Our apostle having, in the conclusion of the foregoing chapter, exhorted the Ephesians to mutual offices of love and kindness towards each other, in the beginning of this chapter he makes use of several very cogent arguments to excite and quicken them thereunto. The first of which is drawn from the... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. second argument urged, to walk in love one with and one towards another, drawn from the example of Christ; he also, as well as God the Father, hath loved us; and the instance given of his love, is the highest that ever was or can be given: He gave HIMSELF for us, an OFFERING, AND. SACR... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle, in this and the following verses, exhorts the Ephesians to shun several sins, which were frequently practised among the Gentiles before their conversion to Christianity, as first, FORNICATION, and all sorts and degrees of UNCLEANNESS. This was looked upon as an indifferent action, and n... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle advises Christians to guard against the sins of the tongue, to avoid all filthy discourse, and all foolish discourse, all scurrilous and obscene jesting, all excess in drollery, which is nothing but the foam of. frothy wit. Moderate mirth, by innocent and inoffensive jesting, is not... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle, considering how exceeding common the fore-mentioned sins were among the Gentiles, and how ready persons were to esteem lightly of them, advises the Ephesians here not to entertain in their minds light thoughts of them, or to believe any libertines which should represent them as small an... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the Ephesians are put in mind of the darkness and blindness of their heathen state, before the light of the gospel came among them; they were not only dark, very much in the dark, but darkness itself: he next acquaints them with their happy condition, by entertaining of the gospel of Christ; th... [ Continue Reading ]
These words contain. reason why the Ephesians, who were once darkness, but then enlightened by the Holy Spirit, should walk as children of the light; namely, because the fruits of that light, or of the Holy Spirit, the author of that light which they had received, IS IN ALL GOODNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The odious character wherewith sin in general is branded: it is styled darkness,. work of darkness, works of darkness, and an unfruitful work. Sin is styled darkness, because it originally springs from darkness, it naturally delights in darkness, it ultimately leads to eternal darkn... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our apostle assigns particular reasons why the Ephesians should HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL workers and WORKS OF DARKNESS, BUT REPROVE THEM; namely, 1. The abominable filthiness of those sins which the wicked pagans committed, especially in their heathen mysteries, prescribed by the... [ Continue Reading ]
The last argument which our apostle offers to consideration, for enforcing the duty of reproving the unfruitful workers and works of darkness, is drawn from the example of God himself, whose great design it is, by his holy word, to awaken men out of the deep sleep of sin and death, that Christ may g... [ Continue Reading ]
These words may be considered two ways; either, 1. As. direction to those, who according to the foregoing exhortation, do reprove sinners for their unfruitful works of darkness, namely to walk very circumspectly themselves. "See then HOW circumspectly you walk," so the words may be rendered; and it... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1.. most important and necessary duty exhorted to; namely, to redeem the time. This cannot be done in. natural sense: time, once past, is irrecoverably lost, we can no more recall it; but in. moral sense, time may be said to be redeemed, when our diligence to improve it is redoubled, w... [ Continue Reading ]
As if he had said, "Seeing the times are so perilous, and your opportunities of doing good so uncertain, be wise, and understand what are the proper duties of your place and station, and know how to manage yourselves in every relation, with reference to the duties, dangers, snares, and temptations,... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. Our apostle's seasonable dehortation: BE NOT DRUNK WITH WINE. Drunkenness, as well as uncleanness, and drunkenness with uncleanness, for they commonly go together, were sins which the Ephesians and unconverted pagans were generally guilty of. St. Paul therefore cautions these new co... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle, in the foregoing verse, cautions the Ephesians against that drunkenness and uncleanness which did commonly attend them at the solemnities of their heathen gods: their BACCHANALIA, or feasts dedicated to Bacchus the god of wine, were usually concluded with excessive drunkenness and uncle... [ Continue Reading ]
The next duty St. Paul exhorts to, is that of spiritual THANKSGIVING. Where note, 1. The time when it ought to be performed: ALWAYS; that is, at least every day, and upon every solemn occasion, keeping the heart continually in. praising, as well as. praying, frame. Note, 2. The matter for which we... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle having exhorted the Ephesians to such general duties as belong to all Christians, comes now to exhort them to the practice of relative duties, as they are members of societies, and particularly as they live in. family society one with another, as husbands and wives, parents and children,... [ Continue Reading ]
The apostle having propounded the wife's duty first, recommends the husband's duty next; her's was the duty of submission; his, of love and entire affection. This the apostle mentions, because the husband, for want of love, is too ready to abuse that sovereignty and superiority which God has given o... [ Continue Reading ]
Our apostle here propounds. farther argument to enforce this duty of love from husband to wife, taken from that near conjunction between them, showing that they are one flesh and one body, not in. natural, but in. relative sense; and accordingly. man should so love his wife even as himself. Doth. ma... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the apostle uses. farther argument to excite the husband's love to his espoused wife, taken from the law of marriage, which maketh them two one flesh in. civil sense; therefore the man should leave father and mother, and cleave to his wife: not that their obligations cease to their parents, or... [ Continue Reading ]