Galatians 5:13

Liberty must not be abused

13. St Paul seems to be recurring to what he had said in Galatians 5:7, the intermediate verses being a sort of parenthesis in which he wanders from the main line of thought. -This submission cometh not from Him that callethyou a little leaven, &c. for ye were calledunto freedom brethren".

unto liberty lit. -on condition of freedom." The terms (and so the object) of your calling were freedom.

an occasion to the flesh By the word -flesh" we must understand not merely sensual indulgence, but that natural selfishness which finds expression in the disregard of other people's rights and interests, -hatred, variance, emulations", and the like. Patristic expositors take occasion to point out that -the flesh" does not mean -the materialbody", for many of the sins enumerated below as -works of the flesh" have their seat in the soul. The effects of the Fall have extended to the whole man, that unrenewed nature which -is become corrupt in accordance with the lusts of deceit" (Ephesians 4:22) and -which is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be", see Romans 8:5-7.

by love serve one another The service of God, and of man for His sake, is alone perfect freedom. Too much stress cannot be laid on the expression, - serveone another". Act as the slavesof your fellow-men. This is true Christian liberty.