Albert Barnes Commentary Galatians 5:23

"meekness, self-control; against such there is no law." — Galatians 5:23 (ASV)

Meekness. (See Barnes on Matthew 5:5)

Temperance. The word used here, egkrateia, properly means self-control or continence. It is derived from en and kratov, meaning strength, and refers to the power or ascendancy we have over all kinds of exciting and evil passions. It denotes the self-rule a man has over the evil propensities of his nature.

Our word temperance is now used in a much more limited sense, referring mainly to abstinence from intoxicating drinks. But the word used here is employed in a much broader meaning. It includes dominion over all evil propensities and may denote continence, chastity, self-government, moderation in regard to all indulgences, as well as abstinence from intoxicating drinks. (See Barnes on Acts 24:25)

The sense here is that the influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all indulgences, teach him to restrain his passions and govern himself, to control his evil propensities, and to subdue all inordinate affection. The Christian will not only abstain from intoxicating drinks but also from all exciting passions; he will be temperate in his manner of living and in the government of his temper.

This may be applied to temperance as we commonly understand it, but it should not be limited to that. A Christian must be a temperate man; and if the effect of his religion is not to produce this, it is false and vain. Abstinence from intoxicating drinks, as well as from all improper excitement, is demanded by the very spirit of his religion; and on this subject, there is no danger of being too strict.

No man was ever injured by the strictest temperance, by total abstinence from strong alcoholic drinks and from wine as a beverage. No man is certainly safe who does not abstain. No man, it is believed, can be in a proper frame of mind for religious duties who indulges in the habitual use of intoxicating drinks. Nothing causes more scandal to religion than such indulgences; and, other things being equal, he is most under the influence of the Spirit of God who is most thoroughly a man of temperance.

Against such there is no law. That is, there is no law to condemn such persons. These are not the things that the law denounces. These, therefore, are the truly free—free from the condemning sentence of the law and free in the service of God. Law condemns sin, and those who demonstrate the spirit referred to here are free from its denunciations.