Ephesians 4:25-28

Paul continues from his previous section by echorting us with specfic examples of how we can live as we were called. Namely, by putting aside lying and instead speaking in truth, having a righteous anger and/or putting unrighteous anger aside before it is too alte, working for what we need rather than stealing it, and also giving up what we earn to "him who has need" (v.28).

Paul makes application extremely easy in this section by given specific examples of what we can do, the first among which is being truthful. The truth is essential to every part of iving; it affets everything from integrity to even simple knowledge of our surroundings. The situation gets annoyingly tedious when you feel compelled to check out everything someone says because you know you can't trust them. You can't change how you act based on that person's statements, because you can't even be sure their claims are legitimate. Nothing could be accomplished and communication with that person would be next to impossible because they are inconsistent in presenting you with reliable information and insights. I know people like this, and it is inexplicably frustrating. Paul mentions that we are members of one another, so with this lying subject he is specifically referring to Christians. If we lie to eachother, say, about what is going on in our lives, we will never be able to help eachother (or congratulate or encourage each other, but my argument assumes we would have no reason to hide the good things). If we seek help from each other and we lie, then we actually hurt eachother, which goes directly against our higher goal of the edification of the body.

Coming back to the topic of frustration, lets turn to verse 26: "Be angry, and do not sin." Anger can be righteous, and when it is derived from a love for God and hatred of sin it is even commanded. The most common example of righteous anger is Christ's cleansing of the temple, when he expelled it of the traders and "thieves" who had infested it (Read my post, Passion, for a more in depth analysis). However, Paul understood that anger, when prolonged, can easily turn harmful, resentful, and negative, which is why he commands to set aside any anger before the day is over. He doesn't want any evil motives to work their way into anger that is pure, and an easy way to do that is to let it go while you're still conscious.

The last verse doesn't seem to fit with this section (25-32), which has to do mostly with word relatied sins or good works. It simply says not to steal. Do not take anything that isn't yours. Rather, work (hard) for what you need, and then give what is yours to others who need. That seems simple enough, but it is easy to find oneself justifying the use of others' resources that they have not given away. Sin is not always blatantly obvious (though it becomes moreso with a greater understanding and knowledge of the word), and we need to be careful, whatever it may be, not to "give opportunity to the devil."

(Thank you MacArthur Study Bible for all your helpful notes ^_^)