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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eph_4:25-32
25Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor , for we are members of one another. 26be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28He 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. 29Let 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. 30Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Eph_4:25 "lay aside" This is an aorist middle participle used as an imperative. It continues the metaphor of clothing (cf. Eph_4:24). The believer needs to make an initial decision followed by repeated (i.e., daily, even hourly) decisions to live a holy life. See Special Topic: Vices and Virtues in the NT at Col_3:5.
▣ "falsehood" This refers to either
1. lying
2. "the lie" of unbelief as it was used in 1Jn_2:22
3. the message of the false teachers
▣ "speak truth each one of you with his neighbor," This is a quote from Zec_8:16. Notice Paul quotes the OT as encouragement for new covenant believers (cf. Eph_4:26). The OT is not a means of salvation, but it is still the revealed and authoritative revelation of God (cf. Mat_5:17-19). The OT still functions in sanctification, just not in justification. See Special Topic: Truth at Eph_1:13.
▣ "for we are members of one another" The "body" is one of Paul's metaphors for the church (cf. 1Co_12:12-30). Believers are gifted for the common good (cf. 1Co_12:7). Believers live for the family. They cannot live as isolated individuals.
Eph_4:26 "Be angry, and yet do not sin" This is a present middle (deponent) imperative. This is a quote from Psa_4:4. There are some areas of life where anger is appropriate, but it must be handled properly (i.e., Jesus cleansing the temple, cf. Joh_2:13-17).
This begins a series of present imperatives with the negative particle which usually means to stop an act already in progress (cf. Eph_4:26-30).
▣ "Do not let the sun go down on your anger" This may have been an allusion to Deu_24:15. The Jewish day began at sunset (cf. Gen_1:5). Anger is a powerful emotion which must be dealt with quickly. This may refer metaphorically to time or literally to sleep which allows anger to become a subconscious force.
Eph_4:27
NASB "do not give the devil an opportunity"
NKJV "nor give a place to the devil"
NRSV "do not make room for the devil"
TEV "don't give the Devil a chance"
NJB "or else you will give the devil a foothold"
This is a present active imperative with the negative particle which usually implies to stop an act in process. Anger which is not godly is an opening for spiritual attack; even godly anger (cf. Joh_2:13-17; Mat_21:12-13) must be dealt with quickly (cf. Eph_6:10-18).
The term "devil" is a Greek compound (diabolos) which meant "to throw across" (cf. Act_13:10; Eph_4:27; Eph_6:11; 1Ti_3:6-7; 2Ti_2:26). It was a metaphorical way of referring to Satan the accuser. Paul referred to Satan in several passages (cf. Act_26:18; Rom_10:20; 1Co_5:5; 1Co_7:5; 2Co_2:11; 2Co_11:14; 2Co_12:7; 1Th_2:18; 2Th_2:9; 1Ti_1:20; 1Ti_5:15). Satan was apparently an angelic being who rebelled against God (cf. Genesis 3; Job 1-2; Zechariah 3). It is biblically difficult to talk about Satan because
1. the Bible never speaks definitively of the origin or purpose of evil
2. the OT texts which are usually seen as possibly related to Satan's rebellion are specifically directed to the condemnation of prideful earthly rulers (King of Babylon, Isaiah 14 and King of Tyre, Ezekiel 28) and not Satan (see Special Topic: Personal Evil at Eph_2:2)
It is obvious from several NT passages that there was conflict in the spiritual realm (Mat_4:10; Mat_12:26; Mat_16:23; Joh_13:27; Joh_14:30; Joh_16:11; Act_5:3; 2Co_4:4. Eph_2:2; 1Jn_5:19; Rev_2:9; Rev_2:13; Rev_2:24; Rev_3:9; Rev_12:9; Rev_20:2; Rev_20:7). Where, when, and how are all mysteries. Believers do have an angelic enemy (cf. Eph_2:2)!
The relationship between God and Satan has developed from one of service to antagonism. Satan was not created evil. His adversarial work in Genesis 3, Job 1-2 and Zechariah 3 were within God's will (cf. A. B. Davidson's An Old Testament Theology, pp. 300-306, for the development of evil in the Bible). It provided a test for human loyalty and trustworthiness. Mankind failed!
Eph_4:28 "he who steals must steal no longer" The new life in Christ has the potential and goal to radically and permanently change one's actions and character. This change is an evidence of one's salvation and a witness to the lost.
