Put Away…And Be Kind, Tenderhearted, Forgiving

Introduction

I. 	Just as a farmer must clear away the brush, vines and trees in order to prepare a field to plant, so the Christian has the work of putting away before good can be put in ones life.
II. 		Several passages speak of this putting away and the need of 	putting on that which is good.
III. 	 The passage which I desire to study with you today is in the 	context of Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians to walk worthily of 	their calling.  Eph. 4:1-32.
A. 	Last week we considered our need of being longsuffering.  Vss. 1-2.
B. 	Today, let us go to the last paragraph (Eph. 4:25-32), and we will give special attention to vss. 31-32.
	
Body
 
I. 	We must put away bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, railing and malice.  Eph. 4:31.
       A.  Bitterness is from pikria (pik-ree'-ah), meaning literally or 	figuratively—bitterness, according to Strong.  Thayer adds:  	bitter gall 
		a) extreme wickedness 
		b) a bitter root, and so producing a bitter fruit 
c) metaphorically, bitterness, bitter hatred.
1. 	Peter told Simon he was in the “gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity,” after he had sought to buy the gift of God with money.  Acts 8:23
2. 	We are warned against wickedness such as Esau’s who gave up that which was of great worth for a brief satisfaction.  Heb. 12:14-17.
      B.   Wrath is from thumos (thoo-mos') passion (as if breathing 	hard):--fierceness, indignation, wrath.   Thayer adds:
1) 	passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again.
1. 	Wrath caused the Jews to try to kill Jesus in Nazareth.
	Luke 4:16-30.  (See vs. 28.)
2. 	Wrath caused the Ephesians to create an uproar over Paul’s preaching.  Acts 19:23-34.  (See vs. 28.)
3. 	Man’s wrath does not work God’s righteousness. Jas. 1:19-20.
       C.  Anger is from orge (or-gay'); properly, desire (as a reaching 	forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy,) violent 	passion (ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication 	punishment:--anger, indignation, vengeance, wrath.  Thayer 	adds:	
        
       1)   anger, the natural disposition, temper, character 
2) 	movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but especially anger 
3) 	anger, wrath, indignation
4) 	anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself.
	1.  Jesus warned against anger.  Matt. 5:21-22.
D. 	Clamor is from krauge (krow-gay'); an outcry (in notification, tumult or grief); clamour, cry (-ing). Thayer adds:  a crying, an outcry, a clamor.
E. 	Railing is from blasphemia (blas-fay-me'-ah); vilification (especially against God):--blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.  Thayer adds:  
1) 	slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another's good     name 
2) 	impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty.
1. 	People railed on Jesus at His crucifixion.  Mk. 15:29-30;  Luke 23:39 (I Pet. 2:21-24).
2. 	We are warned against railing or reviling speech.  I Cor. 5:11; I Tim. 6:3-5; II Pet. 2:9-11; Jude 9; I Pet. 3:8-9.
F. 	Malice is from kakia (kak-ee'-ah); badness, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble:-- 
	evil, malice (-iousness), naughtiness, wickedness.  Thayer 	adds:  
1) 	malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure
2) 	wickedness, depravity; wickedness that is not ashamed           	 to break laws 
	      3)  evil, trouble.
1. 	Malice is always evil and must be avoided.  Rom. 1:28-32;  I Cor. 5:7-8; I Cor. 14:20; Col. 3:5-8; Tit. 3:3; I Pet. 2:1-2; 2:15-16.

II. 		We must be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.  Eph. 4:32.
	A.  Kind is from chrestos (khrase-tos'); employed, i.e. (by 			implication) useful (in manner or morals):--better, easy, good 		(-ness), gracious, kind.  Thayer adds:  
		       1) fit, fit for use, useful; virtuous, good 
		       2) manageable 
			a) mild, pleasant (as opp. to harsh, hard sharp, bitter) 
			b) used of things: more pleasant, of people, kind, 			    benevolent.
1. 	God sets the example of being kind.  Luke 6:35; Tit. 3:4-7; Eph. 2:4-7.
2. 	Love is kind.  I Cor. 13:4.
3. 	We are to be kindly or tenderly affectioned to our brethren.  Rom. 12:9-10.
4. 	Kindness (usefulness, beneficence) must be characteristic of Christians. (Acts 28:1-2) II Cor. 6:4-6; Col. 3:12-14.

	B.  Tenderhearted is from eusplagchnos (yoo'-splangkh-nos);
		 well compassioned, i.e. sympathetic:--pitiful, tender-hearted.  		 Thayer adds:  
	           1) having strong bowels 
		       2) compassionate, tender-hearted.
1. 	You may have the experience when you see someone cut or hurt, and it seems like a feeling runs down your body.
2. 	This may relate to the “strong bowels” or “innards” as I’m wont to say.  
3. 	We “feel” for others in their sorrows and joys.            Rom. 12:15.
	C.  Forgiving is from charizomai (khar-id'-zom-ahee); to grant 		as a favor, i.e. gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue:-- 		deliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant.  Thayer adds:
		to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor 		to, to gratify: 
			a) to show oneself gracious, kind, benevolent 
			b) to grant forgiveness, to pardon 
			c) to give graciously, to give freely, to bestow 
			    1) to forgive 
			    2) graciously to restore one to another 
   			    3) to preserve for one a person in peril.
1. 	We are to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.            Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:12-13.
2. 	The father, in the account of the prodigal, illustrates the love which God has for sinners.  Luke 15:11-32 (note vss. 20b-24).
3. 	The subject of forgiveness is central to the entire revelation of the word of God, and an entire lesson can be spent on this one thought.

Conclusion

I. 	We have some putting away to do as we eliminate bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, railing and malice.
II. 	We must add being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.
III. 	God, through Christ, has provided a way by which each of us can be cleansed by the blood of Christ.
IV. 	The teaching is clear:  believe in Christ, repent of your sins, be baptized into Christ and live faithful unto death.  Mark 16:16;  Acts 2:38; Rev. 2:10.

Note:  In all definitions of words, Strong’s is given first, followed
by Thayer’s.

Prepared by:  
   David Arnold
   December 29, 1996