EPHESIANS 4:25-28 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
Quoting Zechariah 8:16, Paul calls for believers to speak the truth to each other, because all believers are united in Christ. The Proverbs identify a lying tongue as one of the six things God abhors (Proverbs 6:17) NSB*.
Moving to Verse 26.
Cross Reference: Psalm 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
Paul uses Psalm 4:4 to illustrate that not all wrath is sinful. However, anger should not be allowed to fester or continue for long (Mark 11:25). Christians may respond in controlled anger to injustice and sin, but they should never be consumed by this anger. Instead, they should seek opportunities to express Christ's love to everyone. NSB.
Be Angry And Do Not Sin; "to provoke, to arouse to anger," is used in the Middle Voice in the eight places where it is found, and signifies "to be angry, wroth." It is said of individuals. The Greek word used here is ὀργίζω orgizo. Vine's (def. B-1 verb), Strong's G3710. Vines also suggests parorgismos, a strengthened form of orge, but also offers the definition given. Parorgismos has the idea of "provocation," points especially to that which provokes the wrath, and suggests a less continued state. Going with the direct word used, however, ὀργίζω is correct.
Sun; My Notes - Seems to denote the natural benefits of light and heat. However the idea is to not sin, therefore it may be safe to conclude that during any period of time anger is allowed to fester or surface unrighteously is allowing the devil an opportunity and that it should be given over to God quickly regardless of the time of day. Paul seems to be illustrating that obvious point as well as the one I've discussed. My notes echo the idea of ἥλιος helios. Vine's (def Prime), Strong's G2246 which is the word used in this text.
Wrath; Here is where we get the use of the word παροργισμός parorgismos mentioned earlier. This is Vine's (def 3), Strong's G3950. The direct definition in Strong's is "rage".
Moving to Verse 27.
Place To The Devil; Freed from vengeance, believers can give themselves to mercy, even towards their enemies. Place, has the idea of "condition, occasion, opportunity". The Greek word is τόπος topos. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G5117.
Devil is rightly defined as an accuser, a slanderer, more commonly known as satan himself. There is only one devil and many demons. In this text, he temps man to do evil. We are not to give in to anger in the sense of letting it cause us to sin. In sin satan has his opportunity.
Verse 28.
Steal No Longer; Steal is to steal," akin to kleptes, "a thief" (cp. Eng., "kleptomania"). The Greek word is κλέπτω klepto. Vine's (def Prime), Strong's G2813.
No longer has the idea of "putting aside", or "ceasing", "stopping", "or quitting".
Romans 15:1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Let Him Labor; "to work something, produce, perform," e.g., "let us work". The Greek word for work(labor) is ἐργάζομαι ergazomai. Vine's (def B-1a), Strong's G2038.
Hands; Used here in its ordinary significance. The Greek word is χείρ cheir. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G5495.
Good; The neuter of the adjective with the definite article signifies that which is "good," lit., "the good," as being morally honorable, pleasing to God, and therefore beneficial. Christians are to prove it. (here, the neuter plural is used, "the good things"); to work it. The Greek word is ἀγαθός agathos. Vine's (def b), Strong's G18.
Something To Give; Paul is exhorting those who minister in temporal things to do so. "Sharing" and generously. The Greek word for "give" here is μεταδίδωμι metadidomi. Vine's (def 4), Strong's G3330.
Need; denotes a need," in such expressions as "there is a need;" or "to have need of" something. The Greek word is χρεία chreia. Vine's (def A-1), Strong's G5532.
Instead of taking what belongs to someone else, a Christian should earn enough to share some of his or her own earnings with the needy. This is a call to be generous, to have a true change of attitude. NSB.
Questions- 1) Are we getting angry at what angers God, or what angers us?
2) Are we working in such a way that we are gaining enough to give excess to others?
Takeaway - 1) Never stay in anger. If you are in a relationship always keep what I call "short accounts". Do not harbor years' worth of wrongs or take long amounts of time to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. If you have a beef with anyone you are around, do what you can to reconcile those things. If you cannot at the very least don't let that anger or animosity, wrath or rage take hold in your heart.
2) This goes back to the giving. There will be times when we are in need, but this doesn't mean we don't always have something to give in terms of time and effort. Works do not save you, but we as Christians are instructed to put ourselves in a position to be able to give and then to give.
NSB = Nelson Study Bible.
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