The Pulpit Commentary — Galatians — Section 320

generic word; the fi~st <rescribes a s.peoill.l form; the third describes ,a special aggravo.• t1on, namely, open d1s1•egard of propriety. 'l'here is a' sad prevalence of, these sins still I 1t can only -be se,id that they have been made more to hido their head. (13) nlicit 'intel"-, course_ "'!ith the unseen world. "Idolatry, sorcery." What is illicit: ii:t ·idolatry is tbe use ot images to represent the unseen powers. What is illicit; in sorcery (literally, '.' phannac_v" ) is the use of drugs, potions, and other things,• with the idea that· they:c~n rntluence the uneeen powers to produce love or ha.'tred, prosperity or adversity. It can be said that this class of sins has aO.most disappeared with the diffusion of Obristianity. (-r) Breaohes of chafrity. "Enmities." 'l'bis is the geiierio word; includililg not ,only, the graver, but all breaches of charity. "Strife, jealousies." In strife the variance, mlllY be slight; in acts of jealousy there is more deep-seated variance. · "Wraths, :factions." The former describes outbursts of anger. The latter describes deliberate and concerted com1?3ssings of selfish ends, especially by means of intrigue. "Caballi~s'l sbme'trans.. , late 1t, "e&bal" being made up of the initials of an English ministry. in the. reign' .of, Charles II., who were credited with sacrificing principle to place..:!' Divisfons, heresies." The former may only be of a temporary nature. Heresies; by which we .ate to under- stand not heretical opinions, but rather their embodiments in heretical sects, .are divisions of a decisive nature. There is conveyed the idea of .oom:plete·sepa.ra.tion from the Church of Christ. Hence what is said of the heretic that he ,ii; condemned of himself, i.e. in cutting himself off he has carried out the extreme senteii'ce on himself. "Envyings, murders." The latter is omitted .in the Revised translation, against the manuscripts, and against the form of classification followed by the apostle under. 'this head. Tbe former is want of love to ·our neighbour in his property; $he latter• is want of love in that which is most precious to him. (B) Sins of intemperance. " Drunken- ness, revellings." The first is the generic word; the second brings in a special associa- tion, viz. joviality. The special point of view is to be noticed here., There are some who lay the blame of intemperance on the manufacture of- drink; on. facilities for· its sale, on the customs of society. And it does bear a relation .to these ·things.· But the apostle goes to the root of the matter, in tracing it to· the depravity of the human· heart. Drunkenness and revellings are works of the :flesh, manifestations of alienation from God. The advanta,ge of this point of view:is: that it points: to. what can be tho. only effective remedy, viz. a change of heart through the operation. of the Spilit. "And such like." Ee could have mentioned otl:iers. • We may: suppose tb;it those are named which it was important for the Galatians to note.. We cab. see that some of them would be connected with their temperament, which was neither melancholic nor phlegmatic, and also with their surroundings. We are not all inclined _to sin in the same form or forms. That has a dependence on idiosyncrasies and surroundings. But. we have all the same depraved heart for which to.be humbled before God,. and against which to pray. (b) What they entail. "Of the which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they which practise such things shall· not' linberit: the, kingdom of' God." He is very emphatic in his warning of the Galatians. He bad fotewarned them when with them. Again he forewarns them. He acted on the principles enunciated in Ezekiel: " Son of man, I have ma.de thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:;. there- fore, hear the word at ruy mouth, and give them warning from me. Wheni l say to the wicked, Thou shalt surely die ; and thou gi vest him .not warning, nor speake.st to, warn the wicked from bis wicked way, to .save his life: the same wicked man shall die in his iniqwty; but his blood will I require at thine band. Yet if thou warn the:wicked,.an.d he turn not from his wickedoess, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in bis in'iquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul." W:hat the apostle, in the spiritcof these.words,.eay~,. is that they which are in the habit of doing such things shall certainly be, punish~d. 'rheir very characters unfit them for the kingdom of Goda Mor.eover, they,are,rebels· against the government of God; and· a& such. they must be dealt with. Their. punish.~ ment is repre,,euted as exclusion from the inheritance which othe1,wise they 'l;'l!Olll~ have gained. (2) The fruit of the Spirit. We are to understand the result of the,workings of the Spirit. Fruit is applied here not to concrete manifestations or works, but ,to abstract qualities from which works proceed. It is not said that the fruit of the Spi~i~ is:mani,. fest. Qualities are not so conspicuous as works, and especially spiritual qua.ht1es. I·, ~1he apostle refers us to qualities in the spiritual, not because he regards works as umm, pvrtant, but because qualities must so.much be taken into account in estimating theil' CB, V, l•-26.] THE llPIS'f!,E TO 'fHE GALA'flANS. 287