Gal 5:16-21 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 16. This I say then . This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention. Walk . The Christian life is often represented as a journey; and the word walk , in the Scripture, is often equivalent to live , . ; ; . In the Spirit . Live under the influences of the Holy Spirit; admit those influences fully into your hearts. Do not resist him, but yield to all his suggestions. . What the Holy Spirit would produce, Paul states in . If a man would yield his heart to those influences, he would be able to overcome all his evil propensities; and it is because he resists that Spirit that he is ever overcome by the corrupt passions of his nature. Never was a better, safer, or a more easy rule given to overcome our corrupt and sensual desires than that here furnished. Comp. , and . And ye shall not fulfil , etc. Marg., Fulfil not --as if it were a command. So Tindal renders it. But the more common interpretation, as it is the more significant, is that adopted by our translators. Thus it is not merely a command; it is the statement of an important and deeply interesting truth--that the only way to overcome the corrupt desires and propensities of our nature, is by submitting to the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is not by philosophy; it is not by mere resolutions to resist them; it is not by the force of education and laws; it is only by admitting into our souls the influence of religion, and yielding ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. If we live under the influences of that Spirit, we need not fear the power of the sensual and corrupt propensities of our nature. (b) "Walk" (1) "ye shall not fulfill the lust" "fulfil not" (*) "lust" "desire"

Galatians 5:16-21

Verse 16. This I say then. This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention.

Walk. The Christian life is often represented as a journey; and the word walk, in the Scripture, is often equivalent to live, Mk 7:5. Rom 4:12; Rom 6:4; Rom 8:1.

In the Spirit. Live under the influences of the Holy Spirit; admit those influences fully into your hearts. Do not resist him, but yield to all his suggestions. Rom 8:1. What the Holy Spirit would produce, Paul states in Gal 5:22,23. If a man would yield his heart to those influences, he would be able to overcome all his evil propensities; and it is because he resists that Spirit that he is ever overcome by the corrupt passions of his nature. Never was a better, safer, or a more easy rule given to overcome our corrupt and sensual desires than that here furnished. Comp. Rom 8:1, and Rom 8:2-13.

And ye shall not fulfil, etc. Marg., Fulfil not--as if it were a command. So Tindal renders it. But the more common interpretation, as it is the more significant, is that adopted by our translators. Thus it is not merely a command; it is the statement of an important and deeply interesting truth--that the only way to overcome the corrupt desires and propensities of our nature, is by submitting to the influences of the Holy Spirit. It is not by philosophy; it is not by mere resolutions to resist them; it is not by the force of education and laws; it is only by admitting into our souls the influence of religion, and yielding ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. If we live under the influences of that Spirit, we need not fear the power of the sensual and corrupt propensities of our nature.

(b) "Walk" Rom 8:1,4,13 (1) "ye shall not fulfill the lust" "fulfil not" (*) "lust" "desire" Verse 17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit. The inclinations and desires of the flesh are contrary to those of the Spirit. They draw as away in an opposite direction; and while the Spirit of God would lead us one way, our carnal nature would lead us another, and thus produce the painful controversy which exists in our minds. The word" Spirit" here refers to the Spirit of God, and to his influences on the heart.

And these are contrary, etc. They are opposite in their nature. They never can harmonize. See Rom 8:6,7. Compare below, Gal 5:19-23. The contrariety Paul has illustrated by showing what each produces; and they are as opposite as adultery, wrath, strife, murders, drunkenness, etc., are to love, joy, goodness, gentleness, and temperance.

