Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice."
Text: Ephesians 4:31
CLAMOR
The word “clamor” is derived from the Greek “krauge”. The following features are associated with this word. Imagine believers shouting at each other!
1. Shouting
2. Outcry
EVIL SPEAKING
This phrase is the translation of the word “blasphemia” (“blasphemy”). The following features are associated with this word.
1. Slandering
2. Speaking evil of people (and of God)
It is quite obvious that though each word (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking) has its own place value, they are closely related. The visible sins of “clamor” and “evil speaking” stem from “bitterness, wrath and anger”.
MALICE
This word is derived from the Greek “kakia”. The following features are associated with this word.
1. There is this deep desire to inflict injury on people.
2. There is deep animosity within the heart of the person.
PUT AWAY
Paul suggests that there is only one safe way to deal with both types of sins. The phrase “put away” translates the word use in an imperatival sense (“aretheto”).
1. The imperative mood tells us that we must deal with the matter as a command from God Himself.
2. The verbal root “airo” suggests that these sins be carried and thrown away.
HEEDING THIS APOSTOLIC INJUNCTION
These sins are the bane of the church. Good church communities have been destroyed because these sins were not dealt with as they should have been. If we care about the church at all, we would give heed to this strong apostolic command.