Galatians 5:16 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 5:16-21

5:16-21 I tell you, let your walk and conversation be dominated by the Spirit, and don't let the desires of the lower side of your nature have their way. For the desires of the lower side of human nature are the very reverse of the desires of the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are the very reverse of those of the lower side of human nature, for these are fundamentally opposed to each other, so that you cannot do whatever you like. The deeds of the lower side of human nature are obvious... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:16

This I say then, walk in the Spirit ,.... The advice the apostle thinks fit to give, and which he would have observed, is, to "walk in the Spirit", that is, either after the Spirit of God; making the word inspired by him the rule of behaviour, which as it is the standard of faith, so of practice, and is the lamp unto our feet, and the light unto our path; taking him himself for a guide, who not only guides into all truth, but in the way of holiness and righteousness unto the land of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:16

Walk in the Spirit - Get back that Spirit of God which you have grieved and lost; take up that spiritual religion which you have abandoned. Ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh - If the Spirit of God dwell in and rule your heart, the whole carnal mind will be destroyed; and then, not only carnal ordinances will be abandoned, but also the works and propensities of the flesh. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:16

Verse 16 16.This I say then. Now follows the remedy. The ruin of the church is no light evil, and whatever threatens it must be opposed with the most determined resistance. But how is this to be accomplished? By not permitting the flesh to rule in us, and by yielding ourselves to the direction of the Spirit of God. The Galatians are indirectly told, that they are carnal, destitute of the Spirit of God, and that the life which they lead is unworthy of Christians; for whence did their violent... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16

This I say then ( λέγω δέ ). Like τοῦτο δὲ λέγω in Galatians 3:17 , and λέγω δὲ in Galatians 4:1 , the phrase, λέγω δέ , here introduces a further illustration of a point already referred to. It points back to the line of remark commenced in Galatians 4:13 in the words, "No freedom to be an occasion to the flesh! but through love be in bondage one to another." The voluntary bondage of love is one most important part of the spiritual life; as indulgence in malignant... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16

Walking by the Spirit. I. THE TRUE CHRISTIAN WILL AIM AT NOT FULFILLING THE LUST OF THE FLESH . It is the fashion of the age to decry asceticism. St. Paul was not an advocate of the monkish ideal according to which there was a virtue in restraining desires and activities which are harmless in themselves. But this revulsion of our own day with its "fleshly school" of poets goes much further in the opposite direction and honours as "natural," what St. Paul would... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-18

The life and warfare of the Spirit in the soul. This important passage suggests a comprehensive view of the Spirit's work in the believer's life. I. THE WORK Or THE SPIRIT IN THE BELIEVER . 1 . "Walk in the Spirit." Nothing could be more descriptive of the natural effect of the spiritual change produced in regeneration. The new-born child soon discovers symptoms of activity. The language of the passage reminds us: 2 . Led by the Spirit. This implies an entire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-26

Christian progress realized through antagonism. We must not suppose, however, that the love which God gives us as our liberty can work out its will without experiencing opposition. Opposition we know it will meet in the world of selfish men; but Paul here points out the antagonism it meets within our own personalities. The flesh antagonizes the Spirit. Love does not get its own sweet way as often as we would. Self becomes a battle-ground, and God contends with the flesh for the supremacy... read more

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

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Galatians 5:16-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Galatians 5:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-18

The Pulpit Commentary - Galatians 5:16-26

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