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But now ye also put off all these: having minded them of their former condition under paganism in a state of sin, while they served various sensual lusts, he doth here in their present circumstances under Christianity in a state of grace, show them that, now they professed to walk as children of light, Rom_13:12 Eph_5:8, with 1Th_5:5,8, they were more strongly obliged to lay aside those inordinate affections which were more spiritual Eph_4:22; some of which he doth instance in, viz. anger; whereby he doth not mean the passion itself, Eph_4:26, with Eph_4:31, but the inordinacy of it, being a vindictive appetite to hurt another unjustly for some affront conceived to be given or occasioned by him.
Wrath; indignation, Rom_2:8, a sudden, hasty, and vehement commotion of the offended mind apprehending an injury, when it shows itself in the countenance in a manner and measure unbecoming a Christian, as in them who with rage thrust Christ out of the city, Luk_4:28,29, with Eph_4:31.
Malice; connoting both the evil habit and the vicious act: now though this word be taken oftentimes more generally, for that mischievous vitiosity and venom which runs through all the passions of the soul, reaching to all sins, 1Co_5:8 14:20; yet here it seems to be taken more specially, for a secret malignity of rooted anger and continued wrath, remembering injuries, meditating revenge, and watching for an occasion to vent it, being much the same with that which the apostle in a parallel Epistle calls bitterness, Eph_4:31, compared with other places, Gen_4:5 Rom_1:29 Tit_3:3 1Pe_2:1. After he had urged the laying aside of heart evils as the cause, he moves to the laying aside those of the tongue, viz.
blasphemy, which in a like place we render evil speaking, Eph_4:31; the original word, according to the notation of it, doth signify the hurt of any one’s good name, which when it respects God we do more strictly call blasphemy. When it respects our neighbour, though more largely it be so, defamation, Rom_3:8 1Co_4:13 Tit_3:2; yet more strictly, if it be done secretly, it is detraction or backbiting; more openly, reviling or slandering, Mat_15:19 Mar_7:22 1Ti_6:4.
Filthy communication out of your mouth: obscene discourse, dishonest talk, should not come into the Christian’s mouth, Col_4:6; see on Eph_4:29 5:4: wanton, lewd, and unclean speeches should not proceed from a Christian’s tongue, 1Co_15:33.