Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents — In all things lawful. The will of the parent is a law to the child. In the Lord — For his sake. For this is right — Manifestly just and reasonable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Children, obey your parents — In all things lawful. The will of the parent is a law to the child. In the Lord — For his sake. For this is right — Manifestly just and reasonable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Honour — That is, love, reverence, obey, assist, in all things. The mother is particularly mentioned, as being more liable to be slighted than the father. Which is the first commandment with a promise — For the promise implied in the second commandment does not belong to the keeping that command in... [ Continue Reading ]
That thou mayest live long upon the earth — This is usually fulfilled to eminently dutiful children; and he who lives long and well has a long seed — time for the eternal harvest. But this promise, in the Christian dispensation, is to be understood chiefly in a more exalted and Spiritual sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
And, ye fathers — Mothers are included; but fathers are named, as being more apt to be stern and severe. Provoke not your children to wrath — Do not needlessly fret or exasperate them. But bring them up — With all tenderness and mildness. In the instruction and discipline of the Lord — Both in Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Your masters according to the flesh — According to the present state of things: afterward the servant is free from his master. With fear and trembling — A proverbial expression, implying the utmost care and diligence. In singleness of heart — With a single eye to the providence and will of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Not with eye — service — Serving them better when under their eye than at other times. But doing the will of God from the heart — Doing whatever you do, as the will of God, and with your might.... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto the Lord, and not to men — That is, rather than to men; and by making every action of common life a sacrifice to God; having an eye to him in all things, even as if there were no other master.... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall receive the same — That is, a full and adequate recompence for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Do the same things to them — That is, act toward them from the same principle. Forbearing threatening — Behaving with gentleness and humanity, not in a harsh or domineering way.... [ Continue Reading ]
Brethren — This is the only place in this epistle where he uses this compellation. Soldiers frequently use it to each other in the field. Be strong — Nothing less will suffice for such a fight: to be weak, and remain so, is the way to perish. In the power of his might — A very uncommon expression, p... [ Continue Reading ]
Put on the whole armour of God — The Greek word means a complete suit of armour. Believers are said to put on the girdle, breastplate, shoes; to take the shield of faith, and sword of the Spirit. The whole armour — As if the armour would scarce do, it must be the whole armour. This is repeated, Ephe... [ Continue Reading ]
For our wrestling is not only, not chiefly, against flesh and blood — Weak men, or fleshly appetites. But against principalities, against powers — The mighty princes of all the infernal legions. And great is their power, and that likewise of those legions whom they command. Against the rulers of the... [ Continue Reading ]
In the evil day — The war is perpetual; but the fight is one day less, another more, violent. The evil day is either at the approach of death, or in life; may be longer or shorter and admits of numberless varieties. And having done all, to stand — That ye may still keep on your armour, still stand u... [ Continue Reading ]
Having your loins girt about — That ye may be ready for every motion. With truth — Not only with the truths of the gospel, but with "truth in the inward parts;" for without this all our knowledge of divine truth will prove but a poor girdle "in the evil day." So our Lord is described, Isaiah 11:5. A... [ Continue Reading ]
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel — Let this be always ready to direct and confirm you in every step. This part of the armour, for the feet, is needful, considering what a journey we have to go; what a race to run. Our feet must be so shod, that our footsteps slip not. To order o... [ Continue Reading ]
Above or over all — As a sort of universal covering to every other part of the armour itself, continually exercise a strong and lively faith. This you may use as a shield, which will quench all the fiery darts, the furious temptations, violent and sudden injections of the devil.... [ Continue Reading ]
And take for an helmet the hope of salvation — 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The head is that part which is most carefully to be defended. One stroke here may prove fatal. The armour for this is the hope of salvation. The lowest degree of this hope is a confidence that God will work the whole work of faith i... [ Continue Reading ]
Praying always — At all times, and on every occasion, in midst of all employments, inwardly praying without ceasing. By the Spirit — Through the influence of the Holy Spirit. With all prayer — With all sort of prayer, public, private, mental, vocal. Some are careful in respect of one kind of prayer,... [ Continue Reading ]
By the opening my mouth — Removing every inward and every outward hinderance.... [ Continue Reading ]
An ambassador in bonds — The ambassadors of men usually appear in great pomp. How differently does the ambassador of Christ appear!... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye also — As well as others.... [ Continue Reading ]
That he might comfort your hearts — By relating the supports I find from God, and the success of the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
Peace — This verse recapitulates the whole epistle.... [ Continue Reading ]
In sincerity — Or in incorruption; without corrupting his genuine gospel, without any mixture of corrupt affections. And that with continuance, till grace issue in glory.... [ Continue Reading ]