So that ye cannot do the things that ye would. See this sentiment illustrated Rom 7:15 and Rom 7:15-19. The expression "cannot do" is stronger by far than the original, and it is doubted whether the original will bear this interpretation. The literal translation would be, "Lest what ye will, those things ye should do," ιναμηαανθελητεταυταποιητε. It is rendered by Doddridge, "So that ye do not the things that ye would." By Locke, "You do not the things that you propose to yourselves;" and Locke remarks on the passage, "Ours is the only translation that I know which renders it cannot." The Vulgate and the Syriac give a literal translation of the Greek, "So that you do not what you would." This is undoubtedly the true rendering; and, in the original, there is no declaration about the possibility or the impossibility, the ability or the inability, to do these things. It is simply a statement of a fact, as it is in Rom 7:15,19. That statement is, that in the mind of a renewed man there is a contrariety in the two influences which bear on his soul--the Spirit of God inclining him in one direction, and the lusts of the flesh in another; that one of these influences is so great, as, in fact, to restrain and control the mind, and prevent its doing what it would otherwise do; that when there is an inclination in one direction, there is a controlling and overpowering influence in another, producing a conflict, which prevents it, and which finally checks and restrains the mind. There is no reason for interpreting this, moreover, as seems always to be the case, of the overpowering tendency in the mind to evil, as if it taught that the Christian was desirous of doing good, but could not, on account of his indwelling corruption. So far as the language of Paul or the fact is concerned, it may be understood of just the opposite; and may mean, that such are the restraints and influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart, that the Christian does not the evil which he otherwise would, and to which his corrupt nature inclines him. He (Paul) is exhorting them Gal 5:16 to walk in the Spirit, and assures them that thus they would not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. To encourage them to this, he reminds them that there were contrary principles in their minds --the influences of the Spirit of God, and a carnal and downward tendency of the flesh. These are contrary one to the other; and such are, in fact, the influences of the Spirit on the mind, that the Christian does not do the things which he otherwise would. So understood, or understood in any fair interpretation of the original, it makes no assertion about the ability or inability of man to do right or wrong. It affirms as a fact, that where these opposite principles exist, a man does not do the things which otherwise he would do. If a man could not do otherwise than he actually does, he would not be to blame. Whether a Christian could not resist the influences of the Holy Spirit, and yield to the corrupt desires of the flesh, or whether he could not overcome these evil propensities and do right always, are points on which the apostle here makes no affirmation. His is the statement of a mere fact, that where these counteracting propensities exist in the mind, there is a conflict, and that the man does not do what he otherwise would do.

(c) "For the flesh" Rom 7:21-23 (+) "lusteth" "desireth" (d) "contrary" Rom 8:6,7 (e) "ye cannot" Rom 7:15,19 Verse 18. But if ye be led of the Spirit. If you submit to the teachings and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Ye are not under the law. You are under a different dispensation--the dispensation of the Spirit. You are free from the restraints and control of the Mosaic law, and are under the control of the Spirit of God.

(f) "if ye be" Rom 6:14, 8:2 Verse 19. Now the works of the flesh. What the flesh, or what corrupt and unrenewed human nature produces.

Are manifest. Plain, well-known. The world is full of illustrations of what corrupt human nature produces; and as to the existence and nature of those works, no one can be ignorant, It is evident here that the word σαρξ, flesh, is used to denote corrupt human nature, and not merely the body; since many of the vices here enumerated are the passions of the mind, or the soul, rather than of the body. Such are "wrath," "strife," "heresies," "envyings," etc., which cannot be said to have their seat in the body. If the word, therefore, is used to denote human nature, the passage furnishes a sad commentary on its tendency, and on the character of man. It is closely parallel to the declaration of the Saviour in Mt 15:19. Of the nature of most of these sins, or works of the flesh, it is unnecessary to offer any comment. They are not so rare as not to be well known, and the meaning of the words requires little exposition. In regard to the existence of these vices as the result of human nature, Rom 1:1 and following; a single glance at the history of the past, or at the present condition of the heathen and a large part of the Christian world, would furnish an ample and a painful demonstration.

