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Ephesians 4:25-32
In this portion of his letter, Paul has been writing to the assemblies in Asia concerning their conduct their
walk. They are, each one, to walk worthy of the calling with which they were called Gods high calling,
to be a son of God.
Each one who has believed has responded to that call. They have heard the truth that is in the gospel
concerning Christ, and they have agreed with God concerning that truth, and they have received the free
gift of salvation to be had, in Christ.
What were they saved from? They were saved from that condemnation that they were born under, as a son
of Adam a son of disobedience. Sons of disobedience, who die in their sins, remain part of the corrupt
creation into which they were born, and are therefore condemned to destruction in the Lake of Fire.
But Christ took the penalty for mens sins upon Himself, through His death on the cross. Those who believe
into Christ are saved from the penalty of sin death.
Thats good news, isnt it? But the salvation which is in Christ is greater than that it does more that free
the believer from the penalty of sin. It frees the believer from the power of sin.
The believer has united himself to Christ by faith. He has died with Christ, out of that old creation in
Adam. The believer has been buried with Christ, separated from the world system he had been born into,
with its corrupting influence.
And finally, through being united with Christ by faith, the believer has been raised with Christ a new
creation in Him. The believer is now free to walk in the newness of life (Rm 6:3-4). What life? The Life
that Jesus brought forth from death Life everlasting. The believer is now free to walk in his new Life, in
a body of glory, as a son of God.
This is what Paul has been writing about in this part of his letter, expressing it in a different way. By faith,
the believer has put off the old man, Adam. Thats where he formerly conducted himself, deceived by the
lust of the flesh and the lust of the mind, all the while growing ever more corrupt.
And by faith, the believer has put on the new man, Christ. The new man, Christ is in the image of God
conducting himself rightly with God and with man.
As we saw last week, putting off the old man and putting on the new man is a one-time action, which was
accomplished in the believers life, the moment he believed. Each believer is already a completed son of
God.
Having responded to Gods calling, he has entered into Gods work on his behalf. Now the believer is to be
in practice what the calling of God has made him; a new man.
He has been given power over sin; now he must put it into effect (Rm 8:2). He is holy in his calling; now
he is to be holy in his conduct; in how he lives his life.
And that life is not lived in a vacuum. As sons of Adam, men live purely for themselves; selfishly. Each
man serves himself alone, fulfilling his own lusts and desires, generally at the expense of others.

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Those lusts and desires are continuously fed by this world system, which lies in the evil one (1 Jn 5:19).
Hes the influence that works in the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2), as they respond to his temptations, put
out in his world system. But sons of disobedience know no other way to live; their understanding is
darkened.
Sons of God do not live this way, do they? The eyes of their understanding have been enlightened by the
Holy Spirit. Through the Spirit, sons of God can choose to let go of their old way of thinking, and be
renewed in the spirit of their mind with Gods thinking a continuous process of renewal, by which the
Spirit rejuvenates them from their corrupt thinking in Adam, so that they now have the mind of Christ.
Also, unlike the sons of Adam, the sons of God do not live for themselves, selfishly; they live for the one
who loved them, and gave Himself for them (Gal 2:20). Now they are members of the Body of Christ; and
while they retain their individuality (1 Cor 12:27), they no longer live to serve themselves, but to serve
others. Each member is joined to one another through the unity of the Holy Spirit. What affects one
member, affects the others.
It is not just that we have a common faith, or shared interests, or work together toward a common goal. We
are actually part of one another; we share the same Life. What you do directly affects me, what I do
directly affects you, because we are part of a greater whole, the Body of Christ; a Body which is to reflect
the glory of God (Eph 3:21).
This is what was in Pauls mind as he continued his letter to the assemblies with an exhortation to conduct
themselves in accordance with their holy calling, as sons of God.
Lets read through the next section together first.
[Read Ephesians 4:25-32]
When Paul had returned to his discourse about how believers are to walk (v. 17), he specifically cited a
Gentile example of how not to walk, showing how sin begins in the thinking. But by this part of his letter,
Paul is speaking very generally; these manners of conduct could be applied to either Jew or Gentile. As
there is no Jew or Gentile in Christ Jesus, there is only one way for the new Man to walk.
Now you may have noticed that there is a general pattern here, in what we read. For instance, look at verse
25. Paul says to put away lying. What are they to do instead? To speak the truth.
We see that pattern throughout this whole section. Paul will indicate conduct that is to cease, and then a
corresponding conduct which is to replace it. Each set relate either to words or deeds.
