Matthew Henry Commentary Galatians 5:16-26

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would. But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof. 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 5:16-26 (ASV)

If it is our care to act under the guidance and power of the blessed Spirit, though we may not be freed from the stirrings and oppositions of the corrupt nature that remains in us, it will not have dominion over us. Believers are engaged in a conflict, in which they earnestly desire that grace may obtain full and speedy victory. And those who desire in this way to give themselves up to be led by the Holy Spirit are not under the law as a covenant of works, nor exposed to its awful curse.

Their hatred of sin and desires for holiness show that they have a part in the salvation of the gospel. The works of the flesh are many and manifest. And these sins will shut people out of heaven. Yet how many, calling themselves Christians, live in these sins and say they hope for heaven! The fruits of the Spirit, or of the renewed nature, which we are to produce, are named.

And as the apostle had chiefly named works of the flesh, not only hurtful to people themselves but also tending to make them hurtful to one another, so here he chiefly notices the fruits of the Spirit, which tend to make Christians agreeable to one another, as well as to make them happy. The fruits of the Spirit plainly show that such people are led by the Spirit. By describing the works of the flesh and fruits of the Spirit, we are told what to avoid and oppose, and what we are to cherish and cultivate; and this is the sincere care and endeavor of all real Christians.

Sin does not now reign in their mortal bodies, so that they obey it (Romans 6:12), for they seek to destroy it. Christ will never acknowledge those who yield themselves to be the servants of sin. And it is not enough that we cease to do evil, but we must learn to do well. Our conduct will always correspond to the principle that guides and governs us (Romans 8:5). We must earnestly apply ourselves to mortify the deeds of the body and to walk in newness of life.

Not desiring vainglory, or unduly wishing for the esteem and applause of people, not provoking or envying one another, but seeking to bring forth more abundantly those good fruits, which are, through Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of God.