Bible Mastery - Ephesians 4:26-27

Thanks for listening to the Bible Mastery Podcast, brought to you by Teleios. In this episode, William and Jeanette Stewart will cover Ephesians 4:26-27.

The Bible Mastery Podcast brings you verse-by-verse teaching that’s clear, grounded, and life-changing. We take the Bible at its word—interpreting it in a normal, literal way—so you can uncover its deep truths about salvation, spiritual well-being, and daily living. Our goal is simple: to help you understand Scripture and equip you with the tools to interpret it confidently, without getting lost in noise or speculation.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Hello, and welcome to the Bible Mastery Podcast, sponsored by Telehost and hosted by co-founders Bill and Jeanette Stewart. Here, we give you verse-by-verse teaching from the truth of Scripture that's clear, grounded, and life-changing. Our goal is to help you understand the Bible and equip you with tools to interpret it yourself confidently and correctly. Thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Hi, I'm William Stewart, and I'm here with my wife Jeanette. Greetings.

SPEAKER_03 0:40

Hello, everybody. Nice to have you with us today.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Glad you're here. We are in our verse-by-verse study of the book of Ephesians. And just to remind you, what we do here, we are doing Bible study that hopefully is semi-inde-depth. We're going verse by verse in the book of Ephesians and epistles. So the epistles from the book of Romans, the Revelation, chapter three, are the directions to the church in the Bible. All the Bible is God's word, but the epistles are directed to the church. And we chose Ephesians because of its efficient presentation of uh Christ and his saving work as well as our Christian life. And we are in the Christian life section of this great book in chapter four. Now, the good things in context, Jeanette, is context important?

SPEAKER_03 1:36

Oh, context is always important.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Yes, context is important. So we the first of the chapter, chapter four, starts the Christian life section. How do we as Christians live in the church? And Paul gives some basis of this. It's based in unity, theological unity, around the major doctrines regarding Christ and the Holy Spirit and God and Christ's saving work, as well as our love, all based in our salvation by faith alone and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then around God's word up to verse 16. He then tells us that we should not live like we were when we were unbelievers, and we can do this because we've put on the new man, the regeneration. We're a new person at the time of salvation when we believe. So uh regeneration, spiritual baptism, uh born again. And now we come to a marvelous list of commands telling us what and not to do in our Christian life for the church, and but some are negative, some are positive, and they generally focus around speech, but not always. Jet, you want to add to that?

SPEAKER_03 3:00

No, that's a great context, Bill. And I I think actually what I would add is we generally see in the epistles that when we're commanded not to do something, we're told what to do instead. So we don't live in a vacuum. You know, we replace old behavior with proper good behavior that's pleasing to God. And I think if the apostle Paul was writing today, he'd he would kind of go, guys, duh, you're new people. So why would you have behaviors that belong to old sinful people? It's like so obvious. And I think that is what he's trying to tell them. Don't be characterized by the people that you are no longer. You're not an old person, you're a regenerated new person who belongs to God.

SPEAKER_02 3:48

I think that's a key point, uh, because people say sometimes not sinning is hard. And yes, it is, because we have our own lusts and desires, but you've replaced it, it's key to replace it, as you said, Jeanette, with something good. So not only does it make you help help you not think about what you're not doing, because otherwise you just sit around and think about your sin and how you want to do it. But if you're doing something good, it also provides a good result. And God's word provides a good result. We've shown this actually with Teleas Research. It's on our website and tellyasresearch.com. And uh it shows that people who are avid Christians, people who say they're Christians who are avid in their faith, have more contentment and peace and joy and well-being. And it's not a mistake, God's word is wise. So having said all that, Jeanette, I think you're starting on verse 26 today. Have at it.

SPEAKER_03 4:51

Yes, so we talked last time, um, you know, about you shouldn't be you should be speaking truth to people. Um, to and then we come to verse 26 and it says, Be ye angry and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Well, be angry. Do you ever think you're gonna read that in scripture where you know people say, Oh, you should never be mad at people, don't yell and scream and be angry. So, what on earth does this mean?

SPEAKER_02 5:24

And I think our first is that why you yell and scream at me all the time?

