Galatians 6 6Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.
As Paul closes this letter, he covers a range of topics relevant to the Galatian churches. Most of Paul’s letters end in final exhortations. The exhortation in this verse is simple but far reaching. The idea is simply stated and does not require much comment or explanation. If we have been taught the word, we must then share what we have learned with our teachers. There are several implications about this idea.
Christians have always been students of the word. Paul does not describe what he means by the word here. There are several obvious possibilities. Since he started off his letter by referring to the gospel he preached, he may simply be referring here to the message of good news about salvation in Jesus Christ. This would fit well with the theme of the letter of trying to lay out the true gospel and correct the false interpretations that had infiltrated Galatia. The word could be broader and include the implications and applications of the gospel, including Christian ethics and the proper interpretation of the law, both topics about which Paul writes in this letter.
One of the basic and important ways people grow in their faith is by being taught the word. Jesus sent his disciples out with the command to “teach them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). The New Testament is full of many references to teaching. Teaching can take place in many ways, beginning in the home and inclusive of the more formal ways of education. Paul does not want the Galatians to be passive absorber of information, just taking it all in mentally. They need to do something with this information. It must bring character transformation.
One way to do that is retell the teacher what the student has learned. When students can recount what they have learned and show evidence that the teaching is making a difference in their lives, it is helpful to teachers. Teachers appreciate feedback. It is encouraging to know that one’s efforts are actually making a difference in someone’s life. One of the sure ways to bring spiritual defeat and discouragement to a teacher or pastor is to ignore anything he or she says. Teachers or preachers will put up with low salary or even volunteer time and effort if they see a difference in the lives of those who are listening or watching. For the Galatians, this will create a stronger bond of unity and make it easier to bring correction, as the previous verses stated, and to see a great harvest as the following verses mention.
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