▣ "he must labor" This is a present active imperative. Judaism held manual labor in high regard; so too, did early Christianity (cf. 1Th_4:11; 2Th_3:10-12).
▣ "in order that he may have something to share with him who has need" Labor is not only the will of God for mankind, (i.e. Adam worked in the garden of Eden before sin came), but a way to share with those in need. Believers are stewards of God-given prosperity (cf. Deu_8:11-20), not owners. Our giving is a true barometer of our spiritual health (cf. 2 Corinthians 8-9).
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Eph_4:29
NASB "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth"
NKJV "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth"
NRSV "Let no evil talk come out of your mouth"
TEV "Do not use harmful words in talking"
NJB "Guard against foul talk"
This term literally was used of something rotten or of crumbling stone work (cf. Mat_7:17-18; Mat_12:37; Luk_6:43). It came to be used metaphorically of something "corrupt," "depraved," "vicious," "foul," or "impure." In context it refers to the teachings and lifestyles of the false teachers (cf. Col_3:8). It does not, in this context, refer to jokes, or coarse jesting (cf. Eph_5:4; Col_4:6). Jesus taught that speech reveals the heart (cf. Mar_7:15; Mar_7:18-23). See Special Topic: Human Speech at Col_3:8.
▣ "but only such a word as is good for edification" One evidence of God-given spiritual gifts is that they edify the whole body (cf. Rom_14:13-23; 1Co_14:4-5; 1Co_14:12; 1Co_14:17; 1Co_14:26). Believers must live, give, and minister for the good of the body (the church, cf. 1Co_12:7), not for themselves (cf. Eph_4:3). Again the corporate aspect of biblical faith is emphasized above individual freedom (cf. Rom_14:1 to Rom_15:13). See Special Topic: Edify at Eph_2:21.
▣ "that it may give grace to those who hear" In context this cannot mean "grace," as in salvation, but goodness or favor to other believers, especially those tempted and tested by (1) false teachers (cf. 2Pe_2:1-21) or (2) the pull of one's previous life in paganism (cf. 2Pe_2:22).
Eph_4:30 "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" This is a present active imperative with the negative particle which usually means to stop an act in process. This expresses the truth that the Spirit is a person. It also shows that believers' actions cause pain to the Holy Spirit (cf. 1Th_5:19). This may be an allusion to Isa_63:10. The Spirit's goal for all believers is Christlikeness (cf. Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10; Eph_4:13; Rom_8:28-29; Gal_4:19). See Special Topic: The Personhood of the Spirit at Eph_1:14.
▣ "by whom you were sealed" This is an aorist passive indicative. This sealing is done by the Spirit at salvation (cf. Eph_1:13-14; Rev_7:2-4). Sealing was a cultural sign of ownership, security, and genuineness. Believers belong to Christ! See Special Topic: Seal at Eph_1:13.
▣ "for the day of redemption" This refers to the Second Coming, Resurrection Day, or Judgment Day, depending on one's relationship to Christ. See Special Topic: Ransom/Redeem at Col_1:14. For a good discussion of this verse see Gordon Fee, To What End Exegesis? pp. 262-275.
Eph_4:31 "all bitterness" This refers to a settled state of animosity with no chance of reconciliation.
▣ "wrath" This (thumos) refers to a fast burning anger or rage (cf. 2Co_12:20; Gal_5:20; Col_3:8).
▣ "anger" This (orgç) refers to a slow burning or settled resentment (cf. 2Co_12:20; Gal_5:20; Col_3:8).
▣ "clamor" This refers to an outcry (cf. Mat_25:6; Act_23:9). In this context it might refer to loud threats or charges of wrong doing by the false teachers or their followers.
▣ "slander. . .with all malice" This may also reflect the techniques of the false teachers. This list shows the problems caused by (1) the false teachers or (2) the characteristics that cause disunity. These same sins are also listed in Col_3:8.
▣ "put away" This is an aorist passive imperative. Believers must allow the Spirit to remove these characteristics of the old, fallen, Adamic nature once and for all. As salvation involves a decisive personal choice, so does the Christian life.
Eph_4:32 "Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other" This is contrasted with Eph_4:31. It is a present middle (deponent) imperative. These are the positive continuing commands (cf. Col_3:12-13) that
1. please the Spirit
2. build the fellowship of the saints
3. attract lost people
▣ "just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" This is the underlying motive for believers' actions, the actions of Christ toward them (cf. Mat_6:12; Mat_6:14-15; Mat_18:21-35; Php_2:1-11; 1Jn_3:16).
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