SPEAKER_03 5:28

All the time.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

Righteous anger against the husband.

SPEAKER_03 5:34

So you just were used the term righteous anger, uh, Bill. And I think this is uh perhaps key to notice in this verse. It says, be angry in Greek, that's the word orgezo. And then it says, Don't let the sun go down upon your wrath. That's a different word. Wrath is pargismos. So same word orgizo, but it has a para in front. And I think generally people would say the first term, be angry. Most people would say that's a righteous anger. And the term wrath, most people would say that's kind of an explosive, uncontrolled um or a simmering, uncontrolled anger that just um ruins people. And Bill, I know you have some additional ways of describing these words. Do you want to add in before I go further?

SPEAKER_02 6:31

Oh, thanks. Uh that's a great uh start, and maybe I can help. It's interesting, orgy is such an important word and orgizo because it is what generally pictures God's wrath. And God's wrath is a righteous, perfect wrath towards sin that's purposeful and directed towards punishment. It's not biased, uh, it's factual because God's a righteous God, giving the punishment that the person deserves, and then it's over. Uh, you know, perhaps like when you for parents, when they punish a child for painting up the wall. So you you punish that child because they need to learn not to do that, but you once the punishment's over, then you forget it and and move on and make dinner or whatever. Whereas I picture perigizment, and it's used this way in secular Greek, it's in I think it's all used several times in in the New Testament, but para is like next to you. So you're next to your righteous anger, and um that sort of gives the impression that you're really not doing things correctly, you're not really in the ball game, so to speak. So it's that fest, not you know, you don't go to bed with festering, lingering, non-purposeful anger. You're just generally anger, you're frustrated, and you'll take it out on anybody versus orgi, which is a purposeful, righteous anger. What would you add to that? It's an important distinction. This is a fascinating verse.

SPEAKER_03 8:08

It is an important distinction. And I think, Bill, you know, when we read of Christ in the Gospels and he overturned the tables in the temple, you know, he basically was telling the Jews, you're conducting unrighteous things in God's temple, and he threw them over. That was an act of direct wrath to get their attention and to tell them, stop this, it is wrong. But he didn't keep doing that every time he went into the temple. It was a one-time thing, right? So I think the idea of being one-time directed, purposeful, um, and not out of an emotion, but out of a direct cause has been stated. That is uh the first word, be angry. And so Paul is telling them that kind of anger is proper. You should have that. When you see injustice, for example, and people that do things that are against what God has stated, that should make you angry. But then he says, don't let the sun go down upon your wrath. So the sun going down, obviously, we're thinking the end of the day. And I think what you just said earlier, a few words ago, Bill, about don't go to bed angry. I think this is the idea that at the end of the day, you should not have this festering anger that you just want to lash out at anyone and any anything just because you're irritated over something. That's improper. So he's saying, have righteous anger. When you see injustice that goes against God and his word, you should be angry. But don't let that destroy you. Don't let that control you. Don't, when you put your head down on the pillow at night, keep thinking about all this that you just want to get even with people. That's old per old man behavior. And we should have new man behavior, which is be offended, be angry when things are done that oppose.

SPEAKER_02 10:11

Okay, I think that's clear. So thank you. I just to know about the sun going down, people in olden times before there were lights, often went to bed when the sun went down.

SPEAKER_03 10:20

With the sun, yeah. Sometimes sometimes I'm so tired I wish I could.

SPEAKER_02 10:26

Not you, honey. You need to work. I'm sorry. So thanks. I'll keep the lights on for you. Um, so can you give us some practical examples in people's lives that how they might apply this? What would be righteous anger in a Christian's alike?

SPEAKER_03 10:44

Uh that's a really good question. You know, I I think when you see abuse of power, so uh it could be by government, it could be by people in your neighborhood, you know, taking advantage of someone who has no means to defend themselves. You know, we always see in the Old Testament God had a special heart for widows and orphans because they were defenseless. And so I think there are defenseless people in our lives that we should be standing up and saying, hey, this is wrong. Don't you take advantage of these people? That would be one example. How about you?