Would you say, then, that these conducts only affect the individual? No; they affect other members of the
Body of Christ. All of these speak of interpersonal relations within the Body. We saw this also at the
beginning of chapter 4. Paul is clearly emphasizing how believers conduct themselves with one another.
This is not to say that personal, individual holiness is any less important; its just that in terms of the Body
of Christ, how we treat one another is the witness that is most easily and often seen by those on the outside.
Some may see this part of Pauls letter as merely a list of what to do, and what not to do. But look again at
verse 25. What is the first word we come to? Therefore one of Pauls therefores for this reason.
So we understand that what Paul is saying here is based on what he said before.

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What did Paul say before? The truth in Jesus is that you have put off the old man and put on the new
man. What Paul is saying is that, based on who you now are, you must conduct yourself accordingly.
The first part of each set portrays the conduct of the old man, Adam. The believers must no longer walk
that way. The second part of each set reflects the conduct of the new man, Christ. This is how they are to
walk worthy of their calling, as sons of God.
It is not meant to be comprehensive, but representative of how they are now to conduct themselves with
one another, in Christ. It is not so much a list as a description of a walk the walk of the new man.
Lets look at each set, one at a time.
v. 25 Put away in the NKJV is the same Greek word as in v. 22 above, put off. The believers are to put
off from themselves lying; they are to lay that aside. The form of the verb for put off in the Greek does
not indicate continuous action; the believers are to simply stop lying.
Now, what does Paul mean by lying? The word in the Greek is pseudo, which means anything false;
here it is saying anything false; falsehoods. Blatant lies obviously would be considered falsehoods.
But anything that falls short of the absolute truth is also a falsehood. Withholding information.
Embellishing a story. Passing along a rumor. Making false excuses. Flattering. Making promises that you
probably wont keep. Misrepresenting the truth, in any way, to any extent. The little white lie does not
exist, within Gods standard of righteousness.
While all lying is sin, Paul is particularly making a point here concerning lying among members of the
Body. Why? Because falsehoods affect the bonds of brotherhood.
If a member of the Body were to deceive another, what happens to their fellowship? There would be a
lapse in it; how can you trust someone when they have deceived you? So lying interferes with the unity
and the flow of love in the Body of Christ; it causes the Body to be dysfunctional; like a dose of poison
causes sickness. Remember when one member suffers, all the members suffer with it (1 Cor 12:26).
But wait a minute lying was part of their conduct when they were in Adam. Now that they have put on
the new man, what are they all to do? V. 25 to speak truth with one another continuously.
This is a quote from Zechariah 8:16, which prophesies of the forthrightness that will be practiced by the
remnant of Israel, in the regeneration. Zechariah goes on to say, Let none of you think evil in your heart
against your neighbor; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate, says the LORD
(Zech 8:17).
Being false in thought or in promise are in view here. In thought and deed, they are to embrace the truth,
and speak it forth embracing the truth in word, as well.
And what better truth to speak to one another, as members of Christs Body, than the word of Christ?
Pauls letter to the Colossian assembly has a parallel section to our letter here, in which he writes, Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs (Col 3:16a). Were not just to speak the truth to each other; were to sing it to
one another!

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Whereas lying serves to undermine the bonds of love in the Body, speaking the truth tends to strengthen
those bonds. When we are honest in our dealings with one another, when we are truthful and forthright at
all times, other members of the Body find us trustworthy and reliable. They know we can be depended
upon; that we will be true to our word.
Thats what it is to be a fully functioning member of Christs Body; a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful
for the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Tim 2:21).
Paul continues.
v. 26-27 You may have noticed that Paul writes about anger again, in verse 31, where he says that it must
be put completely away. That is the noun form of the verb for anger here.
But in verse 26, Paul is qualifying a certain type of anger, which apparently is not sin. What Paul is
referring to is righteous anger; the righteous indignation of a believer, in this case, with another member of
the Body. And even though Paul is indicating that righteous anger does have a place in the Body of Christ,
he qualifies it further; it only has a place for a time; a short time.
What is righteous anger? I think the best way to understand it is to go back to the psalm that Paul quotes
here. Turn to Psalm 4.
This is a psalm of David, a prayer to the LORD for deliverance from his enemies. It also speaks
prophetically of the remnant, who will be seeking deliverance by the LORD from their enemies, during the
Great Tribulation. We just want to glean a general sense of what is being said here.
