5 Put to death, then, your members that 'are' upon the earth—whoredom, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and the covetousness, which is idolatry— 6 because of which things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience, 7 in which also ye—ye did walk once, when ye lived in them;
8 but now put off, even ye, the whole—anger, wrath, malice, evil-speaking, filthy talking—out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, having put off the old man with his practices, 10 and having put on the new, which is renewed in regard to knowledge, after the image of Him who did create him; 11 where there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, servant, freeman—but the all and in all—Christ.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Colossians 3:5-11
Commentary on Colossians 3:5-11
(Read Colossians 3:5-11)
It is our duty to mortify our members which incline to the things of the world. Mortify them, kill them, suppress them, as weeds or vermin which spread and destroy all about them. Continual opposition must be made to all corrupt workings, and no provision made for carnal indulgences. Occasions of sin must be avoided: the lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world; and covetousness, which is idolatry; love of present good, and of outward enjoyments. It is necessary to mortify sins, because if we do not kill them, they will kill us. The gospel changes the higher as well as the lower powers of the soul, and supports the rule of right reason and conscience, over appetite and passion. There is now no difference from country, or conditions and circumstances of life. It is the duty of every one to be holy, because Christ is a Christian's All, his only Lord and Saviour, and all his hope and happiness.