Charles Spurgeon Commentary Galatians 5:25-26

"If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk. Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another." — Galatians 5:25-26 (ASV)

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Do Christian people need to be spoken to like this? Yes, indeed they do, for the best of men are still only men at their best, and the godliest saint is liable to fall into the most foolish sin unless the grace of God prevents it.

Oh, that we could expel from the Church of Christ all vainglorying, all provoking of one another, and all envying of one another! How often, if one Christian brother does a little more than his fellow workers, others begin to find fault with him; and if one is blessed with greater success than others, how frequently that success is disparaged and spoken of slightingly!

This spirit of envy is, more or less, in us all; and though perhaps we are not exhibiting it right now, it only needs a suitable opportunity for its display, and it would be manifested. No one here has any idea of how bad he really is. You do not know how good the grace of God can make you, nor how bad you are by nature, nor how bad you might become if that nature were left to itself.