Ephesians 5:6, commentary and pictures

No one is to be misled by empty and smooth words that excuse wrongdoing and hide what disobedience brings, for such talk cannot make sin safe. Because of sexual impurity, uncleanness, greed, filthy and foolish speech and the like, the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. Those who have been brought out of darkness are not to share in that conduct, but are to walk as children of light in goodness, righteousness and truth, with no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. That wrath has already begun to be seen in the sins, crimes, disease and moral corruption now revealed on every hand. Jesus works by redemption and grace to deliver people from this coming wrath, so that even those deeply sunk in sin can become subjects of His grace and help others be delivered.

Vain Words and Wrath

The verse warns against empty, smooth, deceptive words that excuse sin and hide its consequences, dim understanding, and draw people into disobedience, and such words cannot make disobedience safe or undo the consequence of sin. The vain words excuse the evils named around the verse — fornication and sexual immorality, uncleanness, covetousness and idolatry, filthiness, foolish talking and jesting, unholy conversation and low cheap sentiments from unsanctified lips and impure hearts, and the immoral conduct named just before it. Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience, upon those who disobey and practice such evil.

The deception includes false theories and seductive spiritualistic ideas that cloud spiritual understanding and lead away from truth and holiness, especially at a time when such ideas prevail. It includes false teaching and false teachers, counterfeit religious excitement that looks genuine but diverts even sincere people from truth, and pleasing fables used to draw them away. Daily searching of the Scriptures helps people know the Lord's way and guards against religious fallacies.

Disregarding pure principles and putting human plans and projects above truth is such deception, dimming understanding and making people servants of the enemy. Satan works through deceptive human agents with smooth, empty words about the consequences of wrongdoing, calling for discernment rather than being drawn into disobedience. Those who live in disobedience and become his instruments are not exempt from wrath but are among the children of disobedience, including professed Christians who become instruments of Satan amid the world's growing corruption and disregard for God's law.

Walk as Children of Light

Deceived by no empty words that excuse disobedience, believers are not to share in the conduct of the disobedient, for wrath comes upon such disobedience and smooth excuses cannot make it safe. Having been brought out of darkness, they are to walk as children of light in all goodness and righteousness and truth. That walk means testing and proving what pleases the Lord and is acceptable to Him. It means having no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reproving them.

Those who practice fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and jesting, with unholy conversation and low sentiments from unsanctified lips and impure hearts, are not to be regarded as saints. The wrong course is to be set right by close investigation and by different educating through all departments of the work. Among saints none of these sins is to be once named, and as followers of God as dear children they are to walk in love as Christ loved and gave Himself as an offering and sacrifice.

At this time the warning bears especially against continually seeking to confederate with the world to make a display or to gain some desired end, and against becoming entangled with the world. Churches are to be faithfully and patiently instructed against this, with none of it encouraged. Unless led and controlled by the Spirit of God, people will make strange moves, so there must be daily conversion from every evil way. Ministers and church members are called by this chapter to practice God's Word, to stand with Christ rather than with the world, and to turn from selfish indulgence. Neglect of duties at home dims the light of example.

Believers are to reveal Christ's character by unity and love, knowing the will of God and doing it by loving one another as brethren. If they cannot lift disobedient associates up, keeping company with them will pull believers down under the judgment of God that comes upon disobedience. Smooth, pleasant words can deceive about the danger of joining oneself to an unbeliever, yet such joining places one on Satan's ground and exposes the soul to temptation.

The disobedient one serves self, neglects duty to parents, will not watch and pray in secret, backslides, and puts away the Word and messages of truth and warnings. All selfish unfaithfulness is marked and registered in heaven, and every rejected warning increases guilt for the day of final retribution. Only death to self, thorough conversion, and thorough transformation of character will meet God's mind, who discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Wrath also comes for judging and exposing the sins of others in an aggravated light while keeping a daily record of practical sins of one's own. It comes for discrepancy between profession and practice in little acts and sinful inconsistencies that misrepresent Christ and do great harm to souls.

Every effort Satan can make will be made to tear up the foundation of faith in the third angel's message. Yet the building of the work of the last sixty years stands with not a pin or pillar moved. Therefore the history of the past must be reprinted, and the past, present, and future must be communicated and held firm.

Wrath Visited and Grace Offered

The wrath upon the children of disobedience is not only future but has already begun to be visited. It is seen in the crimes, sins and iniquitous practices now revealed on every hand. Among these are the evils resulting from improper diet and intemperance in every form. Disobedience brings present punishment through disease and moral corruption.

Therefore fathers and mothers must watch unto prayer and guard strictly against intemperance in every form. They are to teach their children the principles of true health reform and what to avoid in order to preserve health. As a people they must exercise great care in guarding children against depraved associates. That guarding extends to corrupt surroundings and corrupt spiritual surroundings in public schools and all other schools, with Sabbath-keeping children instructed carefully line upon line lest they associate with corrupt children and be corrupted. The world's growing corruption and disregard for God's law lead to judgment, and those who live in disobedience are not exempt from wrath.

Jesus works by redemption and grace to deliver people from this coming wrath. Those once debased and apparently hopeless can become subjects of His grace. Even people who have sunk deeply into sin can be rescued by God's grace and made subjects of His grace. Those thus delivered can become agents in helping others be delivered.