Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
Meekness - See the note at Matthew 5:5.
Temperance - The word used here, ( ̓́ egkrateia ), means properly "self-control, continence." It is derived from ̓ en and ́ kratos , "strength," and has reference to the power or ascendancy which we have over exciting and evil passions of all kinds. It denotes the self-rule which a man has over the evil propensities of his nature. Our word temperance we use now in a much more limited sense, as referring mainly to abstinence from intoxicating drinks. But the word here used is employed in a much more extended signification. It includes the dominion over all evil propensities, and may denote continence, chastity, self-government, moderation in regard to all indulgences as well as abstinence from intoxicating drinks. See the word explained in the notes at Acts 24:25. The sense here is, that the influences of the Holy Spirit on the heart make a man moderate in all indulgences; teach him to restrain his passions, and to govern himself; to control his evil propensities, and to subdue all inordinate affection.
The Christian will not only abstain from intoxicating drinks, but from all exciting passions; he will be temperate in his manner of living, and in the government of his temper. This may be applied to temperance properly so called with us; but it should not be limited to that. A Christian must be a temperate man; and if the effect of his religion is not to produce this, it is false and vain. Abstinence from intoxicating drinks, as well as from all improper excitement, is demanded by the very genius of his religion, and on this subject there is no danger of drawing the cords too close. No one was ever injured by the strictest temperance, by total abstinence from ardent spirits, and from wine as a beverage; no man is certainly safe who does not abstain; no man, it is believed, can be in a proper frame of mind for religious duties who indulges in the habitual use of intoxicating drinks. Nothing does more scandal to religion than such indulgences; and, other things being equal, he is the most under the influence of the Spirit of God who is the most thoroughly a person of temperance.
Against such there is no law - That is, there is no law to condemn such persons. These are not the things which the Law denounces. These, therefore, are the true freemen; free from the condemning sentence of the Law, and free in the service of God. Law condemns sin; and they who evince the spirit here referred to are free from its denunciations.
Other Barnes' Notes entries containing Galatians 5:23:
John 14:17
John 15:2
Acts 2:17
Acts 11:24
Romans 7:4
Romans 7:14
Romans 8:1
Romans 8:5
Romans 8:9
Romans 8:16
Romans 14:17
1 Corinthians 3:16
1 Corinthians 9:25
2 Corinthians 6:6
Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:17
Galatians 6:1
Galatians 6:8
Ephesians 4:2
Ephesians 5:9
Colossians 1:6
1 Timothy 6:11
Titus 1:8
1 John 3:24
1 John 4:13
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