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I. THE SOLEMNITY OF THE APOSTLE'S WARNING.

1. The nature of self-deception. It is sad to be deceived in

(1)  a friend;

(2)  our state of health;

(3)  our means — but these are not beyond remedy — but

(4)  to be deceived about the soul's condition is irreparable.

2. Its cause.

(1)  Living upon the memories of the past.

(2)  Zeal for the ordinances of religion.

(3)  Taking safety for granted.

3. Its futility. While you deceive yourselves God is not mocked.

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE APOSTLE'S STATEMENT.

1. Flesh includes all desires whether sensual or refined that does not lead us to God: the Spirit those desires which spring from His inspiration and find in Him their response and their joy.

2. The underlying principle here is that we have largely the making and marring of our own future.

3. The marring is when by sowing to the flesh in, e.g., pride, covetousness, ungodliness, a man reaps corruption, i.e., desolation and decay; the making when by sowing to the Spirit we reap everlasting life, something that shall not pass away.

(W. M. Punshon, LL. D.)

I. A man expects to reap THAT WHICH HE SOWS.

II. He expects to reap A CROP OF THE SAME KIND THAT HE HAS SOWN.

III. He expects TO REAP MORE THAN HE SOWS.

IV. IGNORANCE OF THE KIND OF SEED SOWN WELL MAKE NO DIFFERENCE TO THE CROP.

(D. L. Moody.)

I. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SIN ALWAYS YIELD THEIR HARVESTS: the moral results of our actions are determined by definite and irresistible laws.

II. YET IN THE LOWER PROVINCES OF LIFE THERE IS A GOOD DEAL OF SOWING THAT IS FOLLOWED BY NO REAPING.

1. In business;

2. Politics;

3. Science;

4. Home and society.

III. THE DISAPPOINTMENTS IN THESE LOWER PROVINCES MAKE US CYNICAL, BUT GOD PERMITS THEM in order to warn us against sowing too much seed where it may be blighted.

IV. GOD IS THE ONLY MASTER WHO ALWAYS GIVES HIS SERVANTS THE WAGES THEY WORK FOR. Serve Him —

1. In business, and whether you make money or not, you will increase your treasure in heaven.

2. In the service of the public, and whether you have your reward or not you will have honorable distinction in the kingdom of God.

V. THE HARVEST MAY NOT BE TOMORROW or the day after, but in due season we shall reap.

VI. ENOUGH, however, IS REAPED NOW TO SAVE MEN FROM DESPAIR. Work done for God is never wasted.

1. Take the social and political improvements of recent years.

2. The advance of the kingdom of God.

(R. W. Dale, D. D.)

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KJV: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

WEB: Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.