Ephesians 4:18
They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
They are darkened in their understanding
The phrase "darkened in their understanding" suggests a spiritual blindness or lack of insight. The Greek word for "darkened" is "skotizo," which implies being obscured or deprived of light. In a biblical context, light often symbolizes truth and divine revelation. This darkness in understanding indicates a separation from the truth of God, leading to a life lived without the guidance of His wisdom. Historically, this reflects the condition of the Gentiles before the revelation of Christ, living in a world without the illumination of God's Word.

and alienated from the life of God
"Alienated" comes from the Greek "apallotrioo," meaning to be estranged or separated. This separation from the "life of God" signifies a disconnection from the spiritual vitality and eternal life that comes through a relationship with God. In the historical context of Ephesians, Paul addresses Gentile believers who were once far from God but have now been brought near through Christ. This alienation is not just a physical separation but a spiritual one, highlighting the need for reconciliation through Jesus.

because of the ignorance that is in them
"Ignorance" here is translated from the Greek word "agnoia," which denotes a lack of knowledge or awareness. This ignorance is not merely intellectual but spiritual, reflecting a willful rejection or neglect of God's truth. In the scriptural context, this ignorance is a result of turning away from God, leading to a life devoid of His wisdom and guidance. The historical backdrop of Ephesians shows a world steeped in paganism and idolatry, where the true knowledge of God was obscured.

due to the hardness of their hearts
The "hardness of their hearts" is a critical phrase, with "hardness" derived from the Greek "porosis," indicating a stubbornness or insensitivity. This metaphorical hardness suggests a resistance to God's truth and a refusal to be moved by His Spirit. Biblically, a hard heart is often associated with rebellion against God, as seen in Pharaoh's resistance in Exodus. In the context of Ephesians, Paul warns against the spiritual callousness that prevents individuals from experiencing the transformative power of God's love and grace.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Paul the Apostle
The author of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul is writing to the church in Ephesus to instruct and encourage them in their faith.

2. Ephesus
A major city in Asia Minor, known for its diverse culture and the Temple of Artemis. The Ephesian church was a mix of Jewish and Gentile believers.

3. The Ephesian Church
The recipients of Paul's letter, consisting of early Christians who were navigating their faith in a predominantly pagan society.
Teaching Points
Understanding and Ignorance
The verse highlights the spiritual blindness that results from ignorance. As believers, we are called to seek wisdom and understanding through God's Word to avoid being darkened in our understanding.

Alienation from God
Sin and ignorance separate us from the life God intends for us. We must strive to remain connected to God through prayer, study, and fellowship.

The Heart's Condition
A hardened heart leads to spiritual ignorance. Regular self-examination and repentance are necessary to maintain a soft heart towards God.

Role of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit enlightens our understanding and softens our hearts. We should continually seek the Spirit's guidance in our daily walk.

Community and Accountability
Being part of a faith community helps prevent spiritual ignorance and hardness of heart. Engage in regular fellowship and accountability with other believers.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of being "darkened in their understanding" manifest in today's world, and how can we guard against it?

2. In what ways can ignorance lead to alienation from God, and how can we actively pursue knowledge and understanding of Him?

3. Reflect on a time when your heart was hardened. What steps did you take to soften it, and how did that change your relationship with God?

4. How can the Holy Spirit help us overcome ignorance and hardness of heart, and what practices can we adopt to be more receptive to the Spirit's work?

5. What role does community play in preventing spiritual ignorance and hardness of heart, and how can you contribute to fostering a supportive faith community?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Romans 1:21
This verse discusses how people became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened, similar to the concept of being "darkened in their understanding" in Ephesians 4:18.

2 Corinthians 4:4
Talks about the god of this age blinding the minds of unbelievers, which connects to the idea of being alienated from the life of God due to ignorance.

Hebrews 3:13
Warns against the deceitfulness of sin that hardens the heart, paralleling the "hardness of their hearts" mentioned in Ephesians 4:18.
Christians Must Live Above the WorldR. W. Dale, LL. D.Ephesians 4:18
Different Kinds of IgnoranceT. Adams.Ephesians 4:18
Guilty IgnoranceDr. South.Ephesians 4:18
Ignorance of a Depraved HeartDr. South.Ephesians 4:18
Ignorance of ReligionAnthony Horneck.Ephesians 4:18
Innocent IgnoranceDr. South.Ephesians 4:18
Natural IgnoranceJ. Wesley.Ephesians 4:18
Spiritual BlindnessH. W. Beecher.Ephesians 4:18
The Authority and Utility of the ScripturesHugh BinningEphesians 4:18
The Immorality of the HeathenR. W. Dale, LL. D.Ephesians 4:18
Symptoms of Moral MadnessD. Thomas Ephesians 4:17-19
The Moral Characteristics of HeathenismT. Croskery Ephesians 4:17-19
Exhortation ResumedR. Finlayson Ephesians 4:17-24
Raw Material for Christian UnityR.M. Edgar Ephesians 4:17-32
People
Colossians, Ephesians, Paul
Places
Ephesus
Topics
Alienated, Blindness, Dark, Darkened, Deep-seated, Due, Estranged, Excluded, Gives, Hardening, Hardness, Heart, Hearts, Ignorance, Insensibility, Moral, Nature, Reason, Separated, Share, Strange, Thoughts, Understanding, Understandings
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ephesians 4:18

