Ephesians 5

Notes

Ver. 1. Let therefore the astonishing kindness and forgiving mercy of God your Father and his Spirit excite you, as his beloved and loving children, sought and won by him, to imitate him in exercising all kindness and forgiveness one towards another. 2. Nor is the consideration and example of Jesus Christ less suited to engage us to a constant, progressive, friendly, and affectionate love one to another, since he has, with superlative condescension and grace, first loved all the race, and, in manifestation thereof, has freely become our Saviour, and yielded up his great and infinite Self to the most debased service and terrible death for us, as a living sacrifice to save us from sin, and reconcile us to God, to the highest honour and delight of all his perfections. 3. But to return to the warning which I had begun:—in a manner becoming Christians renewed, sanctified, and devoted to God, earnestly flee, abstain from, and utterly detest every form of unchastity, and all that indecency, immodesty, and lewdness in gestures, looks, dress, or acts, that approach towards or tempt others to it; and, in like manner, avoid and detest all irregular and impure desires after forbidden objects, and inordinate love to or pursuits after the things of this world, which would make you discontented without them, or to take dishonourable or unjust methods to procure or retain them. 4. Never secretly indulge any shameful practices, nor any light, wanton, or obscene speeches or jests which offend God and tend to grieve or inflame the hearers; but let your lips be rather employed in commendations of God and Christ, and his works, and in thankful acknowledgments of and praises for his kindness. 5. For having learned the doctrines of the Christian religion, ye cannot but know that no person who is addicted to, and lives and allows himself in, the practice of whoredom, or indulges himself in impure affections and lascivious actions; nor any worldly-minded covetous wretch, who loves, desires, and delights in his worldly enjoyments more than in God himself, be his profession what it will,—has any title to, or, continuing such, can have any present or future enjoyment of Christ and his Father in his kingdom, with the glories which attend it. 6. Let no Gentile philosopher, Jewish corrupter of God's law, or any other, by their plausible, empty, and fallacious speeches, make you to think these crimes small; for, on account of them, all who obstinately persist in them shall be excluded from the heavenly kingdom of God, and be exposed to his wrath here and hereafter, which shall come rushing in full floods upon them. 7. By prayer, watchfulness, and diligence, labour therefore against these things, and never be companions, encouragers, or imitators of such persons in their iniquities, lest ye also share in their just and tremendous punishments. 8. For in your heathen and unconverted state ye were utterly ignorant of spiritual things, and walked in the dark paths of wickedness; but now the Spirit of God hath enlightened your mind to know the truth as it is in Jesus—in whom, as your Head, ye have all light, wisdom, and purity, and from whom, as his members, ye derive all knowledge and grace—it is therefore your duty and privilege, with perseverance and daily progress, to live and act before God like persons begotten of God by the light of the gospel, and enlightened and directed by the Word and Spirit of Christ. 9. Having a conversation answerable to the fruits produced and cherished by the Holy Ghost, which are directly contrary to what I have warned you against, and consist of everything kind and beneficial, and in rendering to God and men their respective dues, in a constant and steadfast adherence to the truths of the gospel, and in exact truth, integrity, and faithfulness, in all that ye say and do. 10. And by the assistance and light of the Spirit, trying and proving from the Scriptures what is well-pleasing to the Lord Christ, and heartily approving thereof, and practising it, as an evidence of your regard to it, and thus approving yourselves faithful servants and obedient children to Christ and his Father. 11. And that ye may walk as children of the light, avoid all partnership in, all countenancing or encouraging of, sinful practices, which are unprofitable and injurious, which proceed from ignorance of God, are shameful in themselves, often committed in secret, and leading to eternal misery; but by friendly, kind, and prudent admonitions of the guilty, and especially by your holy and circumspect conversation, expose their deformity, confute, reprove, and condemn them. 12. For it would put to the blush, and even shock, a religious, sober, and modest mind, so much as to mention, except in necessary reproof, several of the detestable practices which your heathen neighbours, unwilling to expose their own character, commit secretly in their idolatrous worship or otherwise. 13. But by the enlightening influence of the Word and Spirit of God, ye are enabled to discern the deformity of those sinful practices, and to live in a contrary manner—in order to convince your wicked neighbours, and shame them out of their wickedness. 14. Wherefore the Lord, in the Old Testament predictions relative to the calling of the Gentiles, plainly intimates that Christ's enlightening, quickening, comforting, and sanctifying influence is conveyed in the gospel call, and ought to be attended with your earnest endeavours to shake off your ignorance, stupidity, insensibility, and spiritual death—even as his quickening power was conveyed to dead persons in his calls to arise. 15. Take heed therefore that your whole conversation be accurate, exactly answerable to your Christian character, light, obligations, and the rule of God's Word, as under his all-seeing eye, and in view of enemies as well as friends—not as persons ignorant, injudicious, unwise, and heedless, but as those who are taught of God the truth as it is in Jesus, and who wisely avoid exposing yourselves to infamy or hurt, or giving any occasion of stumbling to others. 