How is the Spirit against the flesh (Galatians 5:17)?

In Galatians 5:17, the apostle Paul writes, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” (ESV). The flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit is against the flesh. We must first explore what Paul means by “flesh” and “Spirit” to understand how the Spirit is against the flesh.

In Paul’s writings, flesh often refers to our sinful nature. The flesh desires independence from God and self-gratification. Romans 8:7–8 says, “The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (ESV). The flesh will not submit to God’s law because it wants to follow its way and do its own thing.

On the other hand, the “Spirit” mentioned in Galatians 5:17 is the Holy Spirit. The Spirit indwells us when we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 8:9–11). The Spirit also empowers us to live according to God’s will and bear the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22–23). When we submit to the Spirit instead of the flesh, we produce fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

In Galatians 5:17, Paul explains that the flesh and Spirit oppose one another. The flesh has its desires, and the Spirit has His desires. This creates an internal struggle for every believer. Will we submit to the flesh or the Spirit? Submitting to the flesh pulls us toward sin and disobedience, but submitting to the Spirit pulls us toward righteousness and obedience.

The Spirit is against the flesh because the Holy Spirit counters our sinful desires. The flesh pulls us toward “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealously, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies” or any other sin (Galatians 5:19–21, ESV); the Spirit pulls us toward “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” (Philippians 4:8, ESV).

As Paul knew firsthand, the battle between the flesh and Spirit can be frustrating. He confessed, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18–19, ESV). Every believer knows the struggle of wanting to do right but continuing to do evil.

Paul, therefore, urges us to “live by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). We must resist sin and yield to the Spirit. Yielding to the Spirit means we depend on Him daily, listen to His voice, and follow His lead. In doing so, we can overcome the desires of the flesh: “I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16, ESV).

Galatians 5:17 explains the battle between the flesh and the Spirit. The conflict between the flesh and the Spirit will continue until Jesus returns, but we are not hopeless because the Spirit will help us put off the desires of the flesh.