[Psalm 4]
v. 1 The psalmist recognizes how the LORD has preserved him in the past; now he is again requesting
deliverance.
v. 2-3 You can see how this reflects both David and the remnant of Israel. Can you hear within the tone of
the psalmist his righteous indignation, as his enemies persecute him? But the psalmist knows that the LORD
will deliver him.
v. 4-5 The word angry in the Hebrew means to tremble, quake or rage. It can refer to trembling with
awe, as with the LORD, or it can mean anger. Various translations have it either way in this passage, and its
meaning is somewhat unclear. But based on Pauls inspired usage in Ephesians, and his knowledge of the
Scriptures, I think we can take it to mean angry.
The psalmist is angry that his enemies are persecuting him. Is he right to be angry? Yes; when someone
sins against us, we are right to be angry about it; its sin. But what does the psalmist do with his anger? He
does not sin. He meditates within his heart upon his bed; he doesnt act on it.
Instead, he commits the matter to the LORD; he entrusts all to God. The psalmist was angry about the sin
against him, but he turned it over to the LORD.
The psalmist trusts the LORD; he knows that the LORD will take care of the matter: Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the LORD (Deut 32:35, Rm 12:19). He knows that the LORD will give his enemies their just
retribution, for what they have done. Lets read the remainder of the psalm.

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v. 6-8 Again, we can see the remnant in this; but lets consider the psalmist, in this case, who has been
meditating on this matter in his bed. Hes turned it over to the LORD, and what is the result? Hes at peace;
he can now go to sleep. Hes trusted all to the LORD.
[Return to Ephesians 4]
Now, Psalm 4 pertains to David or the remnant and their anger concerning the unrighteous actions of
their wicked enemies against them. But here in Ephesians, we are speaking of the actions of fellow
members of the Body of Christ. There are certainly some differences.
Fellow members of the Body of Christ are not our enemies; and we would not be praying for deliverance
from them; why not? Because were one. But the essential idea in the psalm is pertinent here, as well.
As Christ Ones, we have His mind on things. Sin is a violation of Gods will, and therefore, an offense
against God; and when we are additionally sinned against, it is an offense against us.
Because sin is an offense, it generates righteous anger against the offense. Of course, we are more
inclined to be angry concerning offenses against us, than against God, arent we? But in either case, what
do we need to do with that anger and the offense of the brothers sin? Turn it over to the Lord, as David
did. Trust it to God.
If there are words that the Lord would have us speak, He will reveal that to us. But we can trust Him to
take care of the matter, for that is a member of His Body, and as the Head, the Lord will address it.
And if we dont turn the matter over to the Lord? Then we wind up taking the offense, ourselves; then we
are offended with our brother, who sinned against us. Righteous anger concerning sin has become
unrighteous anger against a brother. Paul expresses it as letting the sun go down on our wrath; we have
taken the offense. And as you know, once you take the offense, it is very difficult to get rid of it!
Verse 27 is connected to verse 26. To hold onto anger results in giving place to the devil. What does that
mean? To give place means to make room.
A member of Christs Body who has taken offense with another member has just made room for the devil.
In what way? Because these brethren have created division within the Body of Christ; and division renders
the members of Christs Body powerless remember, we are members one of another (v. 25). Behind the
seeming reality of our world is the spiritual reality. In the spiritual realm, there is a war raging over the
souls of men. In that war, nursing our wrath does nothing less than allow the devil to gain ground.
Here the devils tactic is to divide and conquer; how can we work together in our ministry of reconciliation
while we are harboring resentment in our hearts against one another? Where is the witness of love there?
Some ground is lost, in the war for souls.
But we have put on the new man, who recognizes sin for what it is, but at the same time knows to entrust
all matters to the care of His heavenly Father the judge of all the earth, who will do right.
So Paul continues.
v. 28 The verb for stole reflects continuous action. This is one who stole as a way of life, when they
were a son of disobedience. This is a thief. Now, Im sure there were many of Pauls readers who were
saying, I was never a thief; but the exhortation regarding the new man touches upon every one of them.

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The thief is to steal no longer, he has put off the old man. In Christ, he is a new man. Those hands, that
were used as instruments of unrighteousness to rob others of the fruits of their labors, he is now to use to
labor; the word means strenuous work that produces fatigue.
