In the preceding paragraph the author has spoken of the antithesis between believer and unbeliever in his mode of life. He presented the principles on which a believing life is to be built. Now he is going from the general to the particular, he will become very practical in his teaching.

Stop Lying⤒🔗

Because of the things he has taught them in the previous paragraph, they will be able to understand the things he will now teach them. As they had been admonished to put off the old man of sin, so must they also put off the speaking of lies. This seems to be so elementary that one might wonder why the Apostle makes a point of mentioning this — and making it first in a series of admonitions. The law of God also forbids the speaking of falsehood (ninth commandment), because this is such a common sin. All sins fall under the moral law of God and of the six commandments dealing with our relationship to our fellow-man, one has to be devoted to this partic­ular evil. Those who have come to believe the gospel and have given themselves wholly to it are to re­frain from speaking falsehood. Instead, they are to speak the truth each one with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. To speak the lie is to break the brotherhood. Such practices make it impossible for the one to have true fellowship with the other. The lie destroys the church! The lie destroys friend­ship! The lie destroys the family! In the words of Jesus: Our yes must be yes and our no must be no. This sounds so simple, but it is one of the most pro­found of all His recorded statements and it is one which is violated more often than almost any other. That one is not able to depend on the word of the un­believer might be expected; but the unbeliever often puts the believer to shame in this area of life. And when you cannot depend on someone's word, all relationships with him are broken.

Righteous Anger←⤒🔗

The place of anger in the life of any human being and especially in the life of a Christian is an impor­tant matter for anyone to consider. There is much anger displayed every day. There is anger displayed by believers too. Is this proper? Most of the time it is not because it is an evidence of the presence of the old man of sin. But, it is unscriptural to say that all anger is sin. God is angry with the wicked every day. Our Lord was angry at times when He was here on earth. It would be well if believers today would be filled with righteous anger more often! When a worldly view of love is emphasized in the church, there is no longer anger against sin! The sinful deeds of men and the falsehoods spoken under the guise of the gospel ought to fill our hearts with anger. But, care must be taken that it is not a sinful anger — in other words, there is an anger which is not sinful. Nor, adds the Apostle, may we let the day come to an end while we are still angry. What does he mean by this? We may indeed be angry with the sinful deeds of others. However, before the day has come to a close, we must be reconciled. If anger is al­lowed to continue it will destroy the person who har­bors it, and that too will destroy the fellowship of believers. I believe that the Apostle is here empha­sizing the need for mutual discipline. Be angry with your brother when he goes contrary to the will of God! Then see to it that this offense is removed the same day! This will make for a healthy relationship among believers. If this pattern of life is not fol­lowed, the devil will be the victor. The anger may have been righteous, but if the matter is not settled by means of confession and forgiveness, the devil has won the day. Righteous anger when not soon re­moved leads to a hardening and it soon becomes unrighteous!

Don't Steal, but Work←⤒🔗

If the sin of bearing false witness is still common to the present day, surely the sin mentioned in verse 28 is not common (?). Paul tells those who are steal­ing not to continue in this error. This was a common sin. Those who do not speak the truth have already laid the groundwork for stealing another's goods. It was common in the heathen world of that day as it is in the heathen world of today. But believers of every age better examine themselves too. Instead of stealing he should labor with his hands. He should engage in honest toil because such toil will be re­warded and he will then have sufficient to give to those who are not able to work. Paul's work ethic is mentioned in many of his letters. He himself worked day and night, and he does not approve of anyone not doing an honest day's work if he is able. Poverty is no blessing! It should be avoided and everything should be done to uproot it. By being diligent in his work a man will have more than enough for himself. Woe to those who do not alleviate the need of others!

No Foul Language←⤒🔗

No one can deny that the Apostle is dealing with practical things and that he is specific in his admo­nitions. Believers' words must be true (vs. 25) but even more is required. The tongue is a very danger­ous member of our bodies as well as a very impor­tant member. It must speak the truth and it may not speak that which is filthy! Dirty talk is one of the devil's devices which he uses to corrupt men in the unbelieving world and even the believers are not immune to its temptation. The lie leads to all manner of sin ... to stealing etc. Filthy speech leads to many other sins, all of these sins destroy the brotherhood! How dare men speak filth with the same tongue which is used to pray to their God!

