Ephesians 4.26-Overview of Ephesians 4.26
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Thursday October 30, 2025
Ephesians Series: Ephesians 4:26-Overview of Ephesians 4:26
Lesson # 290
Ephesians 4:26 Each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of permitting yourselves to be justifiably angry with the result that each and every one of you as a corporate unit continue to make it your habit of not committing sin. Each and every one of you as a corporate unit must continue to make it your habit of not letting the sun go down when justifiably angered. (Lecturer’s translation)
Ephesians 4:26 begins a series of commands and prohibitions, which conclude in Ephesians 6:20 and are designed to govern the conduct of the Gentile Christian community and in fact conform their conduct to the character and nature of Jesus Christ.
The command and two prohibitions in Ephesians 4:26 are used in relation to church discipline.
In fact, they are shorthand for church discipline.
This verse begins with a command, which required that the Gentile Christian community continue to make it their habit of permitting themselves to be justifiably angered because of the unrepentant sinful activities of a member of their community.
This command is followed by a prohibition, which presents the result of obedience to the command and it required that the Gentile Christian community continue to make it their habit of not committing sin against God and those in the Christian community who are involved in unrepentant sinful behavior.
Therefore, this would indicate that they must continue to make it their habit of being justifiably angered by the unrepentant sinful activities of a member of their community with the result that they continue to make it their habit of not sinning against God and the guilty party by not administering church discipline with the guilty party.
The implication is that by not practicing church discipline with the guilty party, they would destroy their testimony as a community and it would result in the death of the guilty party, which the devil would want (cf. 1 Cor. 11:30; 1 John 5:16).
This is why Paul commands them in verse 27 to not give the devil an opportunity to do this.
Jesus Christ would want them to confront the guilty party in gentleness and in private (cf. Matt. 18:15; Gal. 6:1).
Obedience to the Lord’s Spirit inspired command in John 13:34 and 15:12 to love one another as He has loved all Christians would require gentleness when confronting the guilty party.
The object being reconciliation and restoration to fellowship of the guilty party.
The devil on the other hand would not want this.
The last prohibition advances upon the first one and required that the Gentile Christian community continue to make it their habit of not letting the sun go down when justifiably angered because of the unrepentant, sinful activities of a member of their community.
This as we noted is figurative language for the abandonment of this justified anger by confronting the guilty party immediately in order to resolve the issue.
In other words, Paul wants them to address the problem immediately in order that the devil might not have an opportunity to ruin their testimony and fellowship with the guilty party.
Church discipline is based upon God’s holiness and is patterned after God’s discipline of the church.
Failure to administer church discipline when it is called for demonstrates a church’s lack of awareness or concern for God’s holiness.
Church discipline is taught in Matthew 18:15-18, Romans 16:17-18; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:6-11; Galatians 6:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-16; 2 Timothy 2:23-26; Titus 3:10; 2 John 9-11.
Church discipline should be administered by those who are in fellowship with God and are knowledgeable of the Word of God and filled with the Spirit (Galatians 6:1).
It must be done with an attitude of humility, gentleness and patience, always looking to ourselves that we too might not be tempted (Galatians 6:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:24-25).
It must be done impartially (1 Timothy 5:21).
Those who are disciplined are to be warned and must be appealed to in love (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15; 1 Timothy 5:1-2; Ephesians 4:15; 2 Timothy 4:2).
This discipline is not restricted to church leaders, but may be done by any person in the body with another if that person is influenced by the Spirit and governed by Him (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
The church is to administer discipline for those whose conduct is disorderly and negatively impacts the testimony of the church before the world (2 Thessalonians 3:6-15).
Discipline is to be used with divisive or factious people causing divisions in the church (Romans 16:17-18; Titus 3:9-11).
Those involved in immorality such as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5 are to be disciplined.
Also, discipline must be administered to those who are habitually involved with covetousness, idolatry, abusive speech, drunkenness, swindling, or idle busybodies who refuse to work and run around spreading dissension (1 Corinthians 5:1, 11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-15).
Those who teach false doctrine are to be disciplined as Paul did with Hymenaeus and Alexander.
It is extremely important that the church understands why discipline must be administered.
First of all, God’s holy character requires it.
Secondly, it is for the testimony of the church and it also effects the unity and purity of the church.
Lastly, discipline is for spiritual edification and restoration of the individual.
The purpose of church discipline is always restoration and not revenge.
The purpose of this discipline is to deliver the offender from sinful patterns of behavior and not to drive him or her away from the fellowship of the church.
The church’s attitude is to be one of love and gentleness (Galatians 6:1-3).
The scriptural procedure for administering church discipline is clear and specific steps are prescribed.
We must first go to the offender in private and seek to correct the situation privately (Matthew 18:15).
Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” (NASB95)
If the person fails to respond, warn them that, according to the instructions of Scripture (Matt. 18:16), you will have to get others as witnesses and return with them to deal with the problem.
Matthew 18:16 “But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.” (NASB95)
If the first step fails, take witnesses to strengthen the effect of the discipline, preferably spiritual leaders, so that if it has to be brought before the whole church it can be firmly proven and established (Matt. 18:16-17; 1 Tim. 5:19).
Matthew 18:17 “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” (NASB95)
The aid of church leadership should be sought if the problem involves an offense that is against the whole body or if it is a threat to the unity of the body.
These initial contacts, private and with witnesses, provide opportunity for correction, and forgiveness in love.
On the other hand, if these first steps do not produce results, it constitutes a warning that further action will be taken and provides occasion for serious rebuke (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:12-13; Titus 2:15; 3:10).
If the second step fails, seek reconciliation and restoration through the whole body.
If further action is necessary, it is to be taken before the whole church (2 Thess. 3:14-15; Matt. 18:17; 1 Tim. 5:20).
2 Thessalonians 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 along with Matthew 18:17 indicate that the church is to exercise group disapproval by way of social ostracism (refusal to have intimate fellowship).
If this does not work, the church is to remove the offender from the church fellowship.
This must be approved of and done by the entire congregation (2 Cor. 2:6).
The Lord is exercising this discipline through the church’s actions.
