Efésios 4

Practical instruction

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’*This is an exact quotation from Zechariah 8:16, though not presented as such. for we are members of one another. 26 ‘Be angry but do not sin’;*This is an exact quotation from Psalm 4:4, though not presented as such. do not let the sun set on your angry mood, 27 nor give an opportunity to the devil.*Evil and injustice should make us angry, and legitimate anger should give rise to appropriate action. But if we do nothing except to sit and brood, we do not help the situation and we do give Satan opportunity. 28 The one who steals must steal no longer, but rather let him work, doing something good with his hands, that he may have something to share with someone in need. 29 Let no evil word proceed from your mouth, but only what is good for edification, as needed,*"As needed"—part of imparting grace is knowing when to keep quiet! that it may impart grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,*I imagine that any sort of disobedience on our part grieves Him. with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be removed from you, with all malice.*The focus in verses 31 and 32 is on how we treat other people. God has been good to us; we should be good to others. 32 Rather, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as in Christ God forgave you.