This chapter Ephesians 6 comprises the following subjects: (1) An exhortation to children to obey their parents, with a promise of the blessing that would follow from obedience; Ephesians 6:1. (2) An exhortation to fathers to manifest such a character that children could properly obey them, and to... [ Continue Reading ]
CHILDREN - τέκνα tekna This word usually signifies those who are young; but it is used here, evidently, to denote those who were under the care and government of their parents, or those who were not of age. OBEY YOUR PARENTS - This is the first great duty which God has enjoined on children. It is,... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOUR THY FATHER AND MOTHER - see Exodus 20:12; compare notes on Matthew 15:4. WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE - With a promise annexed to it. The promise was, that their days should be long in the land which the Lord their God would give them. It is not to be supposed that the observan... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE - This is found in the fifth commandment as recorded in Deuteronomy 5:16. The whole commandment as there recorded is, “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee in the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YE FATHERS - A command addressed particularly to “fathers,” because they are at the head of the family, and its government is especially committed to them. The object of the apostle here is, to show parents that their commands should be such that they can be easily obeyed, or such as are entirel... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS - οἵ δοῦλοι hoi douloi. The word used here denotes one who is bound to render service to another, whether that service be free or voluntary, and may denote, therefore, either a slave, or one who binds himself to render service to another. It is often used in these senses in the New Testa... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR WITH EYE-SERVICE - That is, not with service rendered only under the eye of the master, or when his eye is fixed on you. The apostle has here adverted to one of the evils of involuntary servitude as it exists everywhere. It is, that the slave will usually obey only when the eye of the master is... [ Continue Reading ]
AS TO THE LORD, AND NOT TO MEN - That is, he should regard his lot in life as having been ordered by Divine Providence for some wise and good purpose; and until he may be permitted to enjoy his liberty in a quiet and peaceable manner (notes, 1 Corinthians 7:21), he should perform his duties with fid... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THAT WHATSOEVER GOOD THING - Whatever a man does that is right, for that he shall be appropriately rewarded. No matter what his rank in life, if he discharges his duty to God and man, he will be accepted. A man in a state of servitude may so live as to honor God; and, so living, he should no... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, YE MASTERS - The object of this is, to secure for servants a proper treatment. It is evident, from this, that there were in the Christian church those who were “masters;” and the most obvious interpretation is, that they were the owners of slaves. Some such persons would be converted, as such a... [ Continue Reading ]
FINALLY, MY BRETHREN, BE STRONG IN THE LORD - Paul had now stated to the Ephesians the duties which they were to perform. He had considered the various relations of life which they sustained, and the obligations resulting from them. He was not unaware that in the discharge of their duties they would... [ Continue Reading ]
PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD - The whole description here is derived from the weapons of an ancient soldier. The various parts of those weapons - constituting the “whole panoply” - are specified in Ephesians 6:14. The word rendered “whole armor” πανοπλίαν panoplian, “panoply”), means “complete arm... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE WRESTLE - Greek, “The wrestling to us;” or, “There is not to us a wrestling with flesh and blood.” There is undoubtedly here an allusion to the ancient games of Greece, a part of the exercises in which consisted in wrestling; see the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:25. The Greek word used here - πά... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE EVIL DAY - The day of temptation; the day when you are violently assaulted. AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND - Margin, “or overcome.” The Greek word means, to work out, effect, or produce; and then to work up, to make an end of, to vanquish. Robinson, Lexicon. The idea seems to be, that they we... [ Continue Reading ]
STAND THEREFORE - Resist every attack - as a soldier does in battle. In what way they were to do this, and how they were to be armed, the apostle proceeds to specify; and in doing it, gives a description of the ancient armor of a soldier. HAVING YOUR LOINS GIRT ABOUT - The “girdle, or sash,” was alw... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOUR FEET SHOD - There is undoubtedly an allusion here to what was worn by the ancient soldier to guard his feet. The Greek is, literally, “having underbound the feet;” that is, having bound on the shoes, or sandais, or whatever was worn by the ancient soldier. The protection of the feet and ank... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOVE ALL - Ἐν πᾶσιν En pasin. Not “above all” in point of importance or value, but “over” all, as a soldier holds his shield to defend himself. It constitutes a protection over every part of his body, as it can be turned in every direction. The idea is, that as the shield covered or protected the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TAKE THE HELMET - The helmet was a cap made of thick leather, or brass, fitted to the head, and was usually crowned with a plume, or crest, as an ornament. Its use was to guard the head from a blow by a sword, or war-club, or battle-axe. The cuts will show its usual form. OF SALVATION - That is,... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYING ALWAYS - It would be well for the soldier who goes forth to battle to pray - to pray for victory; or to pray that he may be prepared for death, should he fall. But soldiers do not often feel the necessity of this. To the Christian soldier, however, it is indispensable. Prayer crowns all lawf... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR ME - Paul was then a prisoner at Rome. He specially needed the prayers of Christians: (1) That he might be sustained in his afflictions; and, (2) That he might be able to manifest the spirit which he ought, and to do good as he had opportunity. Learn hence that we should pray for the prison... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHICH I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN BONDS - In chains (see the margin); or in confinement. There is something especially touching in this. He was “an ambassador” - sent to proclaim peace to a lost world. But he was now in chains. An ambassador is a sacred character. No greater affront can be given to a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT YE ALSO MAY KNOW MY AFFAIRS - May understand my condition, my feelings, and in what I am engaged. To them it could not but be a subject of deep interest. AND HOW I DO - Greek, “What I do; that is how I am employed. TYCHICUS - Tychicus was of the province of Asia, in Asia Minor, of which Ep... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM I HAVE SENT UNTO YOU - The churches where Paul had preached, would feel a great interest in his welfare. He was a prisoner at Rome, and it was doubtful what the result would be. In this situation, he felt it proper to despatch a special messenger to give information about his condition; to stat... [ Continue Reading ]
PEACE BE TO THE BRETHREN - The Epistle is closed with the usual salutations. The expression “peace to you,” was the common form of salutation in the East (see the Matthew 10:13 note; Luke 24:36 note; Romans 15:33 note; compare Galatians 6:16; 1 Peter 5:14; 3 John 1:14), and is still the “salam” whic... [ Continue Reading ]
GRACE BE, ... - note, Romans 16:20. THAT LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - see the notes on 1 Corinthians 16:22. IN SINCERITY - Margin, “with incorruption.” With a pure heart; without dissembling; without hypocrisy. There could not be a more appropriate close of the Epistle than such a wish; there will... [ Continue Reading ]