Ephesians 4:22

22 that ye put off everything concerning the old way of life, that is, the old man who corrupts himself according to deceitful desires,

Ephesians 4:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 4:22

That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old
man
Which is the corruption of nature; why this is called a man, and an old man, (See Gill on Romans 6:6), the putting him off, is not a removing him from the saints, nor a destroying him in them, nor a changing his nature; for he remains, and remains alive, and is the same old man he ever was, in regenerate persons; but it is a putting him off from his seat, and a putting him down from his government; a showing no regard to his rule and dominion, to his laws and lusts, making no provision for his support; and particularly, not squaring the life and conversation according to his dictates and directions; and therefore it is called a putting him off, concerning the former conversation: the change lies not, in the old man, who can never be altered, but in the conversation; he is not in the same power, but he retains the same sinful nature; he is put off, but he is not put out; and though he does not reign, he rages, and often threatens to get the ascendant: these words stand either in connection with ( Ephesians 4:17 ) and so are a continuation and an explanation of that exhortation; or else they point out what regenerate souls are taught by Christ to do, to quit the former conversation, to hate the garment spotted with the flesh, and to put it off; for the allusion is to the putting off of filthy garments, as the works of the flesh may be truly called, which flow from the vitiosity of nature, the old man:

which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
the old man, or the vitiosity of nature, has its lusts; and these are deceitful; they promise pleasure and profit, but yield neither in the issue; they promise liberty, and bring into bondage; they promise secrecy and impunity, but expose to shame, and render liable to punishment; they sometimes put on a religious face, and so deceive, and fill men with pride and conceit, who think themselves to be something, when they are nothing: and through these the old man is corrupt; by these the corruption of nature is discovered; and the corruption that is in the world is produced hereby; and these make a man deserving of, and liable to the pit of corruption; and this is a good reason, why this corrupt old man, with respect to the life and conversation, should be put off.

Ephesians 4:22 In-Context

20 But ye have not so learned of the Christ,

21 if so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus,

22 that ye put off everything concerning the old way of life, that is, the old man who corrupts himself according to deceitful desires,

23 and be renewed in the spirit of your understanding

24 and that ye put on the new man, which is created in conformity to God in righteousness and in the holiness of the truth.