1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
1 Be G1096 ye G3402 therefore G3767 followers G3402 of God, G2316 as G5613 dear G27 children; G5043
2 And G2532 walk G4043 in G1722 love, G26 as G2531 Christ G5547 also G2532 hath loved G25 us, G2248 and G2532 hath given G3860 himself G1438 for G5228 us G2257 an offering G4376 and G2532 a sacrifice G2378 to God G2316 for G1519 a sweetsmelling G2175 savour. G3744
3 But G2532 fornication, G4202 and G1161 all G3956 uncleanness, G167 or G2228 covetousness, G4124 let it G3687 not be once G3366 named G3687 among G1722 you, G5213 as G2531 becometh G4241 saints; G40
4 Neither G2532 filthiness, G151 nor G2532 foolish talking, G3473 nor G2228 jesting, G2160 which G3588 are G433 not G3756 convenient: G433 but G235 rather G3123 giving of thanks. G2169
5 For G1063 this G5124 ye know, G2075 G1097 that G3754 no G3756 G3956 whoremonger, G4205 nor G2228 unclean person, G169 nor G2228 covetous man, G4123 who G3739 is G2076 an idolater, G1496 hath G2192 any inheritance G2817 in G1722 the kingdom G932 of Christ G5547 and G2532 of God. G2316
6 Let G538 no man G3367 deceive G538 you G5209 with vain G2756 words: G3056 for G1063 because G1223 of these things G5023 cometh G2064 the wrath G3709 of God G2316 upon G1909 the children G5207 of disobedience. G543
7 Be G1096 not G3361 ye G1096 therefore G3767 partakers G4830 with them. G846
8 For G1063 ye were G2258 sometimes G4218 darkness, G4655 but G1161 now G3568 are ye light G5457 in G1722 the Lord: G2962 walk G4043 as G5613 children G5043 of light: G5457
9 (For G1063 the fruit G2590 of the Spirit G4151 is in G1722 all G3956 goodness G19 and G2532 righteousness G1343 and G2532 truth;) G225
10 Proving G1381 what G5101 is G2076 acceptable G2101 unto the Lord. G2962
11 And G2532 have G4790 no G3361 fellowship G4790 with the unfruitful G175 works G2041 of darkness, G4655 but G1161 rather G3123 G2532 reprove G1651 them.
12 For G1063 it is G2076 a shame G149 even G2532 to speak G3004 of those things G2931 which are done G1096 of G5259 them G846 in secret. G2931
13 But G1161 all things G3956 that are reproved G1651 are made manifest G5319 by G5259 the light: G5457 for G1063 whatsoever G3956 doth make manifest G5319 is G2076 light. G5457
14 Wherefore G1352 he saith, G3004 Awake thou G1453 that sleepest, G2518 and G2532 arise G450 from G1537 the dead, G3498 and G2532 Christ G5547 shall give G2017 thee G4671 light. G2017
15 See G991 then G3767 that G4459 ye walk G4043 circumspectly, G199 not G3361 as G5613 fools, G781 but G235 as G5613 wise, G4680
16 Redeeming G1805 the time, G2540 because G3754 the days G2250 are G1526 evil. G4190
17 Wherefore G1223 G5124 be ye G1096 not G3361 unwise, G878 but G235 understanding G4920 what G5101 the will G2307 of the Lord G2962 is.
