Ephesians 4:25 Speak the Truth

Last time we talked about the old self and the new self. As we move into the next section we are going to take the verses bit by bit. So hang in there as we dive in deep.

Read Ephesians 4:25-5:2 looking for Paul's instructions to the Ephesians. Remember these verses are connected to what we learned about the old and new self. Ephesians 4:25-5:2 includes a list of instructions, did you see them? Let's make a list. Get out your journal and list all the instructions given in Ephesians 4:25-5:2. If there is a benefit, warning, or exhortation connected with an instruction, make sure you list that too.

The rest of this week's lesson will be focused on the first instruction given in Ephesians 4:25. What is Paul's instruction here? To speak the truth. What does that mean? It is easy for us to misinterpret this phrase so lets look at some key words and do some cross references.

Look up these words using Blue Letter Bible and write down what you learn in your journal: lay aside, falsehood, speak, truth, neighbor.

So what does it mean to speak the truth, each one with his neighbor? First we must ask ourselves, what is truth? Look up these cross references and write down what you learn about what truth is or how to speak truth. Remember a cross reference is just another place in the Bible that talks about the same idea we are studying. We are looking at other places to develop a full understanding.

• Psalm 86:15
• John 1:17
• John 8:44 (this verse talks about a lack of truth)
• John 14:6
• John 17:17 (do you see that truth is a key word in the book of John?)
• Romans 1:18
• 1 Corinthians 13:6 
• Colossians 1:5
• Ephesians 4:15
• 2 Timothy 2:15-18
• 1 John 1:6-8
• Psalm 15

I know that is a lot of cross references but I want us to see what the Word has to say about truth. What is truth? How does the Word define it? How then do we in turn speak truth? Who are we to speak truth to? Summarize what you have learned in your journal.