Meaning, commentary and cross references
Galatians 5:13
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
NIV · New International Version
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
WEB · World English Bible
For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
What does Galatians 5:13 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Galatians 5:13
For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty,.... He calls them "brethren", to testify his affection to them, and to put them in mind of their relation to one another, which required mutual love, a thing he is about to press them to; he asserts that they were "called" not merely externally, but internally, by the effectual grace of God, out of bondage to sin, Satan, and the law, unto the liberty of the Gospel and of the grace of God; that liberty wherewith Christ had made them free, Galatians 5:1 this he said in a judgment of charity, hoping well of them: only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh; corrupt nature, which in unregenerate men takes encouragement from, and makes an ill…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Galatians 5:13–26
And here we may observe that as sin is called the work of the flesh, because the flesh, or corrupt nature, is the principle that moves and excites men to it, so grace is said to be the fruit of the Spirit, because it wholly proceeds from the Spirit, as the fruit does from the root: and whereas before the apostle had chiefly specified those works of the flesh which were not only hurtful to men themselves but tended to make them so to one another, so here he chiefly takes notice of those fruits of the Spirit which had a tendency to make Christians agreeable one to another, as well as easy to themselves; and this was very suitable to the caution or exhortation he had before given (Gal 5:13)…
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Galatians 5:13–18
13. Ye have been called to liberty. He now proceeds to show in what way liberty must be used. In the course of expounding the First Epistle to the Corinthians, we have pointed out that liberty is one thing, and that the use of it is another thing.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Galatians 5:10–16 (WEB)
10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. 13For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Cross references
- 1 Peter 2:16
Live as free people, yet not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.
- 1 Corinthians 9:19
For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9
But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak.
- Romans 15:1–2
Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
- Galatians 5:14
For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
- Ephesians 5:21
subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.
- Romans 6:18–22
Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
- Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.