For Christ’s Sake

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake had forgiven you. 

‘Bitterness’ [Greek: pikria] bitterness, malice, venom (Acts 8:23; Rom. 3:14; Heb.12:15).

‘Wrath’ [Greek: thumos] any vehement passion, anger, wrath, hatred (Gal. 5:20).

‘Anger’ [Greek: orge] anger (4:31; Mark 3:5; Col. 3:8); indignation (Rev. 14:10); vengeance (Rom. 3:5); and wrath (2:3; 5:6; Matt. 3:7; Luke 3:7; 21:23; John 3:36; Rom. 1:18; 2:5, 8; 4:15; 5:9; 11:22; 12:19; 13:4-5; Col. 3:6; 1Thess. 1:10; 2:16; 5:9; 1Tim. 2:8; Heb. 3:11; 4:3; Jas. 1:19-20; Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 16:19; 19:15).

‘Clamour’ [Greek: krauge] uproar (4:31; Matt. 25:5; Acts 23:9; Heb. 5:7; Rev. 14:18; 21:4).

‘Evil speaking’ [Greek: blasphemia from blasphemos] to: Speak evil of (4:31; Jude 1:8); rail (1Tim. 6:4; 2Pet. 2:11); revile (Matt. 27:39); defame (1Cor. 4:13); slander (Rom. 3:8); insult by blasphemy (Matt. 12:31).

‘Malice’ [Greek: kakia] malice (4:31; 1Cor. 5:8; 14:20; Col. 3:8; Tit. 3:3; 1Pet. 2:1); evil (Matt. 6:34); naughtiness (Jas. 1:21); maliciousness (Rom. 1:29; 1Pet. 2:1); and wickedness (Acts 8:22).

‘Kind’ [Greek: chrestos] kind (4:32; Luke 6:35); good (1Cor. 15:33; Rom. 2:4); gracious (1Pet. 2:3); and easy (Matt. 11:30).

‘Tenderhearted’ [Greek: eusplangchnos] tenderly compassionate (1Pet. 3:8).

‘Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.’ Matthew 6:14-15 summarizes the law of forgiveness: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 18:21-35; Col. 3:13).