Ephesians 5
SIBVer. 1.** Let therefore the astonishing kindness and forgiving mercy of God your Father, and his Spirit, excite you, as his beloved and loving children, begotten and adopted by him, to imitate him in exercising all kindness and forgiveness one towards another
Ephesians 5:2
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 us who believe; and, in manifestation thereof, has freely become our Surety, and yielded up his great and infinite Self to the most debased service and terrible death for us, as an expiatory sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, to the highest honour and delight of all his perfections
Ephesians 5:3
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
Ephesians 5:4
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
Ephesians 5:5
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 139 155* 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
Ephesians 5:6
Let no Gentile philosopher, Jewish corruptor 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
Ephesians 5:7
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 every thing kind and beneficial, and in rendering to God and men their respective dues, in a constant and stedfast adherence to the truths of the gospel, and in exact truth, integrity, and faithfulness, in all that ye say and do
Ephesians 5:10
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 of Christ and his Father
Ephesians 5:11
And, that ye may walk as children of the light, avoid all partnership in, all countenancing or encouragement 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
Ephesians 5:13
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
Ephesians 5:14
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
Ephesians 5:15
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 an occasion of stumbling to others
Ephesians 5:16
And see that, by a diligent and circumspect Christian walk, as being deeply affected with godly sorrow for your former mis-spending 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, case, 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
Ephesians 5:17
Take heed, therefore, that ye no more act foolishly and inconsiderately in the matters of God and eternal 13 A 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
Ephesians 5:18
And, to prevent your falling into imprudent or abominable conduct, carefully avoid all unseasonable or immoderate use of intoxicating liquors, which causes us in an unmanly, nay, worse than brutal, manner to profane and prostitute the bounties of providence, which enfeebles, defiles, and disorders, all the powers of both body and soul, and prompts 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 every thing prudent, holy, and pleasant
Ephesians 5:19
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
Ephesians 5:20
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
Ephesians 5:21
And, directed, obliged, and enabled, by these influences of the Spirit, study an 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
Ephesians 5:22
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
Ephesians 5:23
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 every thing sinful and wretched, and to every thing truly honourable or happy
Ephesians 5:24
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
Ephesians 5:25
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 her members 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
Ephesians 5:28
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 every thing they do for their welfare and comfort will turn out for their own
Ephesians 5:29
For no reasonable man, out of enmity to the heath, 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
Ephesians 5:31
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
Ephesians 5:32
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
Ephesians 5:33
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
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. V.—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 every thing 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