Colossians 3:8-9 - Homilies By T. Croskery.

A warning against social sins.

The sins already noticed are personal; the sins now to be specified arise in connection with man's social relationships. "But now put ye also away all these: anger, wrath, malice, railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth. Lie not one to another." These sins, again, divide themselves into two classes—three of each:

I. SINS OF INWARD FEELING . "Anger, wrath, malice."

1 . Anger and wrath. There is an anger that is righteous. "Be angry and sin not" ( Ephesians 4:26 ). Even our Lord was angry as he looked upon the Pharisees ( Mark 3:5 ). But the anger here condemned is sinful. It is a settled feeling of hatred as distinguished from wrath, which is more passionate and transient.

2 . Malice. This is the vicious habit of mind that delights in injury to others.

II. SINS OF OUTWARD EXPRESSION . "Railing, shameful speaking out of your mouth. Lie not one to another."

1 . Railing. This is "the strife of words."

2 . Shameful speaking. This applies to foul abuse, not to obscene language. While railing is the expression of angry and malicious feeling, this is the expression of coarse contempt and insolence.

3 . Falsehood. This habit is to be put off; for: