Galatians 5 : 13-24
The Works of the Flesh and the Fruit of
the Spirit
13 For you were called
to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the
flesh, but through love be servants of one another. 14 For
the whole law is fulfilled in one word, “You shall love your neighbour as
yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one
another take heed that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by
the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For
the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit
are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from
doing what you would. 18 But if you are led by the
Spirit you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of
the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry,
sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party
spirit, 21 envy,[1] drunkenness, carousing,
and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against
such there is no law. 24 And those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Basic Principles
- a. Natural Hierarchy of Being: human beings are on the threshold between the orders of creation that are material, and the orders of creation that are purely spiritual. We have a material body and a spiritual soul.
- b. body is gateway to the soul for human beings – hence why incarnation, why church, why sacraments, why rituals etc
- c. despite baptism God wills that we continue to have concupiscence – this is our fallen state but this is the test that He wills that we must face. We must bring our bodies to be subject to our souls. It is not enough to know what is right, we must do it.
- d. However, it must be done by grace. If we attempt to do this by our own efforts, we will not only fail we will suffer from pride. Pride is the deadliest of sins because it undermines every virtue. See below St Paul’s use of “works” and “fruit”.
Scripture notes
v13 “Freedom” – the theme of
Exodus. St Paul is referring in Galatians first to freedom from the Law of
Moses. He has to clarify what he means because it might seem he is talking
about freedom from the moral laws of the Law of Moses. Paul does not mean that
and is why he is probably writing this passage. But it is also to do with freedom
in terms of the Exodus – freedom so we can worship God. This means not only
being able to follow the ritual laws given on Mt Sinai but worship we offer God
by living upright lives. Being a virtuous man enables us to worship God and
enter into His presence.
v13 “Be servants of one another” –
this is what E90 is talking about by encouraging us to be “men for others”.
This is an important counsel that Holy Scripture gives us in our struggles with
the flesh. The danger is that we become very focused on ourselves. St Paul is
saying the opposite is key – be subject to one another. Hence why we have this
fraternity (and also the Church…). Acts of charity to our neighbour will really
help us in our struggles with the flesh – the vices are opposed to charity.
V14 ‘the whole law’ Paul is
referring to the moral law if you like. Charity (love) covers all virtues.
V15 these are sins against one’s
brothers and sisters in Christ – perhaps what the Galatians were particularly doing
at the time. It is also what, regrettably, Christians do over and again.
V16 “not gratifying the flesh” – this
is what asceticism is about
V17 this is the inner war raging
inside every human being: the opposition of the fallen flesh with the spirit
V18 “law” this is the old law,
the old covenant – it does NOT mean we don’t need to obey laws!
V19 – 22 St Paul wants to make
plain what is opposed to what. He calls them ‘the works of the flesh’. The list
is not exhaustive of course – more could be added.
V22 Here is the list opposing the
works of the flesh
Works VS Fruit – note here
the subtle difference between works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit. The
fruits of the spirit are born of grace working in us – the works of the flesh
enslave us.
V22 “self-control” sometimes “self-mastery”.
This is the last in the list but in asceticism is what we are seeking to gain by
grace in asceticism. To have the virtue or fruit of self-mastery means we are
not subject to our fleshly desires, that our soul rules over them.
V24 “crucified the flesh” again
this is what asceticism is about. Grace comes from the cross of Christ. He gave
all for our salvation. His grace is sufficient. Paul uses this specifically in
the context of gaining mastery over the flesh and to live by the Spirit. In
asceticism we are ‘crucifying’ our fleshly desires so that we gain mastery over
them within the Victory Christ won on the Cross over all fallen Creation: evil,
sin and death.
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