Ephesians 4:17-32
A Change of Direction (vv. 17-19)
- No longer confused
- No longer calloused
- No longer crude
A Change of Wardrobe (vv. 20-24)
- Put off the old rags of the old self
- Put on the new raiment the new self
A Change of Conduct (vv. 25-32)
- Put away lying
- Put away uncontrollable anger
- Put away stealing
- Put away coarse speech
- Put away grieving the Holy Spirt
- Rather, treat others as Christ has treated you.
More to Consider
The Bible was written to be obeyed, and not simply studied, and this is why the words “therefore” and “wherefore” are repeated so often in the second half of Ephesians (4:1, 17, 25; 5:1, 7, 14, 17, 24). Paul was saying, “Here is what Christ has done for you. Now, in the light of this, here is what we ought to do for Christ.” We are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only (James 1:22). The fact that we have been called in Christ (Eph. 1:18) ought to motivate us to walk in unity (Eph. 4:1–16). And the fact that we have been raised from the dead (Eph. 2:1–10) should motivate us to walk in purity (Eph. 4:17–5:17), or, as Paul told the Romans, “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). We are alive in Christ, not dead in sins; therefore “put off the old man … and put on the new man (Eph. 4:22, 24). Take off the graveclothes and put on the grace-clothes!
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 39). Victor Books.
London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior.
As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage.
"Forget about the repairs," the buyer said. "When I buy this place, I'm going to build something completely different. I don't want the building; I want the site."
Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God's, the old life is over (2 Cor. 5:17). He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build.
Ian L. Wilson
