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necessary sometimes for us, as it was for Paul here, to speak of them, and to speak of them in no uncertain terms, hut only to condemn. And even such mention should not be over-frequent, and with great care, lest we become hardened to them by familiarity. There has been a growing tendency in recent years to speak more commonly, even in mixed congregations, of these sins. This has sometimes been done in the name of “ Social Purity Reform,” but the com monness and carelessness with which these things are spoken of, even in Soc ial Purity meetings, has oftentimes resulted in the Social Purity meeting doing more harm than good, and pro moting the sin rather than lessening it. “ Covetousness” is not limited in the Bible, as it is in modern usage, to greed for money (cf. Ex. 20:17; Eph. 4:19, where “ greediness” in the Greek is “ covetousness” ). All inordinate desire is covetousness, and the connection in this passage would suggest “ greed” for sexual gratification as much as for money. There are three other things that the man created in Christ’s image should put away: (1) “ Filthiness,” lit erally, “ deformity,” “ baseness.” By this is meant every moral deformity, but referring here especially to the hideous sin, gross sensuality. (2) “ Foolish talk ing,” i. e., talking about sin as a “ fool” talks about it, treating it as a joke (cf. Prov. 14:9), it .covers all obscene jest ing, and more. (3) “ Jesting.” The word translated “ jesting” means witty repar tee. Perhaps from the connection in which Paul says this he refers primarily to immoral pleasantry, but all trifling talk is perilous and the child of God who has nothing whatever to do with it will enjoy most of communion with God, and most of peace in his own soul. God is never a trifler (cf. Matt. 12:36). There is a wit and humor that are strong and tender and buoyant expression of truth, and exposure of the folly of sin (cf. 1 Ki. 18:27; Matt. 11:16-19), but all joking is perilous, and there is a ten dency in it to run into the foolish, and oftentimes into the evilly suggestive and gross and immoral. If the heart is full of lightness and merriment, as the Chris- tion heart ever is, let it express iteself in “ giving of thanks,” the gladdest and cheeriest of all exercises (cf. Jas. 5:13; Col. 3:16). These things which Paul has mentioned “ are not befitting,” they do not fit in well to the life of a “ saint,” a man or woman entirely separated to God.
FRIDAY, August 7, Eph, 5:5. Here Paul gives us the reason why the things mentioned are not befitting in a saint and should be shunned. The rea son given is, “ For this ye know of a surety that every fornicator (there is not one exception, or unclean person, or covetous man, who is an idolator, hath not an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” We have varied translations of this verse not only from the Authorized Version, but also from the Revised Version, gives the thought, it is not an exact translation of the Greek words, and the exact translation seems to make the thought more impressive than the trans lation given in the Revised Version. The words translated “ Ye know of a surety” are very forceful in the original. Liter ally translated they would be, “ Know ing ye know.” Two different Greek words for knowing are used. “ Know of a surety” seems to give the force of the word used as well as it can be expressed in English. The kingdom here referred to is the kingdom of Christ and of God in its future perfect state of blessedness and glory (cf. Matt. 25:34; 1 Cor. 15: 50). Not one such person as is men tioned would have any part in it, unless he repents, but if one has been guilty of these very things and repents he will have part in it (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21). Note that the covetous man is said to be an idolator (cf. Col. 3 :5 ). This is true of the man who is greedy for money; money is his god, for he gives up God and Christ and eternal life. It is^true also of the one who is greedy for sinful lust. He is entirely dominated by his sin. Many a man will not come to Christ because he is not willing to give up lust, lust is his god. SATURDAY, August 8. Eph. 5:6. There were those 5n Paul’s day, as there are those in our day, who were uttering “ empty words,” i. e., words that sounded plausible and were fascinating, but lacked truth and were therefore “ empty” (R. V .). These words were to the effect that men might commit such things as are mentioned in verses 3 to 5, and still escape the wrath of God and inherit the kingdom. There are not a few who utter the same kind of empty words today. But Paul lifts up his voice in warning, “ Let no man deceive you with empty words” (cf. Rom. 16: 18; 1 Cor. 3:18; 2 Thess. 2:3; Jas. 1: 26; 1 John 3 :7). Never was this warn ing more needed than today. On every
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