16. And see that, by a diligent and circumspect Christian walk, as being deeply affected with godly sorrow for your former misspending of time, you carefully improve every moment to the best advantage in the service of Christ, as if ye had dearly bought it out of the hand of sin, Satan, and the sloth, ease, and worldly business to which it was formerly devoted, and the rather as the times in which ye live are times of great immorality, ignorance, profaneness, and of persecution, trouble, and danger, in which both Jews and Gentiles wait for your halting, that they may speak evil against you, and against Jesus Christ and the gospel on your account. 17. Take heed therefore that ye no more act foolishly and inconsiderately in the matters of God and eternal salvation, nor needlessly expose yourselves to the malice and fury of your enemies, but conduct yourselves suitably to your Christian character; and endeavour, through divine grace, to live and act as those who understand and highly regard the will of Jesus Christ as the rule of the purity and prudence of your conversation. 18. And to prevent your falling into imprudent or abominable conduct, carefully avoid all unseasonable or immoderate use of intoxicating liquors, which cause us in an unmanly, nay, worse than brutal manner to profane and prostitute the bounties of providence, which enfeeble, defile, and disorder all the powers of both body and soul, and prompt to babbling, blasphemy, and all manner of madness and debauchery; but let it be your great concern to be filled with the influences, gifts, graces, and comforts of the Holy Ghost, which qualify for and excite to everything prudent, holy, and pleasant. 19. And either by yourselves or in fellowship with one another express the joys of your heart in singing psalms, songs, and hymns, which ye either find in Scripture, or are composed by holy persons, or those inspired among you—to the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his Father in him. 20. And always maintaining a grateful disposition of heart to God for all the mercies which ye receive—temporal, spiritual, or eternal, pleasant or painful—improve every occasion of expressing your thankfulness to God, the Father of Christ, and our Father in him, as the original source of these blessings, and through the person and mediation of Christ, who purchased and bestows them, and in whom alone our praises and prayers can be presented acceptably to God. 21. And directed, invited, and enabled by these influences of the Spirit, study a humble performance of all relative duties incumbent upon you in your natural, civil, public, or private stations of life, as persons who have the fear of God implanted in your hearts, and whose consciences are deeply awed and impressed with his authority in his Word, and with his exact observation of your conduct, and his future judgment. 22. Particularly do you believing wives pay all becoming reverence, honour, subjection, and obedience to your own husbands, who have, by the marriage-bond, devoted themselves to you, as your loving superiors; and always act herein as in the sight and presence of the Lord Christ, from love to his person, in obedience to his authority, and with an eye to his glory, and in the manner in which his people are subject to him. 23. For by the law of nature and marriage, the husband is constituted the head, guide, and guardian of the wife, in a manner somewhat similar to that in which Christ, as Mediator, is constituted the Head, Governor, and Protector of the church—in which relation he is their Saviour and Redeemer from everything sinful and wretched, and to everything truly honourable or happy. 24. As therefore the church is cheerfully and faithfully subject to the authority of Christ in all her spiritual concerns, so let wives, with meekness, willingness, and fidelity, be subject to their husbands in all things lawful in the Lord. 25. On the other hand, to procure the kind submission of your wives, see that you husbands never tyrannize over them, or be passionate or bitter against them, but by all gentle carriage, due honour, tender sympathy, and every other form of kind behaviour towards their soul and body, manifest the most endearing and ardent affection, in imitation of Christ, who so loved the church that he freely gave up himself to the most debased service, suffering, and death in her room, and for her spiritual and eternal benefit; 26. That by his blood and Spirit, through his Word, he might deliver all men from the guilt, power, and pollution of sin, and justify, renew, sanctify, and consecrate them to the service of God; 27. That having gradually sanctified and adorned them with his Spirit and grace, he might, in due time, place them in his immediate presence in heaven, entirely freed from every remainder of sin and trouble, holy and happy. 28. Influenced by and in imitation of this peculiar, superlative, and abiding love of Christ, husbands ought to love their wives sincerely, constantly, tenderly, and ardently as they do their own bodies, especially since everything they do for their welfare and comfort will turn out for their own. 29. For no reasonable man, out of enmity to the health, ease, or comfort of his own body, ever neglected or abused it, but, from a principle of natural affection, feeds, clothes, warms, and refreshes it; and so every husband ought to deal with his wife, who is one flesh with him—even as Christ, in his most affectionate love, takes care of his church, which he hath espoused to and made one with himself. 30. For we who believe in him are members of his mystical body, and, in a spiritual sense, are more closely united to him than ever Eve was to Adam, and derive all our grace and glory from his person, as crucified for and united to us. 31. The standing law of marriage mentioned by Adam immediately after the formation and espousals of Eve, requires such closeness of union and tenderness of affection between married persons, as if they were incorporated into one body, and were more to be regarded and loved than even parents themselves. 32. That close union between married persons, particularly Adam and Eve, was indeed an emblem of the spiritual union between Christ and his members, whom, as their Head and Husband, he animates, influences, rules, governs, and cares for in the most tender manner. 33. But in connection with this, it also implies that every husband ought to love his wife with the same sincere and singular affection as he does himself; and that every wife ought, with a conjugal love, to pay all becoming respect, honour, and obedience to her husband.

