Ephesians 4:17–28

Appeal for New Behavior

¹⁷This therefore I say and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk: in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸being darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart, ¹⁹who, becoming callous, gave themselves over to licentiousness, for the pursuit of all uncleanness in greediness.

²⁰But you did not learn Christ in this way, ²¹if indeed you have heard about him, and you were taught by him (just as truth is in Jesus), ²²that you take off, according to your former way of life, the old man, who is being destroyed according to deceitful desires, ²³be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and put on the new man (in accordance with God), who is created in righteousness and holiness from the truth.

Old Behavior, New Behavior, and Motivation

²⁵Therefore, putting aside the lie, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor,^c because we are members of one another. ²⁶Be angry and do not sin;^d do not let the sun set on your anger, ²⁷nor give place to the devil. ²⁸The one who steals must steal no longer, but instead must labor, working with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need.