In the Bible, the flesh can refer to a few distinct things.  Let’s look at those things.

Genesis 2:21, “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the FLESH instead thereof.”  This is the first time the word ‘flesh’ is used in the Bible.  It is obvious that, in this case, the flesh refers to the human body, which is made up of flesh.  In fact, the Hebrew meaning of this word is ‘body’.  In reference to the creation of Eve, Adam would remark in verse 23, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.”  (For more examples of ‘flesh’ referring simply to the body, read Daniel 10:3; Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Corinthians 4:11, etc.)

Matthew 16:17, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for FLESH and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”  This is the first time the word ‘flesh’ is used in the New Testament.  It doesn’t carry the same meaning as what we read in Genesis 2:21. Here it is in reference to the complete human being.  We have a few instances where this use of the word ‘flesh’ simply means a person, a part of mankind.  Galatians 1:16, “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”  Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  The phrase, ‘flesh and blood’ is used five times in the Bible and always refers to a human being. 

Galatians 5:19-21, “Now the works of the FLESH are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  This is another use of the word ‘flesh’.  Here, we are made to consider the ‘works of the flesh’ as contrasted to the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” 

In this case, the flesh refers to the fallen, sinful nature of all mankind…that part of us that desires to have its own way, to satisfy its every sinful craving, that longs for things that oppose the perfect will of God. In Galatians 5, we see clearly the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit.  The Apostle Paul describes that conflict in Romans 7:15 where he admits, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”  It is important that we realize that Paul had this conflict AFTER he was saved, and so, we as believers will endure that same conflict.

So, how do we tame our ‘flesh’ and get it to love and obey God’s will?  My fellow believer, we never will get the flesh to conform to God’s will. Galatians 5:17 informs us, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”  So, what do we do, then?  We live our lives according to the leading of God’s Spirit so that the desires of the flesh grow weaker in us.  Verse 16 tells us how to be victorious in our Christian lives and overcome the desires of the flesh.  That says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  THIS is truth.  THIS is victory.  Allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us, leading us into all truth and strengthening us to live according to God’s Word.  We CANNOT tame our sinful nature, but we can ‘starve’ it by being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), by keeping our eyes and hearts focused on heavenly things (Colossians 3:1-3), and by learning and keeping God’s Word (1 Timothy 4:15-16).  (CC)  (723.6)