Ephesians 4:25-32
25: Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.
26: BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27: and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28: He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Paul gave some basic instructions concerning the Christian walk to show what this “new man” of the combined formerly Jewish/formerly Gentile looked like. First, he said not to lie. He quoted from Zechariah 8:16 where the Lord advised the people what they should do once His wrath was turned away from them, “Speak truth each one of you with His neighbor.” We are a part each other. If we deceive one another, it’s like deceiving ourselves.
Paul also quoted Psalm 4:4, “Be angry, and yet do not sin...” There are occasions to be angry—against unrighteousness, against dishonoring God, and when someone is wronged. Yet don’t hang on to anger, which indicates that you are not controlling it, but it is controlling you. To let the sun set on a person’s anger would indicate that the matter went unresolved. Don’t give the devil opportunity in this way.
Paul spoke of working with their own hands to provide for themselves and have extra to give to others, rather than expecting others to provide for them, or even stealing from someone else—selfishly taking from their hard work. Christians are to work and become providers and givers. Not lazy and selfish, consuming of the work of others.
Paul also addressed the words of the mouth—not to communicate worthless talk, but to speak words of edification—seasonal words which flavor the moment with grace. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by whom our redemption is sealed. We must not take lightly this sealing of the Spirit or take advantage of our place in Christ. All the evil intentions of the heart, and words which promote them, are to be replaced with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness toward each other. Just as Christ has displayed toward us.
26: BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27: and do not give the devil an opportunity.
28: He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.
29: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31: Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32: Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
***
Paul gave some basic instructions concerning the Christian walk to show what this “new man” of the combined formerly Jewish/formerly Gentile looked like. First, he said not to lie. He quoted from Zechariah 8:16 where the Lord advised the people what they should do once His wrath was turned away from them, “Speak truth each one of you with His neighbor.” We are a part each other. If we deceive one another, it’s like deceiving ourselves.
Paul also quoted Psalm 4:4, “Be angry, and yet do not sin...” There are occasions to be angry—against unrighteousness, against dishonoring God, and when someone is wronged. Yet don’t hang on to anger, which indicates that you are not controlling it, but it is controlling you. To let the sun set on a person’s anger would indicate that the matter went unresolved. Don’t give the devil opportunity in this way.
Paul spoke of working with their own hands to provide for themselves and have extra to give to others, rather than expecting others to provide for them, or even stealing from someone else—selfishly taking from their hard work. Christians are to work and become providers and givers. Not lazy and selfish, consuming of the work of others.
Paul also addressed the words of the mouth—not to communicate worthless talk, but to speak words of edification—seasonal words which flavor the moment with grace. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by whom our redemption is sealed. We must not take lightly this sealing of the Spirit or take advantage of our place in Christ. All the evil intentions of the heart, and words which promote them, are to be replaced with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness toward each other. Just as Christ has displayed toward us.
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