Audio commentary on this verse

Note 3 at Rom. 13:14: Paul is using the term "flesh" here as referring to the part of man that has not been changed by Christ, i.e. our sinful appetites and desires (see note 3 at Rom. 7:18, p. 790). These sinful lusts cannot dominate us if we don't make provision for them. Paul is saying to cut off the flesh's rations and starve it to death.

Many Christians have mistakenly believed that during our life here on the earth, we are doomed to have ungodly lusts and desires. But 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 Rom. 5:21, p. 775). The reason the flesh seems so strong in many people's lives is because they are continually feeding it.

Temptation is linked to what we think on. If we don't think on things that gender temptation, then we won't be tempted and we won't sin (see note 9 at Rom. 4:19, p. 766).