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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 4:17-32

The apostle having gone through his exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, in the Eph. 2:16; there follows in these an exhortation to Christian purity and holiness of heart and life, and that both more general (Eph. 4:17-24) and in several particular instances, Eph. 4:25-32. This is solemnly introduced: ?This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord; that is, seeing the matter is as above described, seeing you are members of Christ's body and partakers of such gifts, this I urge upon... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 4:1-32

With this chapter the second part of the letter begins. In Ephesians 1:1-23 ; Ephesians 2:1-22 ; Ephesians 3:1-21 Paul has dealt with the great and eternal truths of the Christian faith, and with the function of the Church in the plan of God. Now he begins to sketch what each member of the Church must be if the Church is to carry out her part in that plan. Before we begin this chapter, let us again remind ourselves that the central thought of the letter is that Jesus has brought to a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 4:25-32

4:25-32 So then strip yourselves of falsehood, and let each of you speak the truth with his neighbour, because we are all members of the same body. Be angry--but be angry in such a way that your anger is not a sin. Do not let the sun set on your wrath, and do not give the devil any opportunity. Let him who was a thief steal no more; rather let him take to hard work, and to producing good with his hands, in order that he may be able to share with the man who is in need. Do not allow any foul... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 4:25-32

(iii) Paul goes on to say that the Christian must never let the sun set upon his wrath. Plutarch tells us that the disciples of Pythagoras had a rule of their society, that if, during the day, anger had made them speak insultingly to each other, before the sun set they shook hands and kissed each other and were reconciled. There was a Jewish Rabbi whose prayer it was that he might never go to sleep with any bitter thought against a brother man within his mind. Paul's advice is sound,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 4:25-32

Paul ends this chapter with a list of things which must go from life. (a) There is bitterness (pikria, Greek #4088 ). The Greeks defined this word as long-standing resentment, as the spirit which refuses to be reconciled. So many of us have a way of nursing our wrath to keep it warm, of brooding over the insults and the injuries which we have received. Every Christian might well pray that God would teach him how to forget. (b) There are outbreaks of passion (thumos, Greek #2372 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:26

Be ye angry, and sin not ,.... There is anger which is not sinful; for anger is fouled in God himself, in Jesus Christ, in the holy angels, and in God's people; and a man may be said to be angry and not sin, when his anger arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled not against persons, but sins; when a man is displeased with his own sins, and with the sins of others: with vice and immorality of every kind; with idolatry and idolatrous worship, and with all false... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 4:27

Neither give place to the devil. Or "to the accuser", or "slanderer"; that is, to any adversary, that takes delight in slandering and reproaching the saints; give such no room, nor reason, to calumniate the doctrine and ways of Christ, through an unbecoming conversation, by lying and sinful anger, or by other means; or rather the devil, the great accuser of the brethren is meant; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "do not give way to Satan"; which is done, when men indulge any lust or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:26

Be ye angry, and sin not - Οργιζεσθε , here, is the same as ει μεν οργιζεσθε , If Ye be angry, do not sin. We can never suppose that the apostle delivers this as a precept, if we take the words as they stand in our version. Perhaps the sense is, Take heed that ye be not angry, lest ye sin; for it would be very difficult, even for an apostle himself, to be angry and not sin. If we consider anger as implying displeasure simply, then there are a multitude of cases in which a man may be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:27

Neither give place to the devil - Your adversary will strive to influence your mind, and irritate your spirit; watch and pray that he may not get any place in you, or ascendancy over you. As the word διαβολος is sometimes used to signify a calumniator, tale-bearer, whisperer, or backbiter; (see in the original, 1 Timothy 3:11 ; 2 Timothy 3:3 , and Titus 2:3 ;); here it may have the same signification. Do not open your ear to the tale-bearer, to the slanderer, who comes to you with... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 4:26

Verse 26 26.Be ye angry, and sin not. Whether or not the apostle had in his eye a part of the fourth Psalm is uncertain. The words used by him ( ᾿Οργίζεσθε καὶ υὴ ἁμαρτάνετε) occur in the Greek translation, though the word ὀργίζεσθε, which is translated, be ye angry, is considered by some to mean tremble. (150) The Hebrew verb רגז (ragaz) signifies either to be agitated by anger, or, to tremble. As to the passage of the Psalm, the idea of trembling will be quite appropriate. “Do not choose to... read more

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