Ephesians 4:18-19

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-19

Symptoms of moral madness. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." In these verses the Christians at Ephesus are warned against the course... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-24

CONSTRASTED PRINCIPLES OF GENTILE AND CHRISTIAN CHARACTER . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-24

Contrasted principles of Gentile and Christian character. We now come more explicitly to the details of Christian duty. The apostle had presented a very high standard of Christian privilege in the preceding chapters, and now he presents an equally high standard of Christian duty . What God gives in the one form is to be given back in the other, and in corresponding proportion. The importance of the subject is indicated by the formula, "This I say, and testify in the Lord." The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-24

Exhortation resumed. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord." It is characteristic of the apostle to sink his own personality, and to put forward Christ. He wishes it to be understood that it is not in his own thought, but in the thought of him whom he calls Lord, that he makes his statement and gives his solemn asseveration regarding their duty. I. EXHORTATION DIRECTED AGAINST GENTILISM . "That ye no longer walk as the Gentiles also walk." They had formerly been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-32

Raw material for Christian unity. It comes upon us with something like a surprise, the exhortations of the present passage after the glories which have gone before. But they are instructive in that they bring out the raw material out of which Paul hoped to manufacture Christian unity. It is evident that he despaired of none, even supposing they had been guilty of the gravest crimes and characterized by the deepest pollution. Does not his grand hope rebuke our faint-heartedness? I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:18

Being darkened in their understanding (second point of difference), and thus blind to all that is most vital—ignorant of God, of the way of salvation, of the love of Christ. Even at best the natural understanding cannot discover these things, and when it is not only imperfect but darkened—made more obscure than ever by sin (see after)—its guidance is altogether defective. It has been said truly that the youngest scholar in a Sunday school that has been taught the elements of the gospel has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 4:19

Who being past feeling. Without sense of shame, without conscience, without fear of God or regard for man, without any perception of the dignity of human nature, the glory of the Divine image, or the degradation of sin. Have given themselves over to lasciviousness to work all uncleanness (fourth point of difference). This is the climax—heathenism in its worst and fullest development, yet by no means rare. The sensuality of the heathen was and is something dreadful. Many of them gave... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 4:18

Having the understanding darkened - That is, because they were alienated from the true God, and particularly because of “the blindness of their hearts.” The apostle does not say that this was a “judicial” darkening of the understanding; or that they might not have perceived the truth; or that they had no ability to understand it. He speaks of a simple and well-known fact - a fact that is seen now as well as then that the understanding becomes darkened by indulgence in sin. A man who is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 4:19

Who being past feeling - Wholly hardened in sin. There is a total want of all emotion on moral subjects. This is an accurate description of the state of a sinner. He has no “feeling,” no emotion. He often gives an intellectual assent to the truth, But it is without emotion of any kind. The heart is insensible as the hard rock.Have given themselves over - They have done it voluntarily. In Romans 1:24, it is said that “God gave them up.” There is no inconsistency. Whatever was the agency of God... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 4:17-19

Ephesians 4:17-19. This I say, therefore For your further instruction, how to walk worthy of your calling; (he returns to the subject which he began, Ephesians 4:1;) and testify in the Lord In the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus, that ye, being now happily brought into the Christian Church, and made partakers of all the privileges and advantages belonging to its members; henceforth walk not as other Gentiles That ye live no longer as the unconverted heathen; in the vanity... read more

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