1._Children, obey. _Why does the apostle use the word _obey _instead of _honor, _(167) which has a greater extent of meaning? It is because _Obedience _is the evidence of that _honor _which children owe to their parents, and is therefore more earnestly enforced. It is likewise more difficult; for th... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Which is the first commandment with promise. _The promises annexed to the commandments are intended to excite our hopes, and to impart a greater cheerfulness to our obedience; and therefore Paul uses this as a kind of seasoning to render the submission, which he enjoins on children, more pleasant... [ Continue Reading ]
3._That it may be well with thee_. The promise is — a long life; from which we are led to understand that the present life is not to be overlooked among the gifts of God. On this and other kindred subjects I must refer my reader to the _Institutes of the Christian Religion; _(168) satisfying myself... [ Continue Reading ]
4._And, ye fathers. _Parents, on the other hand, are exhorted not to irritate their children by unreasonable severity. This would excite hatred, and would lead them to throw off the yoke altogether. Accordingly, in writing to the Colossians, he adds, “lest they be discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21.) Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Servants, be obedient. _His exhortation to servants is so much the more earnest, on account of the hardship and bitterness of their condition, which renders it more difficult to be endured. And he does not speak merely of outward obedience, but says more about _fear _willingly rendered; for it is... [ Continue Reading ]
_With good will doing service. _(Ver. 7.) This is contrasted with the suppressed indignation which swells the bosom of slaves. Though they dare not openly break out or give signs of obstinacy, their dislike of the authority exercised over them is so strong, that it is with the greatest unwillingness... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth. _What a powerful consolation! However unworthy, however ungrateful or cruel, their masters may be, God will accept their services as rendered to himself. When servants take into account the pride and arrogance of their masters, they often become m... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And ye masters. _In the treatment of their slaves, the laws granted to masters a vast amount of power. Whatever had thus been sanctioned by the civil code was regarded by many as in itself lawful. To such an extent did their cruelty in some instances proceed, that the Roman emperors were forced t... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Finally. _Resuming his general exhortations, he again enjoins them to _be strong, _— to summon up courage and vigor; for there is always much to enfeeble us, and we are ill fitted to resist. But when our weakness is considered, an exhortation like this would have no effect, unless _the Lord _wer... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Put on the whole armor. _God has furnished us with various defensive weapons, provided we do not indolently refuse what is offered. But we are almost all chargeable with carelessness and hesitation in using the offered grace; just as if a soldier, about to meet the enemy, should take his helmet,... [ Continue Reading ]
12._For we wrestle _(171) _not. _To impress them still more deeply with their danger, he points out the nature of the enemy, which he illustrates by a comparative statement, _Not against flesh and blood. _The meaning is, that our difficulties are far greater than if we had to fight with men. There w... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Wherefore take unto you. _Though our enemy is so powerful, Paul does not infer that we must throw away our spears, but that we must prepare our minds for the battle. A promise of victory is, indeed, involved in the exhortation, _that ye may be able. _If we only _put on the whole armor of God, _a... [ Continue Reading ]
14._Stand therefore. _Now follows a description of the arms which they were enjoined to wear. We must not, however, inquire very minutely into the meaning of each word; for an allusion to military customs is all that was intended. Nothing can be more idle than the extraordinary pains which some have... [ Continue Reading ]
15._And your feet shod. _The allusion, if I mistake not, is to the military _greaves; _for they were always reckoned a part of the armor, and were even used for domestic purposes. As soldiers covered their legs and feet to protect them against cold and other injuries, so we must be shod _with the go... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Taking the shield of faith. _Though _faith _and _the word of God _are one, yet Paul assigns to them two distinct offices. I call them one, because the word is the object of faith, and cannot be applied to our use but by faith; as faith again is nothing, and can do nothing, without the word. But... [ Continue Reading ]
17._And take the helmet of salvation. _In a passage already quoted, (1 Thessalonians 5:8,) “the _hope _of salvation” is said to be a _helmet, _which I consider to be in the same sense as this passage. The head is protected by the best _helmet, _when, elevated by _hope, _we look up towards heaven to... [ Continue Reading ]
18._Praying always with all prayer. _Having instructed the Ephesians to put on their armor, he now enjoins them to fight by prayer. This is the true method. To call upon God is the chief exercise of faith and hope; and it is in this way that we obtain from God every blessing. _Prayer _and _supplicat... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And for me. _For himself, in a particular manner, he enjoins the Ephesians to pray. Hence we infer that there is no man so richly endowed with gifts as not to need this kind of assistance from his brethren, so long as he remains in this world. Who will ever be better entitled to plead exemption... [ Continue Reading ]
20._As I ought to speak; _meaning, that to proclaim the truth of the gospel as it ought to be proclaimed, is a high and rare attainment. Every word here deserves to be carefully weighed. Twice he uses the expression _boldly, _— “that I may open my mouth _boldly, _” “that therein I may speak _boldly.... [ Continue Reading ]
21._But that, ye also may know. _Uncertain or false reports frequently produce uneasiness, chiefly, no doubt, in weak minds, but sometimes also in thoughtful and steady persons. To prevent this danger, Paul sends Tychicus, from whom the Ephesians would receive full information. The holy solicitude w... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Peace be to the brethren. _I consider the word _peace, _as in the salutations of the Epistles, to mean _prosperity. _Yet if the reader shall prefer to view it as signifying _harmony, _because, immediately afterwards, Paul mentions _love, _I do not object to that interpretation, or rather, it agr... [ Continue Reading ]
24._Grace be with all. _The meaning is, “May God continue to bestow his favor on all who love Jesus Christ with a pure conscience!” The Greek word, which I follow Erasmus in translating _sincerity, _( ἐν ἀφθαρσίᾳ,) signifies literally _uncorruptedness, _which deserves attention on account of the be... [ Continue Reading ]