Matthew Henry Commentary Galatians 1:6-9

"I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema." — Galatians 1:6-9 (ASV)

Those who would establish any other way to heaven than what the gospel of Christ reveals will find themselves grievously mistaken. The apostle impresses upon the Galatians a proper sense of their guilt in abandoning the gospel way of justification; yet he reproves them with tenderness and represents them as drawn into it by the schemes of some who troubled them. In reproving others, we should be faithful and yet endeavor to restore them in the spirit of meekness.

Some would set up the works of the law instead of Christ's righteousness, and thus they corrupted Christianity. The apostle solemnly denounces as accursed everyone who attempts to lay such a false foundation. All other gospels than that of the grace of Christ, whether more flattering to self-righteous pride or more favorable to worldly lusts, are devices of Satan.

And while we declare that to reject the moral law as a rule of life tends to dishonor Christ and destroy true religion, we must also declare that all dependence for justification on good works, whether real or supposed, is as fatal to those who persist in it. While we are zealous for good works, let us be careful not to put them instead of Christ's righteousness and not to advance anything that may betray others into such a dreadful delusion.