Gal 5:19-21 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Gal 5:19-26: 5:19-26 These two lists contrast life dominated by the sinful nature (5:19-21 ) with life led by the Spirit (5:22-26 ). Living by the Spirit means observing a higher ethical standard than can be achieved under the law. 5:19 When you follow ... the results are (literally The works of the flesh are ): An emphasis on law-keeping and sinful actions both flow from trying to live apart from the power of God’s Spirit. • very clear: Basic understanding of right and wrong is universal (cp. Rom 1:32 ; 2:14-15 ; 1 Cor 5:1 ), though some people suppress this awareness (Rom 1:18-21 ). • The list begins with sexual immorality; in contrast, the list of Christian virtues begins with love (Gal 5:22 ). All kinds of sexual misconduct were common (cp. Rom 1:24-27 ; 1 Cor 5:1 ; 6:15-18 ; 2 Cor 12:21 ; 2 Pet 3:10 , 18 ). Sexual immorality was connected in paganism with fertility worship (cp. Rev 2:14 , 20 ). • Moral impurity removes holiness and makes fellowship with a holy God impossible (see Matt 23:27 ; Rom 6:19 ; 2 Cor 12:21 ; Eph 5:3 ; Col 3:5 ; 1 Thes 4:7 ).

Summary for Gal 5:19-26: 5:19-26 ^a These two lists contrast life dominated by the sinful nature (5:19-21 ^b) with life led by the Spirit (5:22-26 ^c). Living by the Spirit means observing a higher ethical standard than can be achieved under the law. 5:19 ^d When you follow ... the results are (literally The works of the flesh are): An emphasis on law-keeping and sinful actions both flow from trying to live apart from the power of God’s Spirit.

• very clear: Basic understanding of right and wrong is universal (cp. Rom 1:32 ^e; 2:14-15 ^f; 1 Cor 5:1 ^g), though some people suppress this awareness (Rom 1:18-21 ^h).

• The list begins with sexual immorality; in contrast, the list of Christian virtues begins with love (Gal 5:22 ⁱ). All kinds of sexual misconduct were common (cp. Rom 1:24-27 ^j; 1 Cor 5:1 ^k; 6:15-18 ^l; 2 Cor 12:21 ^m; 2 Pet 3:10 ⁿ, 18 ^o). Sexual immorality was connected in paganism with fertility worship (cp. Rev 2:14 ^p, 20 ^q).

• Moral impurity removes holiness and makes fellowship with a holy God impossible (see Matt 23:27 ^r; Rom 6:19 ^s; 2 Cor 12:21 ^t; Eph 5:3 ^u; Col 3:5 ^v; 1 Thes 4:7 ^w).
5:20 ^x Idolatry, the worship of false gods, was common in Galatia and was often accompanied by sorcery (see Acts 19:19 ^y; cp. 1 Sam 15:23 ^z; Rev 9:21 ^aa; 18:23 ^ab; 21:8 ^ac; 22:15 ^ad) and sexual immorality (cp. 1 Cor 6:9 ^ae, 15-20 ^af).

• Hostility arises from angry pride rather than the Spirit’s humility and love (Gal 5:22-23 ^ag).

• Quarreling refers not to standing up for what is right, but to stirring up discord and looking for a fight (1 Cor 3:3 ^ah; 2 Cor 12:20 ^ai; 1 Tim 6:4 ^aj; Titus 3:9 ^ak). Those who are guided by the Holy Spirit seek to speak the truth in love with a peacemaking attitude (Gal 5:22 ^al; Eph 4:15 ^am; 2 Tim 2:23-26 ^an).

• Jealousy (Greek zēlos, “zeal”) has both a positive sense (“passionate commitment”) and, as here, a negative one (“intense desire for another’s things”); cp. Jas 3:14-16 ^ao.

• Outbursts of anger (or fits of rage) contrast with self-control (Gal 5:23 ^ap; see, e.g., Acts 19:28 ^aq; 2 Cor 12:20 ^ar; 1 Tim 3:3 ^as; Titus 1:7 ^at).

• Selfish ambition (or Selfishness) is the antithesis of Christian love (cp. Rom 2:8 ^au; Phil 2:3 ^av; Jas 3:14 ^aw, 16 ^ax).

• Division (Greek haireseis, “heresies, factions, sects”) refers to people using differing beliefs or practices to divide the community (cp. 1 Cor 11:17-19 ^ay; 2 Pet 2:1-3 ^az).
5:21 ^ba Drunkenness has no place in the Christian life (see Luke 21:34 ^bb; 1 Cor 11:20-22 ^bc; Eph 5:18 ^bd).

• wild parties: Festivals in honor of pagan gods were often accompanied by drunken orgies (cp. 1 Pet 4:3 ^be).

• other sins like these: This list is only representative of the vices of the sinful nature (cp. Mark 7:20-23 ^bf; Rom 1:29-31 ^bg; 1 Cor 6:9-10 ^bh; Eph 5:3-5 ^bi; Col 3:5-8 ^bj; 1 Tim 1:9-10 ^bk; 2 Tim 3:2-5 ^bl; Jas 3:13-18 ^bm; Rev 21:8 ^bn). People living that sort of life are not living by the Spirit, and thereby demonstrate no relationship with God by faith. Such people will not inherit the Kingdom of God: They are still slaves of their sinful nature (Gal 4:8-9 ^bo, 22-25 ^bp; cp. Rom 6:16-22 ^bq; 1 Cor 6:9-10 ^br) and are not under God’s rule.