Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: I. THE EXTENT OF THE DUTY ENFORCED. It is not enough to abstain from acts of an unfriendly or hostile nature, but we should ever cherish that mild and amiable disposition which looks upon all men as friends till by their ingratitude or moral delinquency they have shown themselves to be unworthy of our friendship or good esteem. 1. One who is kindly disposed, either by nature or by grace, will be at all times ready to do a good action for another, if it should lie in his power. 2. Kindliness of disposition will be evidenced in all classes by a prevailing tone of mind which indisposes us either to think evil, or to speak evil of our neighbours. 3. We may beneficially carry out the precept of the text, by adopting a kind and courteous tone of language in all the relations of daily life. II. THE PRECEPT OF THE TEXT MAY FURTHER BE URGED. 1. From the consideration of that precious love which our Saviour exhibited in dying for us. 2. From the remembrance of that supreme mercy and compassion which our heavenly Father manifests, when for Christ's sake He freely forgives us all the multiplied sins which we have committed against Him. (F. F. Statham, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:WEB: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. |
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