18 And G2532 be G3182 not G3361 drunk G3182 with wine, G3631 wherein G1722 G3739 is G2076 excess; G810 but G235 be filled G4137 with G1722 the Spirit; G4151
19 Speaking G2980 to yourselves G1438 in psalms G5568 and G2532 hymns G5215 and G2532 spiritual G4152 songs, G5603 singing G103 and G2532 making melody G5567 in G1722 your G5216 heart G2588 to the Lord; G2962
20 Giving thanks G2168 always G3842 for G5228 all things G3956 unto God G2316 and G2532 the Father G3962 in G1722 the name G3686 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ; G5547
21 Submitting yourselves G5293 one to another G240 in G1722 the fear G5401 of God. G2316
22 Wives, G1135 submit yourselves G5293 unto your own G2398 husbands, G435 as G5613 unto the Lord. G2962
23 For G3754 the husband G435 is G2076 the head G2776 of the wife, G1135 even G2532 as G5613 Christ G5547 is the head G2776 of the church: G1577 and G2532 he G846 is G2076 the saviour G4990 of the body. G4983
24 Therefore G235 as G5618 the church G1577 is subject G5293 unto Christ, G5547 so G3779 G2532 let the wives G1135 be to their own G2398 husbands G435 in G1722 every thing. G3956
25 Husbands, G435 love G25 your G1438 wives, G1135 even as G2531 Christ G5547 also G2532 loved G25 the church, G1577 and G2532 gave G3860 himself G1438 for G5228 it; G846
26 That G2443 he might sanctify G37 and cleanse it G2511 with the washing G3067 of water G5204 by G1722 the word, G4487
27 That G2443 he might present G3936 it G846 to himself G1438 a glorious G1741 church, G1577 not G3361 having G2192 spot, G4696 or G2228 wrinkle, G4512 or G2228 any G5100 such thing; G5108 but G235 that G2443 it should be G5600 holy G40 and G2532 without blemish. G299
28 So G3779 ought G3784 men G435 to love G25 their G1438 wives G1135 as G5613 their own G1438 bodies. G4983 He that loveth G25 his G1438 wife G1135 loveth G25 himself. G1438
29 For G1063 no man G3762 ever yet G4218 hated G3404 his own G1438 flesh; G4561 but G235 nourisheth G1625 and G2532 cherisheth G2282 it, G846 even as G2531 G2532 the Lord G2962 the church: G1577
30 For G3754 we are G2070 members G3196 of his G846 body, G4983 of G1537 his G846 flesh, G4561 and G2532 of G1537 his G846 bones. G3747
31 For G473 this cause G5127 shall G2641 a man G444 leave G2641 his G846 father G3962 and G2532 mother, G3384 and G2532 shall be joined G4347 unto G4314 his G846 wife, G1135 and G2532 they two G1417 shall be G2071 one G1519 G3391 flesh. G4561
32 This G5124 is G2076 a great G3173 mystery: G3466 but G1161 I G1473 speak G3004 concerning G1519 Christ G5547 and G1519 G2532 the church. G1577
33 Nevertheless G4133 G2532 let G25 every one G1520 G1538 of you G5210 in particular G2596 so G3779 love G25 his G1438 wife G1135 even as G5613 himself; G1438 and G1161 the wife G1135 see that G2443 she reverence G5399 her husband. G435
1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;
11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;
12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
14 Wherefore `he' saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, `be in subjection' unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, `being' himself the saviour of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so `let' the wives also `be' to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious `church', not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:
29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
30 because we are members of his body.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and `let' the wife `see' that she fear her husband.
1 Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,
2 and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,
3 and whoredom, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
4 also filthiness, and foolish talking, or jesting, -- the things not fit -- but rather thanksgiving;
5 for this ye know, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, hath no inheritance in the reign of the Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the anger of God upon the sons of the disobedience,
7 become not, then, partakers with them,
8 for ye were once darkness, and now light in the Lord; as children of light walk ye,
9 for the fruit of the Spirit `is' in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth,
10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord,
11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of the darkness and rather even convict,
12 for the things in secret done by them it is a shame even to speak of,
13 and all the things reproved by the light are manifested, for everything that is manifested is light;
14 wherefore he saith, `Arouse thyself, thou who art sleeping, and arise out of the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.'
15 See, then, how exactly ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil;
17 because of this become not fools, but -- understanding what `is' the will of the Lord,
18 and be not drunk with wine, in which is dissoluteness, but be filled in the Spirit,
19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the God and Father;
21 subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear of God.
22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord,
23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ `is' head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body,
24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also `are' the wives to their own husbands in everything.
25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it,
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed `it' with the bathing of the water in the saying,
27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished;
28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife -- himself he doth love;
29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord -- the assembly,
30 because members we are of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones;
31 `for this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife, and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh;'
32 this secret is great, and I speak in regard to Christ and to the assembly;
33 but ye also, every one in particular -- let each his own wife so love as himself, and the wife -- that she may reverence the husband.
1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children,
2 and walk in love, even as the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or unbridled lust, let it not be even named among you, as it becomes saints;
4 and filthiness and foolish talking, or jesting, which are not convenient; but rather thanksgiving.
5 For this ye are [well] informed of, knowing that no fornicator, or unclean person, or person of unbridled lust, who is an idolater, has inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with vain words, for on account of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore fellow-partakers with them;
8 for ye were once darkness, but now light in [the] Lord; walk as children of light,
9 (for the fruit of the light [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth,)
10 proving what is agreeable to the Lord;
11 and do not have fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather also reprove [them],
12 for the things that are done by them in secret it is shameful even to say.
