearts of his hearers (as did Paul in Acts 20:31).

There "doubtless" shall be a joyful harvest to all who do so, for this is the promise of God. There shall be sorrow in sowing, but joy in reaping. Weeping sowers of the gospel will be rejoicing reapers of souls. They shall disperse seed, and bring in sheaves.

X. Sow righteousness, reap mercy; sow wickedness, reap iniquity (Hosea 10:12) and a sure reward (Proverb 11:18): "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way." Here is a summary of all that has been said before. We have seen that those who seek their own way will sow wickedness and therefore reap iniquity. It is time to cease seeking our own way, and to instead seek the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ, and to sow righteousness by living in conformity to Christ, and to reap everlasting righteousness in Christ.

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