Ver. 4. Filthiness. Obscenity of speech.—Jesting. Lewd expressions, occasionally characterized as double entendre—in which, as Chandler well observes, 'indecency is couched in a witty turn, and becomes, by being considered witty, the more dangerous and corrupting.'—Not convenient. Not suitable to the Christian profession of purity and godliness. C.

Ver. 5. In the kingdom of Christ and of God. Rather, 'in the kingdom (of him who is) Christ and God.' See Middleton on the Greek Art., ch. iii. p. 93, 94. Lond. 1808. C.

Ver. 13. 'But they all (i.e. all those evil things done in secret, as mentioned in ver. 12) being reproved (or rebuked by contrast with the purity of Christian virtues), are made manifest (are shown to be sinful; the lurking evil is revealed) by the light (the light of Christian doctrine, Christian graces, and Christian character); for everything that is made manifest is light (it is not, and cannot be any longer dark; and consequently though evil deeds are done in darkness, and are thus kept secret, yet if light be shed upon them, their true character at once appears).' P.

Ver. 14. The apostle does not quote the words, but gives the meaning of the prophet—referring most probably to Is. 60. 1-3; see also 26. 19.—'Arise from (among) the dead.' C.

Ver. 16. Redeeming. 'Recovering the time lost in heathenism' (Saurin). 'Buying up the time—a most precious commodity (though by so many held cheap)—out of the hands of sin, Satan, ease, sloth, and worldly business—at the expense of self-denial, watchfulness, zeal, and diligence' (Benson). Is it not rather, making the most of the time, as he that sells an article to him that gives the highest price?—Because the days are evil—every fragment of existence being fraught with temptations to indolence, self-indulgence, fear of danger, desertion of duty: because the continuance of opportunity is uncertain, and, at the best, the period of life is short. C.

Ver. 18. Excess. Dissoluteness, whereby the reason being overwhelmed, and the passions excited and let loose, the door of the heart is opened for the entrance of every sin. There is most probably an allusion to the Bacchanalia, when men and women, under pretence of religion, gave themselves up to intoxication and the wildest revelry. C.

Ver. 19. The distinction of 'psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs' is not now certainly understood. The names might include other compositions besides those contained in the scriptural collection called David's, but they may also be confined to that collection; and surely before they be extended farther some authority beyond conjecture must be furnished. That the Ephesian converts and other primitive Christians employed nothing but the voice in their sacred music is attested by Justin, Respon. ad Orthodox. p. 107.—ἄνευ ὀργάνων, 'without musical instruments,' is his expression. C.

Ver. 21. This is the general injunction applicable to all ranks and conditions. Order and complete submission to law must characterize the Christian community. Having laid down the general principle, Paul gives three examples of its practical application: (1) In regard to husbands and wives; (2) Parents and children; (3) Masters and servants. P.

Ver. 23. Paul here, to prevent error or misunderstanding, adds this important particular, in which the comparison between Christ and the church on the one hand, and man and wife on the other, does not hold:—'He himself is the Saviour of the body.' Alford clearly develops the meaning: 'In Christ's case the headship is united with, nay, gained by, his having saved the body in the process of redemption. So that I am not alleging Christ's headship as one entirely identical with that other; for he has a claim to it and office in it peculiar to himself.' P.

Ver. 26. And cleanse it, &c. 'And cleanse it in the laver of (spiritual) water (revealed) in the Word.' See Is. 51. 1; Mat. 5. 6; Jn. 4. 14; 6. 35. C.

Ver. 32. This is a great mystery. From this phrase the church is theologically and properly denominated the mystical, in distinction from the personal, body of Christ.—Note, The church is Christ's body, because possessing with him one life and one Spirit, Col. 3. 4; Ep. 2. 18. C.

Reflections.—With readiness ought Christians to imitate Jesus Christ and his Father in their kindness and love to men. And the faith and sense of their redeeming love should make us carefully avoid all gross wickedness of every form, as utterly unworthy of our Christian character, privileges, and obligations, and as odious to God and ruinous to ourselves. A visible change of behaviour should be studied by all such as are awakened unto life by the powerful voice of Christ. Diligently should they avoid all fellowship with wicked persons or deeds, be watchful and circumspect in evil days, and use great care to improve time to the best advantage. Great should be our concern to have our heart filled with the Holy Ghost, and to live always under his comforting influences—in everything giving thanks to Christ, and to God through him. Earnestly should we labour to fulfil the duties of every station, from a principle of faith and filial fear of God. And happy are those families of which Christ is the centre, and his redeeming kindness the great pattern and motive of mutual behaviour!