SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:13
¶ Porque vosotros, hermanos, a libertad habis sido llamados; solamente que no usis la libertad como ocasin a la carne, sino servíos por la caridad los unos a los otros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Galatians 5:13
Verse 13. Ye have been called unto liberty] A total freedom from all the burthensome rites and ceremonies of the Mosaic law. Only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh. By flesh, here, we may understand all the unrenewed desires and propensities of the mind; whatsoever is not under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God. Your liberty is from that which would oppress the spirit; not from that which would lay restraints on the flesh. The Gospel proclaims liberty from the ceremonial law: but binds you still faster under the moral law. To be freed from the ceremonial law is the Gospel liberty; to pretend freedom from the moral law is Antinomianism. By love serve one another.] Having that faith which worketh by love, serve each other to the uttermost of your power: douleuete, serve each other, when necessary, as slaves serve their masters. Several excellent MSS. and versions, instead of dia thv agaphv, by love, have th agaph tou pneumatov, in the love of the Spirit serve one another.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty , etc..] 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 use of the best of things, as the mercy and patience of God; and not only takes an occasion by the law, forbidding sin to work and stir up all manner of concupiscence; but also by the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, such as eternal election, free justification, etc.. which though the source and fountain, the barrier and security, of all true and real holiness, are improved and abused by wicked minds, under the influence and instigation of Satan, to vile purposes; and though regenerate persons are not in the flesh, and do not live after it, yet that is in them, and there is a proneness in them to sin; and Satan is watching all opportunities and advantages against them; so that there is need for such a caution as this, that they do not misuse their Christian liberty by indulging the flesh and the lusts of it, which is apt to take an occasion to cherish its lusts, and especially when given: Christ's free men should not do so, for that is to disgrace the doctrine of Christian liberty, to enthral themselves in, bondage instead of using their liberty aright, and to give the enemy occasion to blaspheme: the doctrine of Christian liberty may bc abused, or used as an occasion to the flesh, and to fulfil the lusts of it; when under a pretence thereof men think themselves exempt from obedience to the civil magistrate, which is using this liberty as a cloak of maliciousness; or that they are free from obedience to the law of God, as a rule of walk and conversation; or from subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel; or when they use the creatures God has given them the free use of without thankfulness, and in an immoderate manner; and when they make things indifferent which are not, or use indifferent things to the prejudice of others; and their liberty becomes a stumblingblock to weak Christians, which the apostle seems greatly to regard here; since he adds, but by love serve one another : the Vulgate Latin version reads, by the love of the Spirit: and so some copies; Gospel liberty and the service of the saints are not at all inconsistent; as it becomes them to love one another, as the new command of Christ, their profession of religion, and their relation to each other, require, so they should show their love by their service; as by praying one with and for another, by bearing each other's burdens, sympathizing with and communicating to each other in things temporal and spiritual; in forbearing with and forgiving one another; by admonishing each other when there is occasion for it, in a meek, tender, and brotherly way; by instructing and building up one another on their most holy faith, and by stirring up one another to all the duties of religion, private and public.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-15 - The gospel is a doctrine according to godliness, 1Ti 6:3, and is so fa from giving the least countenance to sin, that it lays us under the strongest obligation to avoid and subdue it. The apostle urges that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love the neighbour as thyself. If Christians, who should help one another, an rejoice one another, quarrel, what can be expected but that the God of love should deny his grace, that the Spirit of love should depart, an the evil spirit, who seeks their destruction, should prevail? Happ would it be, if Christians, instead of biting and devouring one anothe on account of different opinions, would set themselves against sin in themselves, and in the places where they live.
Greek Textus Receptus
υμεις 5210 γαρ 1063 επ 1909 ελευθερια 1657 εκληθητε 2564 5681 αδελφοι 80 μονον 3440 μη 3361 την 3588 ελευθεριαν 1657 εις 1519 αφορμην 874 τη 3588 σαρκι 4561 αλλα 235 δια 1223 της 3588 αγαπης 26 δουλευετε 1398 5720 αλληλοις 240
Vincent's NT Word Studies
13. For (gar). Well may I speak thus strongly of those who thus overthrow your whole polity and enslave you, for ye are called for freedom.
Unto liberty (ep eleuqeria). Better, for freedom. See on unto uncleanness, 1 Thess. iv. 7. Epi marks the intention.
Only (monon). For a similar use of the word, qualifying or limiting a general statement, comp. 1 Cor. vii. 39; Gal. ii. 10; Philippians i. 27; 2 Thess. ii. 7.
Brethren. Rev. rightly puts the word at the end of the verse. The position is unusual. It would seem as if Paul intended to close this severs letter with an assurance that the "foolish Galatians" were still his brethren: They are addressed as "brethren," chapter iv. 12; v. 11; vi. 1. Comp. 1 Corinthians xvi. 24.
Use not liberty (thn eleuqerian). Use is not in the Greek. We may supply hold or make or turn.
Occasion (aformhn). See on Rom. vii. 8. Almost exclusively in Paul. To the flesh (th sarki). See on Rom. vii. 5. The flesh here represents lovelessness and selfishness. Christian freedom is not to be abused for selfish ends. Paul treats this subject at length in 1 Corinthians 8; xii. 25, 26. Individual liberty is subject to the law of love and mutual service. Comp. 1 Peter ii. 16.
By love (dia thv agaphv). Or through love, through which faith works (ver. 6).
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:13 {Ye were called for freedom} (ep' eleuqeriai ekleqete). The same point as in #5:1 made plainer by the use of ep' (on the basis of, for the purpose of). See #1Th 4:7 for this use of epi. {Only use not} (monon me). No word for "use" in the Greek. Probably supply trepete or strefete, "turn not your liberty into an occasion for the flesh" (eis aformen tei sarki), as a spring board for license. On aforme, see on 2Co 5:12. Liberty so easily turns to license.
