The portrait is psychologically true: the perennial tension between the animal ecstasies of the flesh, which bind one to unthinking material necessity, and the rational freedom of the spirit, which is always striving to subdue the brute. (firstthings.com)
The true freedom of the Spirit is not found in the isolated, autonomous person who finds self - affirmation in individualism. (christianitytoday.com)
The theme of the God - man confronting Satan himself and defeating him expresses the liberation which comes when the paralysis of fear is broken and freedom of the spirit becomes a present possibility. (religion-online.org)