The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 201

2. Sinful anger. "Be· ye angry, and sin not." We say, "sinful anger," for the text implies _that there is an anger that is not sinful. Anger is the mind in emotional antagonism, and in a world of unreality, sin, and crime there is much to justify the strongest antagonism of the soul. Christ himself looked upon the conduct of the Jews with an~er (Mark iii. 5). Indignation sometimes fired his breast, and "woes" like thunderbolts rolled from his lips. The stronger a being's love for the right, the mightier his indignation for the wrong. The text implies two things concerning sinful nnger. (1) That it is abiding. Hence the command, "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Anger should not be allowed to continue in the mind, because it iL painful to the soul; it is a :fire that bums. He who cherishes it could not better gratify the vengeance of an enemy, for he is in agony all the while. The great Creator, in whose nature there is "no fury," never made the human soul for anger. "Let not the sun go down upon your wrath." Do not take it to bed with you; it will break you~ slumber and it will breed the devils of revenge. "Anger resteth in the bosom of fools." 'l'here is another thing here implied concerning sinful anger. (2) It is favourable to the devil. "Neither give place to the devil." An angry soul is just the sphere to which the devil has the freest access and can best work out his malignant ends. All the assassinations, murders, and wars he works through angry souls. Don't give place to the devil. Human souls may keep the devil out. He cannot enter without their consent. 3. Social dishonesty. "Let him that stole steal no more." Stealing in some way or other is a vice as prevalent as lying. Our popular ideas of larceny are not deep or broad enough for Christianity. Englishmen regard those as thieves only whom the law has convicted of pilfering, and who are generally amongst the poor and needy. But in the eye of Christianity he is a thief who takes from another his rightful due. The tradesman who deals in short weights and measures, nnJ overcharges for his wares, is a thief; the servant who does not occupy faithfully in his master's service the hours and faculties for which he is paid, is a thief; the physician who prolongs his visit to his patient beyond what is necessary, in order to get gaiu, is a thief; the rulers who tax the people to pay them enormous salaries for offices inefficiently and often injuriously :filled, are thieves. To all these Christianity says, " Let him that stole steal no more ; " be honest. 4. Corrupt language. " Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth." It is a putrescent language that is here abjured. What is o. foul speech in the sense of Christianity? Not the ungrnm- matio in structure or the inelegant in style. The irreligious speech, which treats sacred things with frivolous profanity and sneering ridicule, is foul and corrupt; the selfish speech, which argues o.nd persuades solely for personal gratification, is foul a11d corrupt ; the malicious speech, which endeavours to undermine the influence, damage the interests, and injure the reputation of others, is foul 11nd corrupt; the sensuous speech, that seeks to influence the animal passions and pollute the pure love of man- kind, is foul and corrupt. All such language-and, alas I it abounds amongst us-is indeed putrescent. As heaps of decomposing vegetable and animal matter send forth gases into the atmosphere injurious to the physical health of the world, all corrupt communicatjons proceeding from the mouths of men impregnate the mental atmosphere with elements damaging to the moral health of souls. 5. The anti-Divine. "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." Of course we are not to suppose that the eternal Spirit literally endures grief. He is the ever-blessed God. What is meant is, "do not do that which is repugnant to the heart and desires of the infinite Spirit." And what is ·thus repugnant to the Spirit? All that the Spirit here abjures, as well as moral evil of all kinds. A good reason is here added by Paul, "Whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." This expression implies two things. (1) There is II perfection awaiting the genuine disciples of Christ-" the day of redemption "-redemption from all evils, corporeal, intellectual, social, spiritual. Blessed day I (2) The Divine Spiri~ has secured them to this. 'l'hey are sealed for it. How flagrant the ingratitude and impiety of opposing such a spirit I Another thing abjured here is : 6. Malevolent conduct. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-spenkini;:, be put away from you, with all rualic~." ¥alice1 or ~aleyo~ence, ~s the roo_t of all. It is malico that generates the bitter tlungs 1n socrn.l ltfo ; 1t 1s mnltce thnt krndles the fires of "wrath and anger;" it is malice that makes the tumultuous "clamours" and tho contentio\L~ brawla. Let this malice be destroyed, and social love and purity and 200 THE EPISTLE '1'0 THE EPHESIANS. [cH, IV, 1-32,