Constructive Talk←⤒🔗

As he spoke of these things in the previous para­graph and in the first verses of this present paragraph, so he does here. It is not only a matter of "Don't do this"! He also emphasizes the positive. They must not engage in filthy talk but they are to use their speech organs for a better purpose. They must use their speech to build up their fellow be­liever in the faith. This is not to be done in a very un­realistic way, but "as the need may be". Then you have to know the need! Speak so that it fits the situation! In this way your speech will be a blessing to those who hear it. Corrupt speech breaks down the fellowship of believers; godly speech builds it up.

Don't Grieve the Holy Spirit←⤒🔗

The things of which Paul has spoken ought to be "natural" for the Ephesian Christians. Not only have they believed in Jesus Christ unto redemption, they have, of course, also received the Holy Spirit when they believed. The Spirit of God dwells within the believer to make him ever more holy. If such a person, in whom the Spirit resides, does the works of the world, he grieves the Spirit of God. The Spirit seeks his welfare now and for eternity, and he goes contrary to it if he sins as the unbeliever. Those who commit these sins are, therefore, working against their own welfare. The gift of the Spirit to them was the down payment of their full salvation. In Him they are sealed till the day of redemption.

Sins to be Discarded←⤒🔗

In the conclusion of this section the Apostle men­tions various sins, mostly of the tongue, or at least beginning there. Readers must be on the alert that they do not fall into the trap laid by the evil one by means of these sins. False speaking will lead to bit­terness. This does not remain a sin of the tongue but ruins the heart and mind. Wrath and anger, too, con­sume those who practice these things. Clamor and railing go even beyond the former. They become loud protest and accusation against the fellow man. When these various steps have been taken they will lead to malice, i.e., the spirit which seeks the ruin of the opponent. The one sin begets the other, and each one is more evil than the one before. Now all these things must be put away from you, says Paul. There is no place in the life and conduct of the one who pro­fesses the name of Jesus Christ for such things as he has mentioned. Those who make themselves guilty of these sins have raised a real question as to the sin­cerity of their profession. Besides, they will be stumbling blocks to others.

Christian Virtues←⤒🔗

As he has done before, so now the author reminds readers of the positive goals to which they are called as well as of the spurning of vices which they find in the unbelieving world around them. If the heart of man is desperately evil, then keep it tightly closed? No. If the tongue is capable of all these evils mentioned, then never speak again? No. God's gifts have been given to be used and not to be buried. There­fore, instead of all the evils mentioned, believers are to be kind one to another. All the things Paul men­tions in the last verse of this chapter are, of course, to be done from the heart. Everyone knows what kindness is. This, they must practice, and it must be like the kindness God has shown to them. They are to be tenderhearted. They must be compassionate. The nature of the church demands that when one suffers all suffer and when one is glad all rejoice with him. This requires a compassionate heart. That is a heart which enters into the feelings of others. This is the essence of love.

One more item is mentioned — that they are to forgive one another as God also in Christ forgave them. This same note is sounded in the prayer our Lord taught us. "Forgive us ... as we forgive." To do this is difficult, in fact, impossible for those who have not been forgiven. But, the ten thousand tal­ents which have been forgiven us are not to be com­pared to the hundred pence which we are asked to forgive. Yet, men find forgiving very difficult. How is this possible! Or have such people never tasted the forgiving love of God? To be forgiven we must repent. Those who find it difficult to forgive their fellow man also find it very difficult to repent of their own sins. It is the pride of the human hearts which makes it almost impossible to live according to the Apostle's injunction and thus makes it so diffi­cult for them to be members of the church of Christ!

Questions for Discussion:←⤒🔗

1.  Do you know many people you can really depend on? Will they speak the truth regardless of con­sequences?
    
2.  Is it considered "nice" to be angry at something? Should we be angry or should love cover all things? What do you think of the statement heard almost daily: We must hate sin but love the sin­ner? Is this statement found in the Bible?     
                         
3.  How far must we go in giving to the needs of others? Can we also do a real disservice to some by helping them out?
    
4.  Is all spiritual talk edifying? What do you think of those who say "Praise the Lord" ten times in a ten minute conversation?
    
5.  How do we get rid of such evils as are spoken of in verse 31?
    
6.  May we ever sit in judgment on the spiritual life of another? Must we do so at times? Why is it im­portant to understand this correctly?