Galatians 5:20-21 - List of Works of the Flesh
Paul's letter to the Galatians outlines a stark contrast between living by the Spirit and indulging the "works of the flesh." Galatians 5:19-21 provides a list of these works, serving as a warning to believers. The Apostle states, "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are: Adultery, whoredom, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Galatians 5:19-21, YLT) [1].
This passage immediately follows Paul's exhortation to "walk in the Spirit" and not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). The "flesh" here refers to the corrupt, fallen state of the soul, not guided by God's Spirit or right reason, but rather by animal passions and the influence of sin [6]. The "works of the flesh" are not only external sinful acts but also inward lusts, such as hatred and envyings, as they all spring from corrupt nature [5]. These works are described as "manifest" or "very clear," indicating that a basic understanding of right and wrong is universal, though some may suppress this awareness [4, 7].
The list itself is extensive, covering various categories of sin. "Adultery" is mentioned, though some ancient manuscripts omit it [1, 4]. "Lasciviousness" is better understood as "wantonness" or "petulance," which can manifest in sexual indulgence but is not exclusively so [4]. "Idolatry" and "witchcraft" (often translated as "sorcery") point to spiritual deviations [3]. The list also includes relational sins like "hatred," "variance" (discord), "emulations" (jealousies), "wrath," "strife," "seditions" (divisions), and "heresies" (factions) [1, 3]. Finally, it addresses excesses such as "drunkenness" and "revellings" (carousing) [1, 2].
Paul's purpose in listing these works is to demonstrate the clear opposition between them and the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) [4]. He warns that those who practice such things "shall not inherit the kingdom of God" [1]. This serves as a serious caution, emphasizing that a life dominated by these sinful actions flows from an attempt to live apart from the power of God's Spirit [7]. The passage underscores the necessity of striving against sin, recognizing the ongoing struggle between the flesh and the Spirit within every believer [8].
Sources
- Galatians “Galatians 5:19 (YLT) — And manifest also are the works of the flesh, which are: Adultery, whoredom, uncleanness, lasciviousness,”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Galatians 5:21 cross-references: Deuteronomy 21:20, Isaiah 3:11, Matthew 25:34, Luke 21:34, Romans 2:8, Romans 8:13, Romans 13:13, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 15:50, Ephesians 5:5, Ephesians 5:18, Colossians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:5, 1 Peter 4:3, Revelation 21:27, Revelation 22:15”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Galatians 5:20 cross-references: Deuteronomy 18:10, 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Chronicles 10:13, 2 Chronicles 33:6, Ezekiel 22:18, Acts 8:9, Acts 16:16, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 11:19, Titus 3:10, 2 Peter 2:1, Revelation 21:8”
- Galatians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Galatians 5:19: Confirming Gal 5:18, by showing the contrariety between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. manifest--The hidden fleshly principle betrays itself palpably by its works, so that these are not hard to discover, and leave no doubt that they come not from the Spirit. which are these--Greek, "such as," for instance. Adultery--omitted in the oldest manuscripts. lasciviousness--rather, "wantonness" petulance, capricious insolence; it may display itself in "lasciviousness," but not necessarily or constantly so (Mar 7:21-22, where it ”
- Galatians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Galatians 5:18: Now the works of the flesh are manifest,.... By "flesh" is meant corrupt nature, as before, and by the works of it, not only external acts of sin, but inward lusts; for such are here mentioned among its works, as "hatred", "wrath", "envyings", &c. and both external and internal acts are so called, because they spring from the flesh, or corrupt nature, and are what that urges and solicits to, and are wrought thereby, and are what denominate and show men to be carnal: these are said to be "manifest"; not that they are all, and always publicly done, and are open to th”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:19: Now the works of the flesh are manifest - By flesh we are to understand the evil and fallen state of the soul, no longer under the guidance of God's Spirit and right reason, but under the animal passions; and they are even rendered more irregular and turbulent by the influence of sin; so that man is in a worse state than the brute: and so all-commanding is this evil nature that it leads men into all kinds of crimes; and among them the following, which are manifest - known to all, and most prevalent; and, though these are most solemnly forbidden by your law, the o”
- Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 5:19: 5:19-26 These two lists contrast life dominated by the sinful nature (5:19-21) with life led by the Spirit (5:22-26). Living by the Spirit means observing a higher ethical standard than can be achieved under the law. 5:19 When you follow . . . the results are (literally The works of the flesh are): An emphasis on law-keeping and sinful actions both flow from trying to live apart from the power of God’s Spirit. • very clear: Basic understanding of right and wrong is universal (cp. Rom 1:32; 2:14-15; 1 Cor 5:1), though some people suppress this awareness (Rom 1:1”
- Galatians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Galatians 5 (introduction): In this chapter the apostle comes to make application of his foregoing discourse. He begins it with a general caution, or exhortation (Gal 5:1), which he afterwards enforces by several considerations (Gal 5:2-12). He then presses them to serious practical godliness, which would be the best antidote against the snares of their false teachers; particularly, I. That they should not strive with one another (Gal 5:13-15). II. That they would strive against sin, where he shows, 1. That there is in every one a struggle between flesh and spirit (Gal 5:17). ”