Galatians 5:16-18
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The promise here isn't simply that you won't give in to fleshly desires, but that you will not fulfill them. This means you won't bring those desires to completion or allow them to reign, a profound assurance that freedom from condemnation is incomplete without this victory.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a major conflict within the Galatian churches: some were insisting on Jewish law-keeping for salvation, which he argues leads to bondage rather than freedom. He has just stated that the whole law is fulfilled in love, and he now calls them to actively live by the Holy Spirit's power and direction. This way of life, he promises, will prevent them from acting on the sinful desires of their unredeemed nature.
Paul doesn't just tell us to 'have' the Spirit; he tells us to 'walk by' Him. What does that actually look like in daily life?
The phrase 'walk by the Spirit' (or 'in the Spirit' in some translations) is a call to live according to the Spirit's direction and power. It's not about trying harder on your own, but about yielding to the Holy Spirit's guidance. Think of it like navigating a complex journey: you need a map and a guide. The Spirit is both. He provides the divine standard and the power to live by it, shaping your choices and actions according to God's will. This is the active, ongoing life of faith, different from just a one-time decision.
Paul offers a powerful promise: 'you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.' How can we be so sure?
This isn't a vague hope; it's a confident assurance rooted in God's power. When you genuinely walk by the Spirit, you are not left to fight the 'lusts of the flesh' alone. The Holy Spirit empowers you to resist and ultimately overcome these desires. This doesn't mean the flesh disappears entirely, nor that you'll never struggle. However, it means you will not be dominated by these desires, nor will you bring them to full 'fulfillment' in your actions. The Spirit's presence ensures a victory that frees you from being a slave to your old, fleshly nature.
Understand the original words
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peripateō · Greek Verb
The consistent, ongoing manner of one's life or conduct; a metaphor for the Christian's lifestyle which is to be empowered and directed by the Holy Spirit.
pneuma · Greek Noun
The third person of the Trinity, the active agent in the believer's life who convicts, regenerates, indwells, and empowers the Christian to live in holiness.
sarx · Greek Noun
The fallen human nature and sinful disposition that remains in believers even after regeneration; it is consistently opposed to the Holy Spirit and desires independence from God.
nomos · Greek Noun
The Mosaic Law, or the principle of legalism; referring here to the system of rules that cannot provide the power for righteous living and from which believers are delivered through faith in Christ.
This verse is Paul's passionate response to the Galatian believers who were being swayed by false teachers to adopt legalistic practices. He's reminding them that true freedom and victory over sin come not from following rules, but from actively living by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.
c. AD 30-33
Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit descended upon believers in Jerusalem, empowering them and forming the early church. This event marked a new era of God's presence and power available to His people.
c. AD 35-40
Paul's conversion and early ministry
Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of Christians, was dramatically converted and became the Apostle Paul. He began his ministry, spreading the gospel to Gentiles.
c. AD 48-49
First Jerusalem Council
This council addressed the issue of whether Gentile converts needed to follow Mosaic law, particularly circumcision. The decision affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith, not by adherence to the Law.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's ministry in Corinth
During his time in Corinth, Paul wrote his letters to the Thessalonians. He also likely encountered issues in churches that would later lead to the writing of Galatians, dealing with legalism and false teachings.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Paul writes Galatians
Paul penned this letter to the churches in Galatia, likely from Ephesus or Corinth. He was responding to serious challenges where Judaizers were insisting that Gentile Christians must be circumcised and obey the Mosaic Law to be truly saved.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's imprisonment in Rome
While under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These letters often revisit themes of freedom in Christ and the practical outworking of faith.
This passage directly echoes Galatians 5:16 by stating that believers are to 'walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit,' highlighting the contrast and the means of overcoming fleshly desires.
Galatians 5:25As a direct follow-up, this verse reinforces the idea of 'living by the Spirit' and 'walking by the Spirit,' emphasizing the continuous, active nature of a Spirit-led life.
1 Corinthians 6:11-12This passage shows the practical outcome of living by the Spirit, contrasting past unrighteousness with present cleansing and the resulting freedom from being controlled by anything, including fleshly desires.
Ephesians 4:22-24Here, the 'old self' with its 'deceitful desires' is contrasted with the 'new self' created in righteousness and holiness, paralleling the flesh's desires versus the Spirit's transformative work.
1 Peter 2:11This verse warns believers to abstain from 'fleshly lusts' that war against the soul, underscoring the ongoing spiritual battle that 'walking by the Spirit' is designed to win.
cambridgeGalatians 5:16: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
16–26 . The spiritual life of liberty inconsistent with the indulgence of the works of the flesh 16 . This I say then ] After affirming the great law of Christian perfection in Galatians 5:14 and pointing out the effects of its violation, St Paul proceeds to shew how alone the former may be obeyed and the latter escaped. The controversies and heartburnings from which the Galatian Chruch was suf…
barnesGalatians 5:16: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."
This I say then - This is the true rule about overcoming the propensities of your carnal natures, and of avoiding the evils of strife and contention. Walk - The Christian life is often represented as a journey, and the word walk, in the scripture, is often equivalent to live; Mark 7:5. See the notes at Romans 4:12; Romans 6:4, note; Romans 8:1, note. In the Spirit - Live under the influences of…
The promise here isn't simply that you won't give in to fleshly desires, but that you will not fulfill them. This means you won't bring those desires to completion or allow them to reign, a profound assurance that freedom from condemnation is incomplete without this victory.
Paul is addressing a major conflict within the Galatian churches: some were insisting on Jewish law-keeping for salvation, which he argues leads to bondage rather than freedom. He has just stated that the whole law is fulfilled in love, and he now calls them to actively live by the Holy Spirit's power and direction. This way of life, he promises, will prevent them from acting on the sinful desires of their unredeemed nature.
Paul is addressing a major conflict within the Galatian churches: some were insisting on Jewish law-keeping for salvation, which he argues leads to bondage rather than freedom. He has just stated that the whole law is fulfilled in love, and he now calls them to actively live by the Holy Spirit's power and direction. This way of life, he promises, will prevent them from acting on the sinful desires of their unredeemed nature.
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you fr…" — The promise here isn't simply that you won't give in to fleshly desires, but that you will not fulfill them. This means you won't bring those desires to completion or allow them to reign, a profo…
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Last reviewed October 2026
