Galatians 5:16-26·~1 min

Walking by the Spirit

Paul says that those who walk by the Spirit will not carry out the desires of the flesh, because flesh and Spirit are opposed to one another. To be led by the Spirit is therefore to live outside the law's old custodial regime.

S¹⁶o I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Paul then lists the works of the flesh in their moral and communal ugliness, from sexual impurity and idolatry to rivalries, divisions, envy, and drunkenness. He warns as before that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Against that, Paul sets the Spirit's fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh, so if they live by the Spirit they must also keep in step with the Spirit and refuse conceit, provocation, and envy.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another.

Section summaryPaul says that the way not to gratify the flesh is to walk by the Spirit, because flesh and Spirit are opposed and the Spirit's leading frees from law's custody. He then names the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in direct contrast, and closes by saying that those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh and must therefore keep in step with the Spirit rather than provoking and envying one another.

Role in the chapterThis section supplies the letter's positive moral center. It shows what freedom becomes when it is governed not by law or flesh, but by the Spirit's life and fruit.