Drunkenness, Gluttony

Paul does not say that to eat and drink are works of the flesh, but to be drunken and to surfeit, which of all other vices are most common at this day. Whoever are given to this beastly dissoluteness and excess, let them know that they are not spiritual, however much they boast themselves to be so, but they follow the flesh and perform the filthy works thereof. Therefore is this horrible sentence pronounced against them, that they shall not be inheritors of the kingdom of God. Paul would therefore that Christians should flee drunkenness and surfeiting, living soberly and moderately without all excess, lest by pampering the flesh they should be provoked to wantonness: as in deed after surfeiting and belly cheer, the flesh is wont to wax wanton, and to be inflamed with outrageous lust. But it is not sufficient only to restrain this outrageous wantonness and lust of the flesh which follows drunkenness and surfeiting or any manner of excess, but also the flesh when it is most sober and in its best temperance must be subdued and repressed, lest it fulfill its lusts and desires. For it oftentimes comes to pass that even they which are most sober are tempted most of all: as Jerome writes of himself: My face, says he, was pale with fasting, and my mind was inflamed with fleshly desires in my cold body, and although my flesh was half dead already, yet the flames of unclean lust boiled within me. Hereof I myself also had experience when I was a Monk. The heat therefore of unclean lusts is not quenched by fasting only, but we must be aided also by the Spirit, that is, by the meditation of God's word, faith, and prayer. In deed fasting represses the gross assaults of fleshly lust: but the desires of the flesh are overcome by no abstinence from food and drinks, but only by the meditation of the word of God and invocation of Christ.

Verse 21. And such like.

For it is impossible to reckon up all the works of the flesh.

Verse 21. Of which I tell you, as I have also told you before, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is a very hard and a terrible saying, but yet very necessary, against false Christians and careless hypocrites, which brag of the Gospel, of faith, and of the Spirit, and yet in all security they perform the works of the flesh. But chiefly the heretics being puffed up with opinions of spiritual matters (as they dream) are possessed of the Devil, and altogether carnal: therefore they perform and fulfill the desires of the flesh, even with all the power of the soul. Therefore most necessary it was that so horrible and terrible a sentence should be pronounced by the Apostle against such careless contemners and obstinate hypocrites (namely that all they who do such works of the flesh as Paul has recited shall not inherit the kingdom of God), that yet some of them being terrified by this severe sentence may begin to fight against the works of the flesh by the Spirit, that they accomplish not the same.

Verse 22. But the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, long suffering, sweetness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or meekness, temperance.

The Apostle says not, the works of the Spirit, as he said the works of the flesh, but he adorns these Christian virtues with a more honorable name, calling them the fruits of the Spirit. For they bring with them most excellent fruits and commodities: for they that have them give glory to God, and with the same do allure and provoke others to embrace the doctrine and faith of Christ.

Paul does not say that eating and drinking are works of the flesh — he says drunkenness and gluttony are, which of all vices are the most widespread today. Those who give themselves to this brutish excess and self-indulgence should know that they are not spiritual — however much they boast of being so. They are following the flesh and carrying out its filthy works. Against them this terrible sentence is therefore pronounced: they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Paul wants Christians to flee drunkenness and overeating, living soberly and moderately without any excess — lest by pampering the flesh they stir up sensual desire. For after overindulgence in food and drink, the flesh habitually grows restless and flares up with unruly desire. But it is not enough merely to restrain the excess and desire that follow drunkenness and overeating — the flesh must also be subdued and kept under even when it is at its most sober and self-controlled, so that it does not carry out its cravings. For it often happens that those who are most temperate are the most intensely tempted — as Jerome writes of himself: 'My face was pale with fasting, and my mind was inflamed with fleshly desires in my cold body — and although my flesh was already half dead, the flames of unclean lust burned within me.' I myself had the same experience when I was a monk. The heat of unclean desire is not quenched by fasting alone — we must also be helped by the Spirit, through meditating on God's word, faith, and prayer. Fasting may dampen the grosser surges of fleshly desire, but the deeper cravings of the flesh are overcome not by abstaining from food and drink, but only by meditating on God's word and calling on Christ.

Verse 21. And things like these.

For it is impossible to list all the works of the flesh.

Verse 21. Of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is a very hard and terrible verdict — but entirely necessary, directed against false Christians and careless hypocrites who boast of the Gospel, faith, and the Spirit, yet live in complete complacency and carry out the works of the flesh. Heretics in particular, who are full of what they imagine to be spiritual insights, are in fact possessed by the devil and thoroughly fleshly — carrying out and fulfilling the desires of the flesh with the full force of the soul. It was therefore essential that the apostle pronounce such a grave and terrifying verdict against these reckless despisers and stubborn hypocrites — namely, that all who do the works of the flesh Paul has listed will not inherit the kingdom of God — so that at least some of them, alarmed by this severe sentence, might begin to fight against the works of the flesh through the Spirit and not carry them out.

Verse 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

The apostle does not call these 'works of the Spirit,' as he called the other things 'works of the flesh' — he honors these Christian virtues with a nobler title, calling them the fruits of the Spirit. For they bring with them the most excellent results and blessings: those who have them give glory to God, and through them they draw and invite others to embrace the doctrine and faith of Christ.