13 But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he says, Wake up, [thou] that sleepest, and arise up from among the dead, and the Christ shall shine upon thee.
15 See therefore how ye walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 For this reason be not foolish, but understanding what [is] the will of the Lord.
18 And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks at all times for all things to him [who is] God and [the] Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting yourselves to one another in [the] fear of Christ.
22 Wives, [submit yourselves] to your own husbands, as to the Lord,
23 for a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ [is] head of the assembly. *He* [is] Saviour of the body.
24 But even as the assembly is subjected to the Christ, so also wives to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it,
26 in order that he might sanctify it, purifying [it] by the washing of water by [the] word,
27 that *he* might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless.
28 So ought men also to love their own wives as their own bodies: he that loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly:
30 for we are members of his body; [we are of his flesh, and of his bones.]
31 Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh.
32 This mystery is great, but *I* speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly.
33 But *ye* also, every one of you, let each so love his own wife as himself; but as to the wife [I speak] that she may fear the husband.
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 Therefore don't be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
10 proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord.
11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that is revealed is light.
14 Therefore he says, "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;
30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31 "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh."
32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
1 Let it then be your desire to be like God, as well-loved children;
2 And be living in love, even as Christ had love for you, and gave himself up for us, an offering to God for a perfume of a sweet smell.
3 But evil acts of the flesh and all unclean things, or desire for others' property, let it not even be named among you, as is right for saints;
4 And let there be no low behaviour, or foolish talk, or words said in sport, which are not right, but in place of them the giving of praise.
5 Being certain of this, that no man who gives way to the passions of the flesh, no unclean person, or one who has desire for the property of others, or who gives worship to images, has any heritage in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Do not be turned from the right way by foolish words; for because of these things the punishment of God comes on those who do not put themselves under him.
7 Have no part with such men;
8 For you at one time were dark, but now are light in the Lord: let your behaviour be that of children of light
9 (Because the fruit of the light is in all righteousness and in everything which is good and true),
10 Testing by experience what is well-pleasing to the Lord;
11 And have no company with the works of the dark, which give no fruit, but make their true quality clear;
12 For the things which are done by them in secret it is shame even to put into words.
13 But all things, when their true quality is seen, are made clear by the light: because everything which is made clear is light.
14 For this reason he says, Be awake, you who are sleeping, and come up from among the dead, and Christ will be your light.
15 Take care then how you are living, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 Making good use of the time, because the days are evil.
17 For this reason, then, do not be foolish, but be conscious of the Lord's pleasure.
18 And do not take overmuch wine by which one may be overcome, but be full of the Spirit;
19 Joining with one another in holy songs of praise and of the Spirit, using your voice in songs and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving praise at all times for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
21 Letting yourselves be ruled by one another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
24 And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things.
25 Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it;
26 So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word,
27 And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete.
28 Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself:
29 For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church;
30 Because we are parts of his body.
31 For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.
32 This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.
33 But do you, everyone, have love for his wife, even as for himself; and let the wife see that she has respect for her husband.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ephesians 5
Commentary on Ephesians 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
We had several important exhortations in the close of the foregoing chapter, and they are continued in this: particularly,
Eph 5:1-2
Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;' for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themselves to his example, and have his image renewed upon them. This puts a great honour upon practical religion, that it is the imitating of God. We must be holy as God is holy, merciful as he is merciful, perfect as he is perfect. But there is no one attribute of God more recommended to our imitation than that of his goodness. Be you imitators of God, or resemble him, in every grace, and especially in his love, and in his pardoning goodness. God is love; and those that dwell in love dwell in God and God in them. Thus he has proclaimed his name, Gracious and merciful, and abundant in goodness. As dear children, as children (who are wont to be greatly beloved by their parents) usually resemble them in the lineaments and features of their faces, and in the dispositions and qualities of their minds; or as becomes the children of God, who are beloved and cherished by their heavenly Father. Children are obliged to imitate their parents in what is good, especially when dearly beloved by them. The character that we bear of God's children obliges us to resemble him, especially in his love and goodness, in his mercy and readiness to forgive. And those only are God's dear children who imitate him in these. It follows, And walk in love, v. 2. This godlike grace should conduct and influence our whole conversation, which is meant by walking in it. It should be the principle from which we act; it should direct the ends at which we aim. We should be more careful to give proof of the sincerity of our love one to another. As Christ also hath loved us. Here the apostle directs us to the example of Christ, whom Christians are obliged to imitate, and in whom we have an instance of the most free and generous love that ever was, that great love wherewith he hath loved us. We are all joint sharers in that love, and partakers of the comfort of it, and therefore should love one another, Christ having loved us all and given such proof of his love to us; for he hath given himself for us. The apostle designedly enlarges on the subject; for what can yield us more delightful matter for contemplation than this? Christ gave himself to die for us; and the death of Christ was the great sacrifice of atonement: An offering and a sacrifice to God; or an offering, even a sacrifice-a propitiatory sacrifice, to expiate our guilt, which had been prefigured in the legal oblations and sacrifices; and this for a sweet-smelling savour. Some observe that the sin-offerings were never said to be of a sweet-smelling savour; but this is said of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. As he offered himself with a design to be accepted of God, so God did accept, was pleased with, and appeased by, that sacrifice. Note, As the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious with God, so his example should be prevailing with us, and we should carefully copy after it.
