And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Galatians 5:24
What does Galatians 5:24 mean?
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Galatians 5:24
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The verse highlights that belonging to Christ means you've already acted decisively against your old self. It’s not just a future hope, but a foundational act, like nailing something to a cross, that has already happened through Christ's power in you, placing your flesh in a permanently surrendered state.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after Paul lists the wonderful "fruit of the Spirit"—things like love, joy, and peace. He contrasts this with the sinful actions of the "flesh" that were listed earlier. Now, he explains that those who truly belong to Christ have actively put down their sinful desires, not just ignored them, setting the stage for the following verses about living by the Spirit's guidance.
You've 'crucified the flesh' – but does that mean it's totally gone? This verse points to a powerful past event with a daily application.
Paul uses the word "crucified" here in a way that can seem tricky. It's not that the flesh, our sinful nature, is completely eradicated the moment we become followers of Christ. Instead, it refers to a decisive, foundational act.
A Completed Act
When we unite with Christ through faith and baptism, we participate in His death. This is when the flesh, with all its sinful passions and desires, is ideally and ideally nailed to the cross. It's a victory that's already won. Our old way of life, ruled by sin, is declared dead.
An Ongoing Practice
But we still live in a world with a sinful nature. So, "crucified" also speaks to a daily, ongoing process. We must actively, deliberately, and consistently put to death the desires of our flesh. It's like tending a garden – you don't just plant the seeds once; you keep weeding and caring for it. We continue to mortify the flesh, keeping it in a state of crucifixion, so it doesn't reign over us.
What exactly are these 'passions and desires' the flesh is known for? Understanding them helps us recognize the enemy at work.
The verse mentions 'passions and desires' as what the flesh is crucified . These aren't just vague feelings; they represent the very nature and output of our sinful inclination.
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Passions (Affections)
Think of 'passions' as the intense, often overwhelming feelings and inclinations that drive us toward sin. They are the susceptibility to evil impressions, the stirring of unhealthy emotions, or the violent, boisterous urges that arise from our fallen nature.
Desires (Lusts)
'Desires' or 'lusts' are the active outworking of these passions. They are the specific cravings, appetites, and wishes for things that are forbidden or that pull us away from God. They are what we actively pursue when our passions are stirred.
Together, these represent the 'bad fruit' that our fleshly nature produces. They are what need to be nailed to the cross, mortified, and put under the control of the Holy Spirit.
Understand the original words
sarx · Greek Noun
The fallen human nature, inclined toward sin and rebellion against God, which the believer is called to mortify.
pathēmasin · Greek Noun
Strong, often irrational, emotions or desires that drive sinful actions, contrary to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
This passage directly parallels the 'crucified flesh' imagery, explaining that our 'old self' was crucified with Christ, leading to the destruction of the body of sin.
Colossians 3:5It commands believers to 'put to death' their earthly nature, including its passions and desires, echoing the active mortification described in Galatians 5:24.
Romans 8:13This verse highlights the consequence of 'put[ting] to death the deeds of the body' through the Spirit, which is the logical outcome of having 'crucified the flesh'.
Galatians 2:20Paul declares 'I have been crucified with Christ,' directly linking his own spiritual death to Christ's sacrifice and setting the stage for understanding the crucifixion of the flesh.
cambridgeGalatians 5:24: "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
24 . they that are Christ’s ] They who belong to Christ, who are His by redemption—or perhaps as in Galatians 3:29 , who are part of Christ. The same expression occ. 1 Corinthians 15:23 . The R.V. reads ‘They that are of Christ Jesus ’, which has the support of the earlier MSS. have crucified ] The aorist may be rendered strictly—‘crucified’; in which case the reference will be to their conversi…
vincentGalatians 5:24: "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
They that are Christ's (οἱ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ)The best texts add Ἱησοῦ they that are of Christ Jesus. Belong to him. The exact phrase only here. But see 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:23; 1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Corinthians 10:7, Galatians 3:29.Have crucified the flesh (τὴν σάρκα ἐσταύρωσαν)The phrase only here. Comp. Galatians 2:20; Galatians 6:14; Romans 6:6. The line of thought as r…
The verse highlights that belonging to Christ means you've already acted decisively against your old self. It’s not just a future hope, but a foundational act, like nailing something to a cross, that has already happened through Christ's power in you, placing your flesh in a permanently surrendered state.
This verse comes right after Paul lists the wonderful "fruit of the Spirit"—things like love, joy, and peace. He contrasts this with the sinful actions of the "flesh" that were listed earlier. Now, he explains that those who truly belong to Christ have actively put down their sinful desires, not just ignored them, setting the stage for the following verses about living by the Spirit's guidance.
This verse comes right after Paul lists the wonderful "fruit of the Spirit"—things like love, joy, and peace. He contrasts this with the sinful actions of the "flesh" that were listed earlier. Now, he explains that those who truly belong to Christ have actively put down their sinful desires, not just ignored them, setting the stage for the following verses about living by the Spirit's guidance.
"And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." — The verse highlights that belonging to Christ means you've already acted decisively against your old self. It’s not just a future hope, but a foundational act, like nailing something to a cross, th…
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Last reviewed October 2026