The Pulpit Commentary on Ephesians 4:22

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

That ye put off, as concerning the former conversation, the old man. The sum of Christ's practical lessons is given in two particulars—putting off and putting on. The change is very decided and very complete.

It is emphatically personal; not a mere change of opinions or of religious observances, but of life, habit, character; not altering a few things, but first putting off the man as we put off a garment.

"It is a change which brings the mind under the government of truth, and gives to the life a new aspect of integrity and devoutness." Which is rotting according to the lusts of deceit. The present participle, φθειρόμενον, indicates continuance or progress in corruption.

Sin is a disintegrating dissolving thing, causing putridity, and in all cases, when unchecked, tending towards it. Deceit is personified; it is an agent of evil, sending out lusts which seem harmless but are really ruinous—their real character is concealed; they come as ministers of pleasure, they end as destructive tyrants.

Lust of power, lust of money, lust of pleasure, have all this character; they are the offspring of deceit, and always to be shunned.

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