Galatians 5:13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

In the latter part of this chapter the apostle comes to exhort these Christians to serious practical godliness, as the best antidote against the snares of the false teachers. Two things especially he presses upon them:? I. That they should not strive with one another, but love one another. He tells them (Gal. 5:13) that they had been called unto liberty, and he would have them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free; but yet he would have them be very careful that they... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:13-15

5:13-15 As for you, brothers, it was for freedom that you were called, only you must not use this freedom as a bridgehead through which the worst side of human nature can invade you, but in love you must serve one another; for the whole law stands complete in one word, in the sentence, "You must love your neighbour as yourself." But if you snap at one another, and devour one another, you must watch that you do not end up by wiping each other out. With this paragraph Paul's letter changes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:13

For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty ,.... He calls them "brethren", to testify his affection to them, and to put them in mind of their relation to one another, which required mutual love, a thing he is about to press them to; he asserts that they were "called" not merely externally, but internally, by the effectual grace of God, out of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, unto the liberty of the Gospel and of the grace of God; that liberty wherewith Christ had made them free, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:13

Ye have been called unto liberty - A total freedom from all the burthensome rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh. By flesh, here, we may understand all the unrenewed desires and propensities of the mind; whatsoever is not under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. Your liberty is from that which would oppress the spirit; not from that which would lay restraints on the flesh. The Gospel proclaims liberty from the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:13

Verse 13 13.Ye have been called to liberty. He now proceeds to show in what way liberty must be used. In the course of expounding the First Epistle to the Corinthians, we have pointed out that liberty is one thing, and that the use of it is another thing. Liberty lies in the conscience, and looks to God; the use of it lies in outward matters, and deals not with God only, but with men. Having exhorted the Galatians to suffer no diminution of their liberty, he now enjoins them to be moderate in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty ( ὑμεῖς γὰρ ἐπ ἐλευθερίᾳ ἐκλήθητε ἀδελφοί ); for ye , brethren , were called unto (Greek, for ) freedom. The "for" points back to the closing words of the preceding verse, which implied a settled state of well-being from which those troublers were driving his readers; that happy state (the apostle says) was the very glory and essence of their "calling." This, of course, was that condition of free men described... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13

The meaning of Christian liberty. The false teachers deserve this severity of treatment, for they would deprive you of your liberty. I. THE CHRISTIAN CALLING IS TO LIBERTY . He had already counselled them to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ had made them free ( Galatians 5:1 )—a liberty which lifted them out of legal bondage, and, above all, destroyed the yoke of ancient ceremonialism; and now these Judaizers were attempting to strike at the root of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

The liberty of love. Having shown the magnificence of the gospel system, Paul now proceeds to define that freedom which it secures. It is not licence, but love, which it induces; and love not only fulfils the Law, as legalism does not, but also prevents the bitter strife which legalism ensures. We have the following points suggested:— I. THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN LICENCE AND LIBERTY . ( Galatians 5:13 .) The grace which has freed us from the legal spirit has not endowed us... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

Liberty and not licence. I. THE DANGER . St. Paul was no antinomian. No Hebrew prophet ever insisted more strenuously on the necessity of righteousness than did the champion of justification by faith. With him freedom from the bondage of Law is not release from the obligations of duty. If tedious ceremonial observances are discarded, eternal principles of morality are only exalted into the higher supremacy. If we are not required to shape our conduct according to rigid rules, we are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

Freedom sustained by the Spirit. I. USE OF CHRISTIAN FREEDOM . "For ye, brethren, were called for freedom." Paul, having wished the Judaizing teachers off Galatian soil, justifies the strength of his wish. They would have led the Galatians into bondage, but God had called them for freedom. He makes a distinction between the possession of freedom and the use of freedom. He had been under the necessity of making prominent their possession of freedom in contending against the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:13-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-15

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

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