Ephesians 5:7–8
“Therefore do not become partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light.”
Here he refers to the present state of faith, in which he implies a fourfold caution against the deception of the wicked.
First, the detestation of their companionship: “Do not therefore become partakers with them.”
Second, the consideration of their contagion: “For you were once darkness.”
Third, the evidence of the opposite good: “But now you are light.”
Fourth, the diligence in adhering to the good: “Walk as children of the light.”
Therefore he says: “Do not therefore become partakers with them,” namely by consenting to them or imitating their works. For if you are partners in the guilt, you will also be partners in the punishment. As it is said in Romans 1:32, “Those who do such things are worthy of death; not only those who do them, but also those who consent to those who do them.”
You must not be partakers with them, because you were once darkness, that is, darkened through ignorance:
without the light of faith in the intellect,
without the warmth of charity in the affections,
without the color of a good example in action.
Thus Proverbs 4:19: “The way of the wicked is dark.”
But now you are light, that is, through discernment you act rightly by wisdom.
Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world.”
And 2 Corinthians 6:14: “What fellowship has light with darkness?”
I say light, and this not from yourselves but in the Lord. For darkness you are in yourselves, but light in the Lord. Thus 1 John 2:8: “The darkness has passed away and the true light now shines.”
Since therefore you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light, going from good to better, carefully avoiding stumbling blocks—not like the blind. For “he who walks in darkness does not know where he goes” (John 12:35).
Thus Romans 13:13: “Let us walk honestly as in the day.”
And Proverbs 4:18: “The path of the just is like the shining light which proceeds and grows brighter.”
On the Many Ways People Are Deceived
It should be noted that men are deceived by empty words in many ways.
First, by false words, as the serpent deceived the first parents.
2 Corinthians 11:3: “I fear lest, as the serpent deceived Eve…”
And Matthew 24:5: “Many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”
Second, by flattery, as sailors are lured by the Sirens.
Jeremiah 38:22: “Your friends have deceived you.”
Isaiah 9:16: “Those who call this people blessed are deceiving them.”
Third, by heretics, like phantoms deceiving the simple.
Matthew 24:24: “False prophets will arise.”
Fourth, by philosophical speculations, like magical arts deceiving children.
Colossians 2:18: “Let no one deceive you by philosophy and empty deceit.”
Fifth, by presumption, like mirrors reflecting the moon.
1 John 1:8: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.”
Sixth, by seductive allurements, like birds caught by bait.
Proverbs 5:20: “Why are you captivated by a stranger?”
Seventh, by threats, as a tyrant terrifies a virgin.
Revelation 20:7: “Satan will go out to deceive the nations.”
Ephesians 5:9–10
“For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and justice and truth, testing what is pleasing to God.”
Having mentioned the state of faith, he now refers to the fruit of a good life, saying:
You ought truly to walk as children of light, for the fruit of light—that is, of wisdom and discernment—consists in:
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all goodness, with respect to oneself,
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justice, with respect to one’s neighbor,
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truth, with respect to God.
Or again:
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goodness of heart,
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justice of works,
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truth of speech.
Thus you walk as children of light, testing beforehand, that is, discerning by reason what is pleasing to God. Your works must be so circumspect that they please God.
The works of the commandments please God;
but the works of the counsels please Him more perfectly.
Thus Romans 12:2: “That you may discern what is the will of God—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.”
Why the Just Are Called “Children of Light”
The good are called children of light both in the present life and in the future life.
In the present life they resemble light because they are:
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Clear, through justice spreading everywhere.
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Agile, through temperance laying aside the weight of the flesh.
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Subtle, through prudence penetrating deep things.
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Impassible, through fortitude enduring all things for God.
These correspond to the virtues mentioned in Wisdom 8:7.
In the future life these correspond to the four gifts (dotes) of the glorified body:
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Clarity, through the gift of brightness.
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Agility, through the gift of agility.
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Subtlety, through the gift of subtlety.
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Impassibility, through the gift of impassibility.
Of these 1 Corinthians 15 says: “It is sown a natural body; it rises a spiritual body.”
Ephesians 5:11–12
“And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For the things done by them in secret are shameful even to speak of.”
Previously he warned that they should not be deceived into committing such evils.
Now he warns not even to consent to those who do them, but rather to reprove them.
Thus he shows:
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What should be reproved
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Why – “For the things done in secret…”
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The usefulness – “All things that are reproved are made manifest.”
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The final purpose – “Awake, you who sleep…”
Therefore he says:
Do not share in the works of darkness, by consenting or approving.
For Romans 1:32 says that not only those who do such things but also those who consent are worthy of death.
These are unfruitful works, as Romans 6:21 says:
“What fruit had you then in those things of which you are now ashamed?”
Rather reprove them, not merely once, but again and again.
These works are called works of darkness:
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Because they come from the darkness of error.
“They have neither known nor understood” (Psalm 81:5).
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Because they love darkness.
John 3:19–20: “They loved darkness rather than light.”
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Because they lead to darkness.
Matthew 22:13: “Cast him into outer darkness.”
Thus they come from spiritual darkness,
love material darkness,
and lead to eternal darkness.
Ephesians 5:13
“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.”
Here he shows the usefulness of correction.
Four things are required in correction:
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Boldness in correcting
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Justice of the corrector (signified by the light)
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Effectiveness of correction (manifestation)
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Clarity of the result
Thus he says: although it is shameful even to speak of these things, they must nevertheless be reproved.
For everything that is reproved by the light, that is, by a just man correcting justly, is made manifest.
Sometimes the sinner recognizes his fault.
Sometimes others learn through confession.
Thus Job 20:27: “The heavens will reveal his iniquity.”
And this manifestation is not useless.
For what is revealed becomes, in some way, light, since it may lead to repentance.
Thus Romans 8:28: “All things work together for good for those who love God.”
Seven Ways of Sharing in the Sins of Others
One communicates in the sins of others in seven ways, which must be avoided:
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By giving counsel toward sin.
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By praising or applauding the sinner.
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By favoring or secretly helping.
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By consenting.
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By cooperating.
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By remaining silent when correction is required.
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By defending the sin.
Ephesians 5:14
“Therefore he says: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you.”
Here he indicates the purpose of reproving sinners.
First, who must be corrected: the one who sleeps.
Second, what he must do: arise.
Third, to what end: that he may be enlightened.
Therefore he says:
“Awake” through interior repentance, namely contrition,
you who sleep in sin.
“Arise from the dead” through exterior repentance, leaving the twofold death:
Then Christ will enlighten you,
in the present life through faith,
and in the future life through vision.
For He is the true light which enlightens every man coming into the world
(John 1:9; 8:12).
CONTINUE
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