Verse 25
As the practice of the old man follows his condition (Ephesians 4:17-19), so the practice of the new man (Ephesians 4:25-32) should follow his condition (Ephesians 4:20-24). In Ephesians 4:25-32 we find five exhortations to Christians regarding our conduct. Each one has three parts: a negative command, a positive command, and the reason for the positive command.
The first exhortation is to stop deceiving. Deception is a mask that false teachers (Ephesians 4:14) and the old man (Ephesians 4:22) wear. Instead the Christian should speak truth, namely, what is in harmony with reality (cf. Colossians 3:8-9; Zechariah 8:16). The reason is the Christian belongs to and must function honestly in a group, the church. Truthful speech is essential to unity in the body. Obviously it is important for other reasons also.
"Lying may be an accepted weapon in the warfare waged by the worldly, but it has no place in the life of the Christian." [Note: Morris, p. 142.]
"A lie is a stab into the very vitals of the Body of Christ." [Note: John A. Mackay, God’s Order: The Ephesian Letter and this Present Time, p. 213.]
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