The Nugget:
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
My Comment:
On my first real job I worked as a power room operator running the generator room for the telephone company. I worked for a while under a supervisor who was largely disliked by the other workers. One time that supervisor spent several hours before lunch leading me around the facility to point out where there were oil leaks from the panel switching equipment motor gear boxes. I kindly explained that I knew full well where the leaks were, but there is only so much time in a day, and I always worked the full amount of time I was being paid for. Later that week the other employees asked me to sign a petition complaining about the supervisor. I signed it. But a couple of days later while working on cleaning the oil from beneath those gear boxes I was reviewing Ephesians 4:32, a memory verse I had lately learned. As I thought about what it said, I realized I really should not have signed that petition. I went to the person circulating the petition and said I had changed my mind. I crossed out my name, initialed it, and wrote the reference, “Ephesians 4:32.” When my day was over at 3:00 pm I had a private meeting in the conference room with my supervisor. I explained to him that I am a Bible believing Christian, and I recited the Bible verse, Ephesians 4:32. I asked his forgiveness for my unexpressed yet wrong attitude toward him. Surprisingly, he asked of me the same thing. We parted that day with a much better relationship in place, I’m sure. That was my first major experience at applying this verse in the “real world.” It is a wonderful verse. May I encourage you to memorize it, and apply it as the Lord may lead in situations you encounter in your life.
For those who desire to DIG DEEPER into this subject:
(1) Consult the cross references given in Nelson’s Cross Reference Guide to the Bible on pages 1365-1366 for Ephesians 4:32.
(2) Consult the cross references given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge on page 1385 or in Logos 5 Bible software for Ephesians 4:32.
(3) Lacking access to those two resources, consult the cross references for this passage as I have developed them as given below:
Ephesians 4:32. Be ye. ver. 26. kind. or, gracious. Gr. chrēstos [S#5543g: Rendered (1) kind: Lk 6:35. Ep 4:32. (2) easy: Mt 11:30. (3) better: Lk 5:39. (4) goodness: Ro **2:4. (5) good: 1 C 15:33. (6) gracious: 1 P 2:3]. Ru 2:20. Ps 26:3. 112:4, 5, 9. Pr 19:22. Is 57:1mg. Je 38:12. Lk +*6:35, 36. Ac 28:2. Ro *12:10. +**15:7. 1 C *+13:4. 2 C 2:10. 6:6. Col *3:12, 13. Phm 12. 1 P +2:3g. 2 P *1:7. tenderhearted. or, tenderly compassionate. Gr. eusplanchnos (S#2155g), well compassioned, that is, sympathetic (Strong). FS41, Ge +10:1. Ps 145:9. Pr 12:10. Mi +*6:8. Mt +*5:7. 18:33. Lk 1:78. 1 Th 5:14. Ja *5:11. 1 P *3:8g. 1 J 4:11. forgiving. T#203. Ep *5:1. Ge 50:17, 18. Dt 15:9-15. Pr +16:7 (T#737). 19:11. 20:3. Mt *+6:12 (T#539), +14, 15. +11:29 (T#62). *18:21-35. Mk *11:25, 26. Lk *6:37. *11:4. *17:3, 4. Ro 12:20, 21. 2 C 2:7, 10. Col *3:12, 13. 1 P *3:8, 9. 1 J **1:9. +2:12 (T#583). 4:11. as God. Ex +*34:7. Jg 10:16. Is *44:22. 2 C 5:19. for. Ge =39:5. Nu =14:17-20. hath forgiven. Ps 32:5. Mt 9:6. Lk +7:42. Ac 13:38. Col 1:14.
ph 3.3 we worship god in the spirit, and rejoice in christ jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh.
eph 4.32 and be ye kind to one another, tender hearted,
forgiving one another, even as god for christs sake hath
forgiven you.
several real encouraging cross refs on eph 4.32
1. lk 6.35 but love ye your enemies, and do good
and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your
reward shall be great, and ye hall be kind unto
the unthankful and to the evil.
2. rom 12.10 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer.
3. col 3.12-13 put on therefore, as the elect of god, holy
and beloved,bowels of mercies,kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering: vs 13 forbearing one another,
and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against
any: even as christ forgave you, so also do ye.
4. jas 5.11 behold, we count them happy which endure. ye have
heard of the patience of job, and have seen the end of the lord;
that the lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
5. mk 11.25 and when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught
against any: that your father also which is in heaven may forgive
you your trespasses.
6. lk 6.37 judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye
shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
7. lk 11. 4 forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted
to us. and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
8. lk 17.4 and if he trespass against thee 7 times in a day, and 7
times in a day turn again to thee, saying, i repent; thou shalt
forgive him.
9. rom 12.20 therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he
thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of
fire on his head. vs 21 be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good.
10. i jn 1.9 if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
11. 1 jn 2.12 i write unto you, little children, because your sins
are forgiven you for his names sake.
12. eph 1.7 in whom we have redemption throught his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace:
13. col 1.14 in whom we have redemption through his blood,
even the forgiveness of sins:
14. 1 tim 2.5-6 for there is one god, and one mediator between
god and men, the man christ jesus; vs 6 who gave himself a ransom
for all, to be testified in due time.
rev 1.5 and from jesus christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. unto
him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.