(g) "flesh" Mt 15:19, Eph 5:3-6, Col 3:5,6, Rev 22:15 Verse 20. Witchcraft. Pretending to witchcraft. The apostle does not vouch for the actual existence of witchcraft; but he says that what was known as such was a proof of the corrupt nature of man, and was one of the fruits of it. No one can doubt it. It was a system of imposture and falsehood throughout; and nothing is a better demonstration of the depravity of the human heart than an extended and systematized attempt to impose on mankind. The word which is here used, (φαρμακεια, whence our word pharmacy, from φαρμακον a medicine, poison, magic potion,) means, properly, the preparing and giving of medicine. Then it means also poisoning, and also magic art, or enchantment; because in savage nations, pharmacy or medicine consisted much in magical incantations. Thence it means sorcery or enchantment, and it is so used uniformly in the New Testament. It is used only in Gal 5:20, Rev 9:21; Rev 18:23, 21:8. Some have supposed that it means here poisoning, a crime often practised; but the more correct interpretation is, to refer it to the black art, or to pretensions to witchcraft, and the numerous delusions which have grown out of it, as a striking illustration of the corrupt and depraved nature of man.

Hatred. Gr., hatreds--in the plural. Antipathies, and want of love, producing contentions and strifes.

Variance. Contentions. Rom 1:29.

Emulations, ζηλοι In a bad sense, meaning heart-burning, or jealousy, or perhaps inordinate ambition. The sense is, ardour or zeal in a bad cause, leading to strife, etc.

Wrath. This also is plural in the Greek, θυμοι, meaning passions, bursts of anger. 2Cor 12:20.

Strife. Also plural in the Greek. 2Cor 12:20.

Seditions. Rom 16:17.

Heresies. Acts 5:17; 1Cor 11:19

(*) "witchcraft" "sorcery" (+) "emulations" "rivalries" (++) "strife" "disputes" (**) "seditions" "factions" (|) "heresies" "sects" Verse 21. Envyings. 2Cor 12:20.

Revellings. 2Cor 12:20, Rom 13:13.

And such like. This class of evils, without attempting to specify all.

Of the which I tell you before. In regard to which I forewarn you.

As I have also told you in time past. When he was with them.

Shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Cannot possibly be saved. 1Cor 6:9; 1Cor 6:10-11. In regard to this passage we may remark,

(1.) that it furnishes the most striking and unanswerable proof of human depravity. Paul represents these things as "the works of the flesh"-- the works of the unrenewed nature of man. They are such as human nature, when left to itself, everywhere produces. The world shows that such is the fact; and we cannot but ask, is a nature producing this to be regarded as pure? Is man an unfallen being? Can he save himself? Does he need no Saviour?

(2.) This passage is full of fearful admonition to those who indulge in any or all of these vices. Paul, inspired of God, has solemnly declared that such cannot be saved. They cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven as they are. Nor is it desirable that they should. What would heaven be if filled up with adulterers, and fornicators, and idolaters, with the proud and envious, and with murderers and drunkards? To call such a place heaven, would be an abuse of the word. No one could wish to dwell there; and such men cannot enter into heaven.

(3.) The human heart must be changed, or man cannot be saved. This follows, of course. If such is its tendency, then there is a necessity for such a change as that in regeneration, in order that man may be happy and be saved.

(4.) We should rejoice that such men cannot, with their present characters, be admitted to heaven. We should rejoice that there is one world where these vices are unknown--a world of perfect and eternal purity. When we look at the earth; when we see how these vices prevail; when we reflect that every land is polluted, and that we cannot traverse a continent or an island, visit a nook or corner of the earth, dwell in any city or town, where these vices do not exist, oh how refreshing and invigorating is it to look forward to a pure heaven! How cheering the thought that there is one world where these vices axe unknown; one world, all whose ample plains may be traversed, and the note of blasphemy shall never fall on the ear; one world, where virtue shall be safe from the arts of the seducer; one world, where we may for ever dwell, and not one reeling and staggering drunkard shall ever be seen; where there shall be not one family in want and tears, from the vice of its unfaithful head! With what joy should we look forward to that world! With what ardour should we pant that it may be our own!