Audio commentary on this verse

Note 3 at Ro 13:14: Paul was using the term "flesh" here as referring to the part of us that has not been changed by Christ; i.e., our sinful appetites and desires (see note 3 at Ro 7:18). These sinful lusts cannot dominate us if we don't make provision for them. Paul was saying to cut off the flesh's rations and starve it to death.

Many of us Christians have mistakenly believed that during our lives here on the earth, we are doomed to have ungodly lusts and desires. However, it doesn't have to be that way. The sin nature that enslaved our flesh is gone, and to the degree that we renew our minds through God's Word, we can experience victory over the flesh (see note 9 at Ro 5:21). The reason that the flesh seems so strong in many of our lives is because we are continually feeding it.

Temptation is linked to what we think on. If we don't think on things that engender temptation, we won't be tempted and won't sin (see note 9 at Ro 4:19).