As if he had said, "Seeing the riches of God's grace in Christ have so abounded towards you, who were once Ephesian idolaters, but now converted Gentiles,. Paul, who am. prisoner for preaching the gospel, and for declaring this grace to you, do most affectionately exhort you, that ye live answerably... [ Continue Reading ]
Having exhorted them to the practice of their general duty, namely, to WALK WORTHY OF THEIR HOLY VOCATION, in the former verse; in these two verses he presses upon them more special and particular duties, the chief of which is the duty of Christian unity and concord; ENDEAVOURING TO KEEP THE UNITY O... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having exhorted the Ephesians to. strict unity and concord amongst themselves next proceeds to enforce his exhortation with several arguments; and there are no fewer than seven summed up in the three verses now before us. 1. Says the apostle, there is ONE BODY, that is, one universal ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here in these verses supplies us with another weighty argument to persuade us TO KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE; namely, that it is one great and chief end which Christ aimed at, in instituting the ministry of the word, in appointing the several officers in his church,... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Paul, in these words, declares one special end for which the ministry of the word was instituted and appointed, namely, to preserve from error and seduction, to prevent instability of mind, and unsettledness of judgment, and to confirm persons in fundamental truths, THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had set forth the excellent end of the ministry, in the foregoing verse, for furthering their stability and steadfastness in grace; here he declares the admirable fitness of it, for helping forward their proficiency and growth in grace. SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE: that is, cleaving to th... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having finished this grand exhortation to love and unity amongst all christians, and enforced it with the most weighty arguments and motives in the former part of the chapter; comes now, in the latter part of it to press the Ephesians to the practice of particular duties. The first of w... [ Continue Reading ]
In these verses, 1. Our apostle acquaints the converted Ephesians, that the saving knowledge of Christ, which they had received, instructed them better than to practice such licentiousness and wickedness as the unconverted Gentiles wallowed in. BUT YE HAVE NOT SO LEARNED CHRIST; that is, the gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle closes this chapter with an exhortation to several duties belonging to the second table; namely, to abstain from lying, from anger, from stealing, from corrupt communication, from all bitterness of spirit, from malice and revenge, and to exercise brotherly kindness and mutual forgiveness... [ Continue Reading ]
Some understand these words only as. cautionary direction, and sense them thus: If ye be angry at any time, take heed that ye sin not, by exceeding due bounds; and if at any time it doth so, suppress it speedily, before the sun go down. This was. practice even amongst the heathen; before the sun wen... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The sin dissuaded from: theft and stealing. This the heathen nations counted no crime; they make no conscience, either openly or fraudulently, to take away their neighbour's goods. Therefore, says the apostle, let those of you, who in the time of your paganism and unregeneracy, were... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle directs us how to manage our tongues, both negatively and positively, telling us what we should not speak, and what we should: Let no corrupt, rotten, filthy discourse, come out of your mouth; such as have rotten lungs have. stinking breath; filthy discourse argues. polluted heart;... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The title given to the Spirit of God: he is styled the Holy Spirit, being essentially and infinitely holy in himself, and the author of all grace and holiness in us. Observe, 2. The affection of grief, which is here attributed to the Spirit, not properly, but improperly: when we do... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle had exhorted, in the former verse, not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God; in the next verse, he acquaints us with the particular sins that would afflict and grieve him: namely, BITTERNESS, that is,. secret grudge and. smothered displeasure against our brother: WRATH, or an impetuous fie... [ Continue Reading ]