SPEAKER_02 11:19

Yeah, it probably, you know, and uh it might be unusual that it happens. I mean, you're I'm not an angry person typically, and and I think that's part of being a Christian. We're generally peaceable people, and you're certainly not, Jeanette, uh, even more than me. I think one time I had anger recently, we had the privilege to work with many uh pastors in Asia and uh Africa, and giving grants and teaching to them, and it's uh uh and we're seeing a lot of revival in these countries. And at the same time, amazingly, several years ago, one pastor in Africa who leads a number of churches, and the same one in uh in Asia, South Asia, they were under intense persecution. This was no trivial matter, it was attempted rape, murder, arson, uh destruction of property, intimidation at being attacked. Um and I it I it made me angry. I hadn't felt anger probably in years. But to see these this other religion do this to our people, uh to Christian people who are defenseless and peaceable and lovely, uh really it did anger me. Now, how do I deal with that? Well, we don't take vengeance and we don't let anger fester. So I had to turn to faith and pray for these people that God would help them uh and dispel the my anger and take an action where we put forth some training and uh SOP systems in place as took some legal actions as well and hiring security to help these people directly. By God's grace, the persecution ended in both countries with these pastors. So there I think the anger was purposeful, directed. Uh I it didn't let it control me, but I moved towards an action uh to gain justice for these people, which by God's grace worked.

SPEAKER_03 13:34

That's such a good example, Bill. And you know, uh another thing as we integrate scriptures with other scriptures, um, you know, we're told God says, Vengeance is mine, said the Lord, I will repay. So we're not the ones going around seeking to seeking revenge or to avenge. We leave that to God, but we can speak out for what's right and we take corrective action. And take corrective action. That's exactly right. But that's different from revenge, where you did this and I'm gonna get you. You know, that that's not what this is saying. So isn't it interesting? You know, the first thing addressed last time was lying, and now he's addressing anger. So, you know, it always makes me wonder what exactly was going on in the church in Ephesians in in Ephesus that Paul would call out these behaviors. So I think they're not uncommon, um, but people just don't talk about them.

SPEAKER_02 14:30

Yeah, I you know it's often said, I don't know of any good evidence in this, is that the Ephesians was a letter that was circulated regionally, and he doesn't seem to be addressing specific problems in a church. He might be, and but he might just be doing general teaching, and as you said, these are common problems. I think uh as we discussed before, the gospel came to the Roman Empire with a group of people that weren't raised Christian. Now I think in our culture, in cultures that are historically Christian, people were just more gentle. And I thought that they're not nasty people out there for sure. But the gospel came into the Roman Empire with a group of people who were more violent and dishonest and self-seeking, and it had there was a lot of correction that had to go on. And I think probably some of these commands reflect that.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

Yeah, I agree. We hope you enjoyed the Bible Mastery Podcast. We appreciate all likes, follows, and shares. To contribute to this podcast, please select support the show on the host page. Bonus material will be available on Patreon. For show notes, please visit our website, Bible Mastery Podcast.com. Please send us your comments so we can make this time even better for you.

SPEAKER_03 15:57

And you're gonna take verse 27, and it's so important because it really tells us if we don't do what we're just instructed to do, then there's going to be a consequence. So what is it, Bill, in verse 27?

SPEAKER_02 16:09

Well, you don't give a place to the devil. Well, that was an easy verse. Let's go to uh 27 or 28. So the could there's a conjunction here, mete, uh, and it uh basically uh links 27 with 26. So as you've already implied, uh it um is saying that if you maintain this fessoring type anger, it's gonna distort your emotions and allow Satan to act in your life. So that that's a real key thing here. Um how how does Satan act in a Christian's life? It's not something that's really talked about very much, and I think I I wonder if that's one of the methods of the devil to cover himself, as bad people often do. But if we look at the epistles, how does Satan act in a Christian's life? Well, he I Satan can't possess a Christian, he can't kill a Christian, he can't destroy a Christian. He seems to act by distorted emotions, following emotions that are out of line of the scripture. Uh lust is mentioned, a lack of forgiveness, and in here festering anger, non-purposeful anger, and he uses this to prip up a Christian. We also know that he's deceitful. Paul mentions this over and over again at uh 2 Corinthians 11, uh talking about false teachers, Satan being the angel of light and deceiving Christians by his method. So uh maybe perhaps through those distorted emotions uh that Satan uses this to deceive them, that what they're thinking is really correct and justifying their sin. Having said that, I think it it tells us the importance of knowing scripture, the importance of thinking about scripture, so our goals and our emotions are in line with God's, desiring the good that He wants us to do and to have, and not let our worldly emotions, as tempting as they can be, to distort us uh in how we think and perceive life. Jeff, what do you think?