But he is not merely to work for a living. What does it say? He is to work good with his hands, so that he
has something to give to those in the Body of Christ who have need. Not only is the thief to stop practicing
unrighteousness; he is to yield himself and his members as instruments of righteousness toiling away at
his work in order to have something to give away.
Do you think that the exhortation to work strenuously in order to provide for others needs only pertains to
the thief? No it would be true for every member of Christs Body.
The idea here is not communism, where everyone has the same share; it is sharing with those who cannot
work to meet their own needs: the afflicted, the ill, the aged, the poor. To the other members of the Body of
Christ is given the privilege of helping them; of extending the hands of the Body in love, to those who have
need.
And who know how to meet that need, and when to meet it and with which member of the Body? The
Lord knows our heavenly Head. This giving strengthens the unity of the Spirit within the Body and
allows God to be seen.
v. 29 Perhaps those who are reading Pauls letter in that day thought, Well, I dont swear [anymore]. But
in the Greek, the word for corrupt is more far-ranging than that. It means anything that is bad, rotten, or
putrid like decaying garbage. But it also means that which is worthless.
Corrupt words include foul words and filthy speech; but it also includes slanderous and contemptuous talk.
And it includes idle words; talking for the sake of talking. And foolish talk; silly chatter. These are words
without value; worthless words.
Perhaps the readers thought, Im sure Paul isnt meaning that; but look at what Paul says next. What
proceeds out of the mouth of the new man? That which is good for necessary edification, which means
words suited to the need.
There is no middle ground here. If the words are not good to meet the need, theyre not good; theyre
corrupt; worthless.
Paul wrote to the Colossians, Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may
know how you ought to answer each one (Col 4:6). When meat is seasoned with salt, it doesnt rot.
Speech that is seasoned with salt contains no words of corruption.
Instead, those words impart grace to the hearers the other members of the Body. Proverb 15:23b says, a
word spoken in due season, how good it is! Such a word can encourage a hurt member of the Body or
Christ; or comfort a sad member; or exhort a weak member or enlighten a member whos in the dark
about something. These are words that help them to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18).
But how do we know which words to speak, and when? The Spirit of Christ within us gives us the words
the good words that proceed out of our mouth are the Lords words, whether in Scripture or otherwise. And
the Lord has the timing on His words He knows the due season. Other than that, were free to just
listen.

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Having put on the new man, Paul has been exhorting the assemblies to conduct themselves accordingly in
righteous living. But how the individual believer lives is his choice. What Paul wrote next was intended to
put sin in the members of Christs Body into perspective Gods perspective.
v. 30 Here Paul attributes a human quality grief to a member of the Godhead the Holy Spirit. Grief is
intense pain and sorrow of heart. What would cause the Holy Spirit to be so grieved? Believers who will
not walk worthy of the calling with which they were called.
The Holy Spirit has been given to members of the Body of Christ to guide them into all truth, so that they
can have the mind of Christ. In submission to the Head, the Body manifests the unity, through the bond of
love (Col 3:14).
But if the members will not submit to the Lords leading; if they insist on having their own will in the
matter; if they will not lay aside their old, selfish manner of life, which Christ died to deliver them from
then instead of there being unity in the Spirit, there is division. Remember, division gives the devil ground
in the war on souls.
The Spirit has a work to accomplish in us; what is that work? Sanctification. How can the Spirit set us
apart from the world to God, when we refuse to be separated from it?
And the Spirit has a ministry to work through us; what is that ministry? The ministry of reconciliation.
How can the Spirit work out His ministry through divided, dysfunctional Body?
The Spirits role is to glorify Christ. How is Christ glorified, through members who will not submit to
Him? When what is seen is not love, but the lack of it? You can see how grievous this would be to the
Spirit.
It is with the Spirit that we have been sealed for the day of redemption speaking of the redemption of the
body here. The Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance (Eph 1:14) bodies of glory.
Remember that Greek word, guarantee? In modern Greek, that word is now used for an engagement
ring. The Spirit is like that, to us: He is the promise of our glorious future together with one another, in our
heavenly home, as the Wife of the Lamb.
Would we so dishonor our commitment to our Lord, would we so disregard our precious future with Him,
and walk as we once walked in any way? As Paul would say, may it never be!