Eph 5:3-20
These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. Fornication is folly committed between unmarried persons. All uncleanness includes all other sorts of filthy lusts, which were too common among the Gentiles. Or covetousness, which being thus connected, and mentioned as a thing which should not be once named, some understand it, in the chaste style of the scripture, of unnatural lust; while others take it in the more common sense, for an immoderate desire of gain or an insatiable love of riches, which is spiritual adultery; for by this the soul, which was espoused to God, goes astray from him, and embraces the bosom of a stranger, and therefore carnal worldlings are called adulterers: You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Now these sins must be dreaded and detested in the highest degree: Let it not be once named among you, never in a way of approbation nor without abhorrence, as becometh saints, holy persons, who are separated from the world, and dedicated unto God. The apostle not only cautions against the gross acts of sin, but against what some may be apt to make light of, and think to be excusable. Neither filthiness (v. 4), by which may be understood all wanton and unseemly gestures and behaviour; nor foolish talking, obscene and lewd discourse, or, more generally, such vain discourse as betrays much folly and indiscretion, and is far from edifying the hearers; nor jesting. The Greek word eutrapelia is the same which Aristotle, in his Ethics, makes a virtue: pleasantness of conversation. And there is no doubt an innocent and inoffensive jesting, which we cannot suppose the apostle here forbids. Some understand him of such scurrilous and abusive reflections as tend to expose others and to make them appear ridiculous. This is bad enough: but the context seems to restrain it to such pleasantry of discourse as is filthy and obscene, which he may also design by that corrupt, or putrid and rotten, communication that he speaks of, ch. 4:29. Of these things he says, They are not convenient. Indeed there is more than inconvenience, even a great deal of mischief, in them. They are so far from being profitable that they pollute and poison the hearers. But the meaning is, Those things do not become Christians, and are very unsuitable to their profession and character. Christians are allowed to be cheerful and pleasant; but they must be merry and wise. The apostle adds, But rather giving of thanks: so far let the Christian's way of mirth be from that of obscene and profane wit, that he may delight his mind, and make himself cheerful, by a grateful remembrance of God's goodness and mercy to him, and by blessing and praising him on account of these. Note,
Eph 5:21-33
Here the apostle begins his exhortation to the discharge of relative duties. As a general foundation for these duties, he lays down that rule v. 21. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens: not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. Paul was an example of this truly Christian temper, for he became all things to all men. We must be of a yielding and of a submissive spirit, and ready to all the duties of the respective places and stations that God has allotted to us in the world. In the fear of God, that is, so far as is consistent with the fear of God, for his sake, and out of conscience towards him, and that hereby we may give proof that we truly fear him. Where there is this mutual condescension and submission, the duties of all relations will be the better performed. From v. 22 to the end he speaks of the duties of husbands and wives; and he speaks of these in a Christian manner, setting the church as an example of the wife's subjection, and Christ as an example of love in husbands.
After this, the apostle concludes this part of his discourse with a brief summary of the duty of husbands and wives, v. 33. "Nevertheless (though there be such a secret mystical sense, yet the plain literal sense concerns you) let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, with such a sincere, peculiar, singular, and prevailing affection as that is which he bears to himself. And the wife see that she reverence her husband.' Reverence consists of love and esteem, which produce a care to please, and of fear, which awakens a caution lest just offence be given. That the wife thus reverence her husband is the will of God and the law of the relation.