John Wesley

The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

“For all the law is fulfilled in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself - inasmuch as none can do this without loving God, 1 John iv, 12; and the love of God and man includes all perfection.”

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

“But if ye are led by the Spirit - Of liberty and love, into all holiness. Ye are not under the law - Not under the curse or bondage of it; not under the guilt or the power of sin.”

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;

“Which are these - He enumerates those "works of the flesh" to which the Galatians were most inclined; and those parts of "the fruit of the Spirit" of which they stood in the greatest need.”

idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,

“Idolatry, witchcraft - That this means witchcraft, strictly speaking, (not poisoning,) appears from its being joined with the worship of devil-gods, and not with murder. This is frequently and solemnly forbidden in the Old Testament.”

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

“Love - The root of all the rest. Gentleness - Toward all men; ignorant and wicked men in particular. Goodness - The Greek word means all that is benign, soft, winning, tender, either in temper or behaviour.”

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

“And they that are Christ's - True believers in him. Have thus crucified the flesh - Nailed it, as it were, to a cross whence it has no power to break loose, but is continually weaker and weaker.”

Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.

“If we live by the Spirit - If we are indeed raised from the dead, and are alive to God, by the operation of his Spirit.”

Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

“Restore such an one - By reproof, instruction, or exhortation. Everyone who can, ought to help herein; only in the spirit of meekness - This is essential to a spiritual man; and in this lies the whole force of the cure.”

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

“Bear ye one another's burdens - Sympathize with, and assist, each other, in all your weaknesses, grievances, trials.”

If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

“If any one think himself to be something - Above his brethren, or by any strength of his own. When he is nothing, he deceiveth himself - He alone will bear their burdens, who knows himself to be nothing.”

The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

“Reap corruption - Death everlasting. But he that soweth to the Spirit - That follows his guidance in all his tempers and conversation. Shall of the Spirit - By the free grace and power of God, reap life everlasting.”

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

“Unto all men - neighbours or strangers, good or evil, friends or enemies. But especially to them who are of the household of faith. For all believers are but one family.”

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.

“These constrain you - Both by their example and importunity. To be circumcised - Not so much from a principle of conscience, as lest they should suffer persecution - From the unbelieving Jews.”

For the circumcised do not even keep the law themselves, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

“For neither they themselves keep the whole law - So far are they from a real zeal for it. But yet they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh - That they may boast of you as their proselytes, and…”

But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the…

“But God forbid that I should glory - Should boast of anything I have, am, or do; or rely on anything for my acceptance with God, but what Christ hath done and suffered for me.”

Peace and mercy to all who walk by this rule, even to the Israel of God.

“Glorying only in the cross of Christ. Being crucified to the world. Peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel, that is, the Church, of God - Which consists of all those, and those only, of every nation and kindred, who walk by…”