In light of the glorious future that lies in store for the church, Paul gives a final word of exhortation
concerning conduct here.
v. 31 Where Paul wrote of righteous anger before (v. 26), now he writes of the far more common variety
unrighteous anger. He is speaking specifically here of these sins being manifested among members of the
Body. How unbecoming, of the Betrothed of Christ, who is soon to be His glorious Bride!
Just to consider Pauls list briefly, bitterness refers to a smoldering resentment, that refuses reconciliation
an unforgiving spirit.
Wrath is an outburst of rage a flare of temper. Anger in the Greek means a continuous, deeply hostile
state of mind.

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Clamor is quarrelsome shouting, contending for ones supposed rights. Evil speaking specifically refers
here to slander; wounding someones reputation by evil reports.
And malice is the root of it all. Malice is an evil habit of mind. Can you see why the Spirit would be
grieved, if members of Christs Body refused to put these things away? Where is the peace; the unity; the
love?
But you have put off the old man, and have put on the new man, Christ. You are choosing to be renewed in
the spirit of your mind; in fact, your inward man is being renewed day by day (2 Cor 4:16). And so these
things are to be put away from you once and for all. So what characterizes the walk of the new man,
instead of these horrible things?
v. 32 Members of Christs Body are to be kind to one another. To be kind here means that you think as
much of the affairs of your fellow members as you do your own. This requires genuine selflessness. It is a
desire for the well-being of your brothers and sisters in Christ, which is implemented through loving action.
A tender heart is one thats full of compassion and pity. This is a heart that has been humbled to recognize
its own weaknesses and shortcomings, and so it makes one patient with the weaknesses and shortcomings
of others.
When you are tenderhearted, you are willing to suffer long with another member of the Body as long as
necessary; bearing with one another in love (Eph 4:2). And being tenderhearted cultivates a willingness to
forgive the sin of others, when it has directly affected us, in some way.
When Paul speaks of forgiving each other, it is not in the judicial sense, as with the Lords forgiveness.
Here it is simply a dropping of the offense; letting go of it; forgetting all about it.
Your relationship with your brother is restored, and love is flowing undiminished between you.
And what is the measure of this forgiveness? Even as God in Christ forgave us. And how did He forgive
us? He did so freely without merit on our part, when we were in the wrong. And He did so fully, for all
of our offenses. And He did so utterly He remembers our offenses no more. They are as far removed
from us as the east is from the west.
Thats to be the measure of our forgiveness, in Christ of all of our fellow members no matter what the
offense, no matter how many times; even if they do not apologize, ask our forgiveness, or acknowledge
their sin, or our forgiving them. Freely, fully, utterly.
That costs us, doesnt it? And were the ones who were wronged! But that is the measure of Gods
forgiveness of us, isnt it? It cost Him something, the One who was wronged it cost Him His Son.
This is the freedom which God has provided for us, as members of the Body of Christ. Were free from sin,
from its power and so were able to walk in the new life God has given us. So, as Paul would say, walk
worthy of the calling with which you were called.
Pauls words are very powerful, arent they? Surely the Holy Spirit has convicted many with these words.
I would encourage you, that if thats true for you, that you hearken to the Spirits voice listen and obey.

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Turn to James chapter 1. James had written his letter to Jewish believers who were scattered abroad due to
persecution. His letter reflects the usual mixture of believers and those who merely profess to believe,
whom he is specifically speaking to in this passage. But you will see that his words have meaning for all
believers.
Like Paul, James addressed the subject of sanctification in his letter. His emphasis is on the practical
outworking of it.
[James 1:21-25]
v. 21 lay aside is the same Greek word in Ephesians, for put off and put away. The implanted word
is specifically speaking of the gospel, as a seed or shoot which is grafted into the heart the power of God
unto salvation, for those who believe. Although James is addressing the professing believers here, his
words flow over to everyone.
v. 22-25 The perfect law of liberty is again a reference to the gospel, which frees a man from sin. You
can see how what James says here continues to be true for the believer.
The word of God is like a mirror; when you look in it, what do you see? Christ; the new man; the perfect,
complete man. Thats the standard; and the Holy Spirit, the Light, reveals to each heart where it stands,
according to that standard.
When He makes a revelation to us, we must not look away, and forget all about it; we must continue in it;
we must take it to heart, believe it, and let it bear fruit in our lives.
We must not just hear the word, but do it; we must listen, and obey; and then we will be blessed in what we
do. Why? Because our walk will be worthy of our calling; our walk together; as the new man, Christ.
Next week: Romans 12:1-2, Lev 1-5.