Ephesians 5:20

always for allthings] Because everything in hourly providence is an expression, to the believing heart, of God's "good, perfect, and acceptable will" (Romans 12:2). In view of this, the Christian will be thankful, both generally and as to details. St Chrysostom's habitual doxology was, "Glory be to God for all things"; and it was the last word of his suffering life.

unto God and the Father Lit. to the God and Father; i. e. probably, of our Lord, and of us in Him.

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ For the same phrase, or the like, cp. e.g.Matthew 10:41; Matthew 21:9; Mark 16:17; Luke 10:17; John 5:43; *John 14:13; *John 14:14; John 14:26; John 15:16; *John 16:23; *John 16:24; *John 16:26; John 17:11-12; Acts 3:6; Acts 9:27; Acts 10:48; 1Co 5:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Philippians 2:10; Colossians 3:17; James 5:14; 1 Peter 4:14. Of these references, those marked * carry, like this verse, the idea of an approach to the Father through the Son. The whole series (compared with parallel phrases of the O. T., e.g.Deuteronomy 18:19; Psalms 20:5; Psalms 44:5; Psalms 89:24) indicates, as an idea common to all the uses of the expression, that he whose "name" is in question is the basis or reason of the action. Empowered by the "name" of Jehovah, His revealed glory and will, the prophet speaks. Empowered by the "name" of Christ, going upon His revealed character as Mediator, the believer in Him offers praise and prayer to the Father. And so in such phrases as Psalms 63:4; "I will lift up my hands in Thy name"; the thought is of action upon a revelation of God and of the way to Him. In Philippians 2:10 we perhaps find combined the ideas of worship ofand worship throughJesus Christ.