Martin Luther on Galatians 6:8

Verſe. 8. For he that ſovveth in the flesh, shall of the flesh reape corruption: but he that ſovveth in the ſpirite, shall of the ſpirite reape euerlaſting life. He addeth a ſimilitude and an allegorie. And this generall ſentence of ſowing he applieth to the particular matter of nouriſhing and maintaining the miniſters of the word, ſaying: He that ſovveth in the ſpirite, VVhat it is to ſovve in the ſpirite. that is to ſay, he that cheariſheth the teachers of Gods word, doth a ſpirituall worke and ſhall reape euerlaſting life. Here riſeth a queſtion whether we deſerue eternall life by good works? for ſo Paule ſeemeth to auouch in this place. As touching ſuch ſentences which ſpeake of workes and the reward of them, we haue treated very largely before in the .5. chapter. And very neceſſary it is, after the example of Paule, to exhort the faithfull to good workes, that is to ſay, to exerciſe their faith by good workes. For if they folow not faith, it is a manifeſt token that their Faith is no true faith. Therefore the Apoſtle ſayth: He that ſovveth in the flesh (ſome vnderſtand it, in his owne fleſh), that is to ſay, he that geueth nothing to the miniſters of Gods word, but onely feedeth and careth for him ſelfe (which is the counſell of the fleſh) that man ſhall of the fleſh reape corruption, not onely in this preſent life, but alſo in the life to come. For the goods of the wicked ſhall waſt away, and they them ſelues alſo at length ſhall ſhamefully periſh. The Apoſtle would faine ſtirre vp his hearers to be liberall and beneficiall towards their paſtours and preachers. But what a miſery is it, that the peruerſenes and ingratitude of men ſhould be ſo great, that the churches ſhould neede this admonition? The Encratites abuſed this place for the confirmation of their wicked opinion againſt mariage, expounding it after this maner:The heretikes called Encratites: VVhoſe errour the Papiſtes haue reuiued as touching matrimonie, and therfore they may cruely be called nevv Encratites. He that ſoweth in the fleſh ſhall reape corruption: that is to ſay, he that marieth a wife ſhall be damned: Ergo a wife is a damnable thing, and mariage is euill, for as much as there is in it a ſowing in the fleſh. Theſe beaſtes were ſo deſtitute of all iudgement, that they perceiued not whereabout the Apoſtle went. I ſpeake this to the ende ye may ſee how eaſily the Deuill by his miniſters can turne away the heartes of the ſimple from the truth. Germanie ſhall ſhortly haue an infinite number of ſuch beaſtes, yea and already hath very many: For on the one ſide it perſecuteth and killeth ye godly miniſters, and on the other ſide it neglecteth and deſpiſeth them, and ſuffereth them to liue in great penurie. Let vs arme our ſelues againſt theſe and ſuch like errours, and let vs learne to know the true meaning of the Scriptures. For Paule ſpeaketh not here of matrimonie, but of nouriſhing the miniſters of the church, which euery mā that is endued but with ye common iudgement of reaſon may perceaue. And although this nouriſhing is but a corporall thing, yet notwithſtanding he calleth it a ſowing in ye ſpirit. Cōtrariwiſe when men greedely ſcrape together what they can, & ſeke only their owne gaine, he calleth it a ſowing in ye fleſh. He pronoūceth thoſe which ſowe in ye ſpirite, to be bleſſed both in this life and in the life to come: and the other which ſowe in the fleſh to be accurſed both in this life, and in the life to come.