SPEAKER_03 18:35

I agree, and it's interesting here because the word for devil, it's not it doesn't say Satan, it says devil, so that's diabolos, where we get diabolical, but it really means the accuser, right? So Satan is the slanderer, the the false accuser. And so I think when he says give place to him, uh that kind of makes sense uh in the context of what we're speaking.

SPEAKER_02 19:02

So how does Satan accuse a Christian?

SPEAKER_03 19:05

Oh, you know, I I think we see in scripture, you know, he goes up to God and he accuses um believers, you know, oh God, look down, I see what she's doing. There's no way she belongs to you, right? So there's that level of accusation against our place in the body of Christ that we're believers. But I think what Satan most often does uh could be wrong, is he causes people to accuse themselves and you know, to think incorrectly and so self-doubt and accusation, and I'm not really sure that God loves me today, and I'm worried about this and that. I I think those are false accusations that come into our mind, and and I think that's part of Satan. How do you look at it?

SPEAKER_02 19:50

Well, we know he accused Job. Yeah. And still has some access to heaven, uh, to my understanding. Now, I you know, does he? It's not really clear in the epistles, and maybe you're thinking of a verse I'm not, I'm just sort of talking off the top of my head here. Um, I don't know a verse that says he accuses us directly, since his power has been limited by the cross and the resurrection. We do know that God, that nobody can accuse a Christian, as it says in Romans 8 31, I think. Yeah, and if somebody sends Christ is there as our advocate against any accusation, first John 2 2. So um, if he does, it's taken care of, it's taken care of by the blood of Christ.

SPEAKER_03 20:40

Exactly.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

You do you know a verse that I'm missing a verse that says no, I still accuses?

SPEAKER_03 20:45

No, I was thinking at Romans 8 where it says no one can bring an accusation, and I think that includes Satan, right? So it gives me the concept that he wants to, he could, you know, but it as you said, it's been taken care of. That's the whole thing of salvation, right? Christ has taken uh our the punishment for our sin.

SPEAKER_02 21:03

So maybe you still can, but either way, whether you can or can it's uh it's taken care of. Yeah, so good. Well, we thought we'd do three verses today, but I guess we just did too. We talked on and on, as usual, boy.

SPEAKER_03 21:20

But you know, it's such an important point, this. You know, I do think that uh incorrect anger is much more prevalent than most people would admit, you know, and and it is a controlling thing that's maybe hidden, and then sometimes people will just lash out, and you're kind of like, where did that come from? Well, that's where it came from. And so I think this is really important that we recognize that injustice needs to be addressed, uh, but we should never be controlled by you know this seething, uh undirected anger that just creates uh incorrect thinking and incorrect speech.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Yeah, and so. How can you have peace? How can you be in praise of God? How can you pray correctly? How can you be content if you're full of anger? It's interesting. At least one scientific study has shown that people who forgive uh have greater contentment and well-being. And for a person who's chronically anger angry, I they can't be content and and have good well-being. So it's a terrible shame. Again, as you stated earlier, that doesn't mean you shouldn't act. But we don't act out of a festering anger, we act in faith doing what's right.

SPEAKER_03 22:44

So important.

SPEAKER_02 22:46

Okay. Well, what we've talked about today is we're in the middle of commands to us, admonishments by um Paul uh to be angry, righteous angry, but not have a festering anger as to give a place to the devil. We'll continue with this great passage next time. Please join us then.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

Thank you. See you next time.

SPEAKER_02 23:09

Goodbye for now.

SPEAKER_01 23:10

Bye. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Bible Mastery Podcast. Join us next week for another exciting episode.

SPEAKER_00 23:23

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