Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 4:19

Albert Barnes Commentary

Ephesians 4:19

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Ephesians 4:19

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." — Ephesians 4:19 (ASV)

Who being past feeling. Wholly hardened in sin. There is a total lack 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 in it, they preferred it. See the notes on Romans 1:21.

Unto lasciviousness. See the notes on Romans 1:24 and Romans 1:25-26.