Ver. 10. +He that troubleth you.+--The leaven traced to personal agency; whoever plays the troubler. +Shall bear his judgment.+--Due and inevitable condemnation from God. Ver. 11. +Then is the offence of the cross ceased.+--The offence, the stumbling-block, to the Jew which roused his anger was not the shame of Messiah crucified, but the proclamation of free salvation to all, exclusive of the righteousness of human works. Ver. 12. +I would they were cut off which trouble you.+--Self-mutilated, an imprecation more strongly expressed in chap. i. 8, 9. Christian teachers used language in addressing Christians in the then heathen world that would be regarded as intolerable in modern Christendom, purified and exalted by Christ through their teachings. Ver. 13. +Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.+--Do not give the flesh the handle or pretext for its indulgence, which it eagerly seeks for. +By love serve one another.+--If ye must be in bondage, be servants to one another in love. Ver. 15. +If ye bite and devour one another, . . . consumed.+--Figures taken from the rage of beasts of prey. The _biting_ of controversy naturally runs into the devouring of controversial mood waxing fierce with indulgence. And the controversialists, each snapping at and gnawing his antagonist, forget the tendency is to _consume_ the Christian cause. Strength of soul, health of body, character, and resources, are all consumed by broils. Ver. 18. +If ye be led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.+--Under no irksome restraint. To him who loves, law is not irksome bondage but delightful direction. Active spiritual life is a safeguard against lawless affection. Ver. 19. +The works of the flesh.+--1. _Sensual vices_--"adultery [omitted in the oldest MSS.], fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness." 2. _Theological vices_--"idolatry, witchcraft." 3. _Malevolent vices_--"hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders." 4. _Vices of excess_--"drunkenness, revellings." Ver. 22. +The fruit of the Spirit.+--The singular _fruit,_ as compared with the plural _works,_ suggests that the effect of the Spirit's inworking is one harmonious whole, while carnality tends to multitudinousness, distraction, chaos. We are not to look for a rigorous logical classification in either catalogue. Generally, the fruit of the Spirit may be arranged as: I. _Inward graces_--"love, joy, peace." II. _Graces towards man_--"longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." III. _A more generic form of inward graces_--"meekness, temperance." Ver. 23. +Against such there is no law.+--So far from being against love, law commands it. Ver. 24. +Have crucified the flesh.+--Not human nature, but depraved human nature. +With the affections and lusts.+--Affections refer to the general frame of mind; the lusts to special proclivities or habits.