     1403   God, revelation
     4811   darkness, symbol of sin
     5016   heart, fallen and redeemed
     5195   veil
     5263   communication
     5901   loneliness
     6178   hardness of heart
     6245   stubbornness
     6512   salvation, necessity and basis
     6717   reconciliation, world to God
     8341   separation
     8355   understanding
     8835   unbelief, nature of
     9024   death, spiritual

Ephesians 4:17-18

     1441   revelation, necessity
     5864   futility

Ephesians 4:17-19

     2426   gospel, responses
     6188   immorality, sexual
     8702   agnosticism

Ephesians 4:17-24

     6745   sanctification, nature and basis

Ephesians 4:18-19

     5946   sensitivity
     6183   ignorance, of God

Library
January 14. "Unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ" (Eph. Iv. 13).
"Unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph. iv. 13). God loves us so well that He will not suffer us to take less than His highest will. Some day we shall bless our faithful teacher, who kept the standard inflexibly rigid, and then gave us the strength and grace to reach it, and would not excuse us until we had accomplished all His glorious will. Let us be inexorable with ourselves. Let us mean exactly what God means, and have no discounts upon His promises or commandments. Let
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

July 27. "The Building up of the Body of Christ" (R. V. , Eph. Iv. 13).
"The building up of the body of Christ" (R. V., Eph. iv. 13). God is preparing His heroes, and when the opportunity comes He can fit them into their place in a moment and the world will wonder where they came from. Let the Holy Ghost prepare you, dear friend, by all the discipline of life; and when the last finishing touch has been given to the marble, it will be easy for God to put it on the pedestal, and fit it into its niche. There is a day coming, when, like Othniel, we, too, shall judge the
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

June 15. "Grow up into Him in all Things" (Eph. Iv. 15).
"Grow up into Him in all things" (Eph. iv. 15). Harvest is a time of ripeness. Then the fruit and grain are fully developed, both in size and weight. Time has tempered the acid of the green fruit. It has been mellowed and softened by the rains and the heat of summer. The sun has tinted it into rich colors, and at last it is ready and ripe to fall into the hand. So Christian life ought to be. There are many things in life that need to be mellowed and ripened. Many Christians have orchards full of
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The End of Religion
EPHESIANS iv. 23, 24. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put ye on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. This text is exceedingly valuable to us for it tells us the end and aim of all religion. It tells us why we are to pray, whether at home or in church; why we are to read our Bibles and good books; why we are to be what is commonly called religious. It tells us, I say, the end and aim of all religion; namely, that we may put on 'the new man, which
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

The Likeness of God
EPHESIANS iv. 23, 24. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Be renewed, says St. Paul, in the spirit of your mind--in the tone, character, and habit of your mind. And put on the new man, the new pattern of man, who was created after God, in righteousness and true holiness. Pay attention, I beg you, to every word here. To understand them clearly is most important to you. According as you take them
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity the Christian Calling and Unity.
Text: Ephesians 4, 1-6. 1 I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity Duty to New and Old Man.
Text: Ephesians 4, 22-28. 22 That ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, that waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit; 23 and that ye be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth. 25 Wherefore, putting away falsehood, speak ye truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 neither give
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. III

The Calling and the Kingdom
'I beseech you, that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.'--Eph. iv. 1. 'They shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.'--Rev. iii. 4. The estimate formed of a centurion by the elders of the Jews was, 'He is worthy for whom Thou shouldst do this' and in contrast therewith the estimate formed by himself was, 'I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come under my roof.' From these two statements we deduce the thought that merit has no place in the Christian's salvation, but all
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Goal of Progress
'Till we all attain unto the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'--Eph. iv. 13 (R.V.). The thought of the unity of the Church is much in the Apostle's mind in this epistle. It is set forth in many places by his two favourite metaphors of the body and the temple, by the relation of husband and wife and by the family. It is contemplated in its great historical realisation by the union of Jew and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

