Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
‘Other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.’ The ninefold former state of gentiles: Vain in mind (4:17). Dark in understanding (4:18; 2:12). Alien to God’s life (4:18; 2:12). Ignorant of God (4:18; 2:12). Blind in the heart (4:18; 2Cor. 4:4). Past feeling (4:19; 2:12). Lustful (4:19; Gal. 5:19). Unclean (4:19; Gal. 5:19). Greedy (4:19; 5:3; 2Cor. 6:10).
Being self-absorbed in one’s mind will cause your understanding to darken so as not to be able to understand God’s Word or to live according to His light. Being alienated from the life of God through ignorance means that one is not prepared to study God’s Word to get to know Him (Php. 1:9) and that causes ignorance in His truth and commands and in what it means to be a true follower of Christ (1Pet. 2:21-23; 1Jn. 3). Because of the blindness of one’s heart, you will be past feeling [have no care] and given over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness which means that they will have no care for any basic Godly moral standards and will only live in sin, defilement and for self-gain.
‘Being alienated from the life of God.’ Jesus came to give us the Truth, the Way and the Life so that we can follow in His footsteps (1Pet. 2:21-23) and know everything that there is to know about the life of God and His plan for us as it is revealed – NOT HIDDEN – in the Word.
‘Work’ [Greek: ergasia] meaning regular occupation, craft for gain. This shows they gave themselves to the sins of Ephesians 4:17-19.
From Galatians 5:19-21 we are warned about the seventeen works of the flesh that will cause one to NOT inherit the kingdom of God: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, sorcery, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness and revellings.
Living the Word 