EPHESIANS: But We Won’t Do That

EPHESIANS Number 55

Ephesians 5:3–7 (KJV 1900)
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

In Ephesus and the other new fellowships in this region of the world, this was important. Many there had come out of polytheism, paganism, and religious cults steeped in all sorts of sexual perversion. When speaking to those who are in Christ, this barely needs to be said. Perhaps some clarity could be beneficial, however.

In my youth, being raised in the King James Bible as I was, this passage caused me to wonder whether joking and humor were sinful. The words “foolish talking” and “jesting” sure made it seem that way. Foolish talking is speaking in a way that lets everyone know that you are a fool. The Greek behind “jesting” refers to course jesting or risqué wit. We are all familiar with such things, of course.

As the holy children of God, let’s avoid these because as the text says, they are “not convenient.” What that interesting piece of Elizabethan English means is that they do not fit. They are not proper or appropriate. They do not relate to us.

As verse five makes clear, those who are like this have no inheritance in the Kingdom. It’s important that the text specifies that it is speaking of someone “who IS” this way. It is speaking of their identity. We see this in verse six, which reads, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” In other words, anyone who comes along and tells you that living this way is just fine because (as the Corinthians put it) “all things are permissible,” is, as my mother used to say, “full of blue clay.” They are speaking foolishly.

And who are these people whose identity is characterized by all this wickedness and evil? They are the sons, the children, of disobedience. If you can remember way back to our study in Ephesians chapter two (which I’m sure many cannot) you might recall that this is a Hebraism, a Hebrew way of expressing an idea. It means, people who are not merely by accident disobedient, but who are essentially sons (children) of disobedience itself, and of which Satan is declared to be “the prince.”

So, fear not, Saint. This list of awfulness has nothing to do with you, even if you have sometimes conducted yourself poorly. If you are in Christ, if the Holy Spirit of God lives in you, then your heart desires to live an upright and godly life in this world and you are not a child of disobedience.

So, as Ephesians 5:7 urges us, let’s not be “partakers with them.” We were made for better things.