Galatians 5:17 (DBY)

Passage

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these things are opposed one to the other, that ye should not do those things which ye desire;

Nearby Context

Galatians 5:15 but if ye bite and devour one another, see that ye are not consumed one of another.

Galatians 5:16 But I say, Walk in [the] Spirit, and ye shall no way fulfil flesh's lust.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these things are opposed one to the other, that ye should not do those things which ye desire;

Galatians 5:18 but if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under law.

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "flesh", "lusts", "against", and "things". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "flesh", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "But I say Walk in the Spirit..." into verse 18's "but if ye are led by the...", so "Spirit" and "flesh" belong inside that flow. In Galatians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "flesh" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.