“Those who are disobedient” has the literal wording, “sons of disobedience.” Does Paul remember how completely the heavenly King cuts off such rebels? Yes, for Paul says they are “separated from Christ, alienated…strangers…having no hope and without God” (Ephesians 2:12). As aliens and “enemies,” we are in deep trouble (Colossians 1:21; 3:6).1 We have no allies to defend us in the face of God’s just and continual2 outrage at our sins. “A fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27). “The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6).3 In the Greek language, Ephesians 5:6 literally says, “the anger of God comes on the sons of disobedience.”
But Paul goes further. He places himself in the same spiritual condition – the same spiritual family – with heathens and pagans. Look at the way he moves from “you” (Gentiles) to “us” (thus including Jews like himself).
… in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind (Ephesians 2:1-3).
The literal wording for “objects of wrath” is “children of wrath.” God’s anger burns against sinful Jews just as much as sinful Gentiles.4 When Jesus makes a similar point, Jews seek comfort or defense in their family: “We are offspring of Abraham…Abraham is our father” (John 8:33,39). They are right in the fleshly sense.5 But Jesus exposes the hidden reality, the skeleton in their family closet. Satan is their spiritual father! “You are of your father the devil” (John 8:44). That is why they are described as a family of snakes: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).6
Here is the worst of all families! Here are the most terrible children: sons of Satan, sons of disobedience, children of wrath! How can such polluted, perverse, problematic sons, destined to perish, become children of God? Ephesians answers with the greater power and planning of God: “He predestined us to be adopted as His sons.”
3. Research subject – God’s anger: Numbers 16:22; 32:14; Deuteronomy 1:34-37; 9:8; 31:17; Joshua 22:18; Judges 2:20-21; 10:6-7; 2 Samuel 22:8-15; 1 Kings 11:9; 2 Kings 17:18; 2 Chronicles 28:9; Ezra 9:14; Job 42:7; Psalm 2:12; 78:41,49; 90:7; Isaiah 34:2; 64:5; Nahum 1:6; Habakkuk 3:12; Zechariah 1:2; 7:12; Mark 3:5; Luke 3:7; 21:23; Romans 1:18; 2:5-8; Revelation 6:16; 14:10,19; 16:1,19; 19:15
6. Research subject – Sin’s spiritual family: Genesis 3:1; Matthew 12:34; 13:38; 23:33; Acts 13:10; 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 John 3:8,10; Revelation 12:9
Picture: “A fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:27).