Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 5:19

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness," — Galatians 5:19 (ASV)

Now the works of the flesh. What the flesh, or what corrupt and unrenewed human nature, produces.

Are manifest. They are plain and well-known. The world is full of illustrations of what corrupt human nature produces. Indeed, regarding the existence and nature of those works, no one can be ignorant.

It is evident here that the word sarx, flesh, is used to denote corrupt human nature and not merely the body, since many of the vices listed here are passions of the mind or the soul, rather than of the body.

Examples of these are "wrath," "strife," "heresies," "envyings," etc., which cannot be said to have their seat in the body. If the word "flesh," therefore, is used to denote human nature, the passage provides a sad commentary on its tendency and on the character of humanity. It is closely parallel to the declaration of the Savior in Matthew 15:19.

Concerning the nature of most of these sins, or works of the flesh, it is unnecessary to offer any comment. They are not so rare as to be unknown, and the meaning of the words requires little explanation.

Regarding the existence of these vices as the result of human nature (see the discussion on Romans 1:1 and following), a single glance at the history of the past, or at the present condition of the non-Christian world and a large part of the Christian world, would provide an ample and painful demonstration.