Works of the flesh

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The apostle hear speaks of the works of the flesh that should be despised and put to rest as opposed to the fruits of the spirit which should be cherished and allowed to grow to full maturity.

The Jewish Virtual Library lists the following as the 10 commandments in Exodus 20 as spoken to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai.

1) I am the Lord thy god, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

2) Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

3) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

5) Honor thy father and thy mother.

6) Thou shalt not murder.

7) Thou shalt not commit adultery.

8) Thou shalt not steal.

9) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

10) Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy neighbor.

These laws are the basis for which the Apostle Paul speaks out against the works of the flesh. These people were to understand they had one God and only one God. No other God was to represent them; therefore they should not participate in practices of idolatry or sorcery for those are of other gods. They were to live in a holy manner honoring their father’s and mother’s by not acting lewd or in drunken manners. They were to live in peace among each other, putting aside jealousies, covetous, dissensions, and outbursts of wrath, envy and murder. For these were the laws God put before man that people should know right from wrong. If judged by the law, there was no place for those who had a habitual practice of striking out against God’s commandments and kingdom.

In Galatians 5:13-14, the apostle has previously said of living in faith in Christ, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If what you are doing in life does show love towards those who are your neighbor then perhaps instead of living in the freedom of Christ you are being help by your own fleshly desires.