Galatians 5:19–21

Commentary on Galatians 5:19–21

Galatians 5:19–21 (King James Version): “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

1. Setting the Context: Galatians 5[i] and the Argument of the Letter

Paul’s letter to the Galatians is a defence of the gospel of grace against the distortion of legalism. In Galatians 5:1 (KJV) Paul declares: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

The chapter contrasts two ways of life:

• Life in the flesh
  (human nature in rebellion against God)
• Life in the Spirit
  (the new life given by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit)

Verses 19 to 21 list the “works of the flesh”, while verses 22 to 23 list the “fruit of the Spirit”. Paul is not merely giving moral advice; he is describing two spiritual realities that reveal whether a person belongs to Christ.

2. Exegetical Commentary on Galatians 5:19–21

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest”

Paul says these works are “manifest,” meaning they are obvious, visible, and recognisable. Sin is not subtle in its fruit. When the flesh rules, the results are plain.

Sexual sins

“Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness”

These terms cover all sexual activity outside the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman.

• Adultery
  breaking the marriage covenant.
• Fornication
  sexual immorality more broadly.
• Uncleanness
  moral impurity of any kind.
• Lasciviousness
  unrestrained sensuality, shameless behaviour.

Paul begins with sexual sins because they are often the clearest evidence of a heart turned inward on itself.

Religious sins

“Idolatry, witchcraft”

• Idolatry
  giving ultimate loyalty to anything other than the living God.
• Witchcraft
  (Greek pharmakeia): practices involving manipulation, superstition, or spiritual control.

These sins show humanity’s attempt to replace God with self-made powers.

Relational sins

“Hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders”

These sins fracture community and destroy fellowship.

• Hatred
  hostility of heart.
• Variance
  quarrelling.
• Emulations
  jealousy.
• Wrath
  outbursts of anger.
• Strife
  rivalry and selfish ambition.
• Seditions
  divisions.
• Heresies
  factions or party spirit.
• Envyings
  resentment of others’ blessings.
• Murders
  the ultimate expression of hatred.

Paul’s list shows that sin is not only about private behaviour; it is deeply social.

Sins of excess

“Drunkenness, revellings”

These refer to uncontrolled indulgence, whether in alcohol or wild, disorderly living.

“And such like”

Paul’s list is not exhaustive. The flesh produces many variations of the same rebellion.

The warning

“They which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

This is not about occasional lapses in the Christian life. The Greek grammar indicates ongoing, unrepentant practice. Paul is saying:

• Those whose lives are characterised by the works of the flesh
• Those who refuse repentance
• Those who show no evidence of the Spirit’s transforming work

will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is a sober warning. It is not legalism; it is realism. A tree is known by its fruit.

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3. Theological Teaching

3.1 The nature of the flesh

The flesh is not merely the physical body. It is the whole person in rebellion against God. Paul teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are in conflict. Galatians 5:17 (KJV): “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.”

3.2 The necessity of the Spirit

Christian living is not achieved by human effort. Galatians 5:16 (KJV): “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

The Spirit does not merely restrain sin; He produces new desires.

3.3 The seriousness of sin

Paul’s warning is not hypothetical. Persistent, unrepentant sin reveals a heart that has not been regenerated. Christian theology rightly insists that justification is by grace alone through faith alone, but also that saving faith is never alone. It is always accompanied by sanctification.

3.4 The kingdom of God

“Inheriting the kingdom” refers to final salvation. Paul is not saying that Christians earn the kingdom by good works. He is saying that the kingdom belongs to those who belong to Christ, and those who belong to Christ bear the fruit of the Spirit, not the works of the flesh.

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4. Meditation Guide for Modern Christian Living

4.1 Examine your life honestly

Ask:

• Which works of the flesh appear in my life?
• Where am I tempted to minimise or excuse them?
• What relational sins do I tolerate?
• What desires rule my heart?

4.2 Confess and repent

Repentance is not self-hatred; it is returning to the Father who loves you. Bring specific sins to God. Name them. Turn from them.

4.3 Walk by the Spirit

Walking by the Spirit means:

• Submitting daily to God’s Word
• Praying for the Spirit’s help
• Cultivating habits that feed spiritual life
• Staying connected to the church community
• Putting to death the deeds of the body

4.4 Replace the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit

Paul’s list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV) is the positive counterpart: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Meditate on each fruit. Ask the Spirit to grow these qualities in you.

4.5 Remember your identity in Christ

You are not defined by your past sins. You are not enslaved to the flesh. You belong to Christ. Galatians 5:24 (KJV): “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”

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[i] Galatians 5

King James Version

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.

9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.

11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased.

12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you.

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.