A Dark Picture and a Bright Hope
'That ye put off, concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.'--Eph. iv. 22. If a doctor knows that he can cure a disease he can afford to give full weight to its gravest symptoms. If he knows he cannot he is sorely tempted to say it is of slight importance, and, though it cannot be cured, can be endured without much discomfort. And so the Scripture teachings about man's real moral condition are characterised by two peculiarities which, at
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The New Man
'And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'--Eph. iv. 24. We had occasion to remark in a former sermon that Paul regards this and the preceding clauses as the summing up of 'the truth in Jesus'; or, in other words, he considers the radical transformation and renovation of the whole moral nature as being the purpose of the revelation of God in Christ. To this end they have 'heard Him.' To this end they have 'learned Him.' To this end they have
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Grieving the Spirit
'Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.'--Eph. iv. 30. The miracle of Christianity is the Incarnation. It is not a link in a chain, but a new beginning, the entrance into the cosmic order of a Divine Power. The sequel of Bethlehem and Calvary and Olivet is the upper room and the Pentecost. There is the issue of the whole mission and work of Christ--the planting in the heart of humanity of a new and divine life. All Christendom is professing to commemorate
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

The Threefold Unity
'One Lord, one faith, one baptism.'--Eph. iv. 5. The thought of the unity of the Church is very prominent in this epistle. It is difficult for us, amidst our present divisions, to realise how strange and wonderful it then was that a bond should have been found which drew together men of all nations, ranks, and characters. Pharisee and philosopher, high-born women and slaves, Roman patricians and gladiators, Asiatic Greeks and Syrian Jews forgot their feuds and sat together as one in Christ. It is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

'The Measure of Grace'
'But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.'--Eph. iv. 7 (R.V.). The Apostle here makes a swift transition from the thought of the unity of the Church to the variety of gifts to the individual. 'Each' is contrasted with 'all.' The Father who stands in so blessed and gracious a relationship to the united whole also sustains an equally gracious and blessed relationship to each individual in that whole. It is because each receives His individual gift
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Christ Our Lesson and Our Teacher
'But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught in Him.'--Eph. iv. 20, 21. The Apostle has been describing in very severe terms the godlessness and corruption of heathenism. He reckons on the assent of the Ephesian Christians when he paints the society in which they lived as alienated from God, insensible to the restraints of conscience, and foul with all uncleanness. That was a picture of heathenism drawn from the life and submitted to the judgment of those
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Of the Church
"I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." Ephesians 4:1-6. 1. How much do we almost continually hear about the Church!
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Ascension of Christ
It seemed expedient for him to stay, to accomplish the conversion of the world. Would not his presence have had an influence to win by eloquence of gracious word and argument of loving miracle? If he put forth his power the battle would soon be over, and his rule over all hearts would be for ever established. "Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee." Go not from the conflict, thou mighty bowman, but still cast thine all-subduing darts abroad.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Forgiveness Made Easy
At this time we wish to speak a little concerning the duties of love and forgiveness; and here we note, at once, that the apostle sets before us the example of God himself. Upon that bright example we shall spend most of our time, but I hope not quite so much as to forget the practical part, which is so much needed in these days by certain Unforgiving spirits who nevertheless assume the Christian name. The theme of God's forgiving love is so fascinating that we may linger awhile, and a long while
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 24: 1878

Grieving the Holy Spirit
I. The few words I have to say UPON THE LOVE OF THE SPIRIT will all be pressing forward to my great mark, stirring you up not to grieve the Spirit; for when we are persuaded that another loves us, we find at once a very potent reason why we should not grieve him. The love of the Spirit!--how shall I tell it forth? Surely it needs a songster to sing it, for love is only to be spoken of in words of song. The love of the Spirit!--let me tell you of his early love to us. He loved us without beginning.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

The Prison-House.
(Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.) EPHESIANS iv. 1. "The prisoner of the Lord." This is what Paul the aged called himself in writing to the Ephesians. He had appealed unto Caesar, and he was a captive at Rome. But he does not style himself Caesar's prisoner, but the prisoner of the Lord, whose he was, and whom he served. Let us think first of the place and manner of St. Paul's imprisonment. The place was Rome, the capital of the world. A city full of glorious memories of the past, and famous
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2

The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures
2 Tim. iii. 16.--"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." We told you that there was nothing more necessary to know than what our end is, and what the way is that leads to that end. We see the most part of men walking at random,--running an uncertain race,--because they do not propose unto themselves a certain scope to aim at, and whither to direct their whole course. According to men's particular
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Of the Creation 0F Man
Gen. i. 26, 27.--"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them."--With Eph. iv. 24.--"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."--And Heb.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Central Sun
(Sunday after Ascension, Evening.) Ephesians iv. 9. 10. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. This is one of those very deep texts which we are not meant to think about every day; only at such seasons as this, when we have to think of Christ ascending into heaven, that he might send down his Spirit at Whitsuntide. Of this the text
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons

The Truth in Jesus.
But ye did not so learn Christ; if so be that ye heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus: that ye put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man, which waxeth corrupt after the lusts of deceit.' [Footnote: That is, 'which is still going to ruin through the love of the lie.']--Eph. iv. 20-22. How have we learned Christ? It ought to be a startling thought, that we may have learned him wrong. That must he far worse than not to have learned him at all: his place
George MacDonald—Unspoken Sermons

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