galatians-5:13,-galatians-5:14

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Galatians 5:13

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty - Freedom from Jewish rites and ceremonies; see the notes at Galatians 3:28; Galatians 4:9, note, Galatians 4:21-31, note. The meaning here is, that Paul wished the false teachers removed because true Christians had been called unto liberty, and they were abridging and destroying that liberty. They were not in subjection to the Law of Moses, or to anything else that savored of bondage. They were free; free from the servitude of sin, and free from... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Galatians 5:13-15

Galatians 5:13-15. Ye have been called By the gospel; into liberty From the bondage of the Mosaic ceremonies, as well as of sin and misery: only use not liberty for an occasion of the flesh So as to nourish or gratify any corrupt principle in yourselves or others. But by love serve one another Use your liberty as may best manifest your love to your neighbour, seeking his edification, or at least doing nothing contrary thereto, Romans 14:13; Romans 14:15. And hereby show that Christ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:13-26

True freedom; true Christianity (5:13-26)Christian freedom does not mean that believers may do as they like. On the contrary, they must think of others and act to please them. This is what the law commands, but those who want to put themselves under the law cannot do it. Instead they are unkind and cruel to each other. The goal that the law aims at is not reached by trying to keep the law, but by acting with true Christian liberty (13-15).Sooner or later Christians find that they do not always... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Galatians 5:13

unto = upon. Greek. epi . App-104 . Liberty is the foundation. for . Greek. eis . App-104 . occasion . Greek. aphorme . See Romans 7:8 . serve . he, douleuo . App-190 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Galatians 5:13

For ye brethren, were called for freedom: only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.Freedom from Jewish observances did not mean freedom to indulge in things forbidden, which Paul would promptly enumerate. No relaxation of the commandments of Christ was for one moment intended by anything Paul had written about being "under grace" and not "under law." Here he cited the great motivator of Christian morality, namely love of the brethren. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Galatians 5:13

Galatians 5:13. Only use not liberty— From the mention of liberty, to which St. Paul tells them they are called under the gospel, he takes occasion to caution them respecting the use of it, and so exhorts them to a spiritual or true Christian life; shewing the difference and contrariety between that and a carnal life, or a life after the flesh, Galatians 5:13-26. The word δουλευετε, rendered serve, has a greater force in the Greek than our English word serve expresses, in the common... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Galatians 5:13

13. The "ye" is emphatical, from its position in the Greek, "Ye brethren"; as opposed to those legalists "who trouble you." unto liberty—The Greek expresses, "on a footing of liberty." The state or condition in which ye have been called to salvation, is one of liberty. Gospel liberty consists in three things, freedom from the Mosaic yoke, from sin, and from slavish fear. only, c.—Translate, "Only turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh." Do not give the flesh the handle or pretext... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 5:13-14

The "flesh" is the sinful human nature that every person, saved and unsaved, possesses. It is possible to conclude that since it is unnecessary to keep the Law to be saved, it is unnecessary to pay attention to the Law for any reason. However, Paul was not urging his converts to burn their Old Testaments. The Law has values, as he previously pointed out, one of which is to reveal how to express love for God and other people. Really the whole Law is a revelation of how to love (Leviticus 19:18;... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Galatians 5:13-15

2. Living without license 5:13-15Paul urged his readers to live unbound to the Law of Moses (Galatians 5:1-12). He also warned them against using their liberty as a license to sin to prevent them from overreacting."Christian freedom is not licence [sic] for the simple but tremendous reason that the Christian is not the man who has become free to sin, but the man, who, by the grace of God, has become free not to sin." [Note: Barclay, p. 50.] "The theme of love . . . informs all of Paul’s... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Galatians 5:13

5:13 to (e-6) Epi . the condition into which they are called; what characterizes their calling as a condition of its existence. see Notes, Romans 4:18 ; Romans 5:14 . serve (f-23) Douleuo , serve as a bondman, see Note, 1 Corinthians 4:1 . read more