Galatians 5:21 Meaning: “envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these”

envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

Galatians 5:21, ESV

Envy in Galatians 5:21

Paul speaks here of envy.

Envy could be described as jealousy to the max — to the extreme.

This is why James 4:2 says:

You desire and do not have, so you murder.
You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
You do not have, because you do not ask.

And so you desire someone’s destruction because you’re angry with their success or the things that they have.

Sins of the physical appetite

Now the last grouping of sins here is what we would call the sins of the physical appetite — sins of pleasure — sins of the belly.

And the final two sins listed are drunkenness and orgies.

Drunkenness & orgies in Galatians 5:21

Drunkenness really needs no explanation. It’s drinking alcohol in excess.

But the word translated orgies here does need explanation.

It’s not placed with sins of a sexual nature but rather with sins of the physical appetite. Why?

This word also then means revelry — which is defined as noisy festivities, especially where a large amount of drinking occurs.

It has more to do with pursuing things that are immoral by going places where debauchery or extreme indulgence is taking place.

That’s why orgies is tied to drunkenness here.

“and things like these” in Galatians 5:21

Now Paul doesn’t stop there.

In Galatians 5:21 he goes on to say, “and things like these.”

He’s saying, “I could keep going.”

Perhaps you look at this list and you realize there’s a lot of your sin that isn’t listed here. But it could be listed. That’s what Paul’s saying.

These aren’t the only works of the flesh. He could go on and on and on. But you get the picture.

This list of sins serves as a mirror

We see how destructive these things are — how they produce nothing but ungodliness in you. And it’s evidenced by an unholy, unchaste, and unloving life.

As we read this list — what each one of us needs to do is to hold it up like a mirror to our own lives — and allow it to reveal the corruption that remains in our own hearts.

Because what this list describes are not just sins that are common to the unbeliever. These are sins that are common to believers as well.

Each one of us knows which sins on the list we struggle with — and find hard to overcome.

Do you give in to sexual sins?

Is it the sins of a sexual nature that you struggle with?

Believers have no excuse. God has given us the great institution of marriage so that we would not have to be guilty of this sexual sin.

When we go off and do things our own way — not in the way that God has ordained — what we say to God is “Your design wasn’t good enough. You didn’t take into account, God, all that I need and all that I want.”

We live in a day and age in which sexual activity outside of marriage is rampant. People keep getting married later and later in life — but they’re not putting off physical intimacy.

People say “Well, I just can’t wait. I love this person. I want to express my feelings — my great love and care — for them.” But that’s just code for “I love me and I want to satisfy my flesh — and my needs — and my wants — not in God’s timing.”

Isn’t it sad that God created man and woman — and yet we objectify one another? We treat each other as if we’re just a piece of meat to satisfy our fleshly desires.

That’s what animals do. That’s what beasts do. They lay with one another — leave that one — and go to another.

But that shouldn’t be the case for those who are made in the image of God.

These sins destroy families. They break apart marriages. They leave children fatherless and motherless. All for what? For some momentary pleasure.

Do you give in to social sins?

Perhaps your sins are sins of the social variety — enmity, strife, divisions, jealousy, fits of anger.

What’s behind that is pride — even hatred in your heart that you allow to dwell there and never deal with.

This list though also demonstrates to us that the works of the flesh are not just things we do. It’s not just outward things — but it’s also of the heart — the things we feel and think about.

These sins of the social nature go on within the confines of your local church. The church is to reflect that heavenly society that we all one day shall dwell in.

We need to ask ourselves “Is what I’m doing aiding in the deterioration of Christ’s body? Is me seeking importance in the church — is me seeking to be seen or to be viewed as someone more highly than others — am I helping the Devil and doing his work and bringing disunity amongst Christ’s body?”

All of these sins are deplorable. All of these sins give credence to the fact that apart from Christ no good thing lies in you and me.

But these sins also remind us of the great need to be born again — as Paul says. For our eternal happiness is at stake.