PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians
William Garden Blaikie [1820-1899] · 272,936 words · 299 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 121
us as fellow-members at all, but we are members notwithstanding, by ties which they have done nothing to creato and which they cannot undo by their exclusiveness or their bigotry. Yet all the members are really bound to each other by the tie of a commou life, for they live by faith in Obrist Jesus, and of a common ·lov…
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;:rner rn:in." It is not a. prayer for physical strength, which is a matter of slight moment in G'---J.'s sight.. though it is often made the subject of foolish boastincr aruon';,. men· nor for intel!c-..,rnal strength, which is a. much more importa.nt factor in htman life· b~t for "strength in the inuer man." This …
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Christ to" the boa.rt sprinkled from a.n evil conscience;" second, the opcnin~ of the windows of the understnndin~ to displace the tainted atmosphere of man's thouo-hts nnd ths kindling ?f the fire of love Divi~e in_the heart; third, the watchful closing up of t~tos~ avenu~s m the ~oul through which SID so easily finds…
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Vers. 18, 19.-2%e comprehension of the love of Ohrist. The true science for llldnt! is " Christ's love." I. CoNSIDEB TBIS LOVE A.S REPRESENTED m THE PASSAGE as to length, breadth, height, and depth. L These dimensions seem to imply infinity, It has been suggested that the apostle speaks as if standing in a centre, …
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Vers. 20, 21.-.A. great doxolo_qy. The apostle had exhausted all the forms of suppli- cation, and now he casts himself upon the very infinitude of God, which was able to supply more than the thoughts or desires of men could suggest in the sphere of prayer. I. TBE THEllil.E OF THE DOXOLllGY. It is no abstract ascriptio…
1,308 wordsSECTION 126The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 126
Secondly, os in this passage before us, be regards himself not only as hnrdly worthy of the name of an apostle, hut as less than the least of all saints. Having ranked all apostles above himself in the first instance, he now ranks all the saints above him. 'l'hen, thirdly, he puts himRelf below all other sinners, and d…
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of c0urse, their interest ; but it is the bringing of the different peoples of the earth into the glorious unity of the Church of God which so strikes the attention of the heavenly world. The Divine society which is gathering round Jesus is the most instructive exhibition of God's purposes which the heavenly world can …
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our holy comprehension, which ca.n never be exhausted. "The believer" says A. Monad "who ha.a been represented j1.1st now a.s rooted and grounded in the lo;e of the Lord, i~ here represented a.s enveloped on all sides by this love, which extends itself in all directions a.round him beyond the limits of vision. Suspende…
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pointed to their being bu.U in. They were, thererore, objects for iutcrt:cssion, such as their hMthen ancestors had not been. 2. His relation to them. He did not stand at an out.:ide, but in the closest relation to them, such a.s brouaht with it the obli"ation on bis part to pray for them. (1) He had a relanon. to t…
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given them the opportunity, when they should" read," of perceiving his understanding of the mystery. And thus, through his communication to them of what he had got immediately from Gou, they would have the satisfaction of seeing for them.selves wbao the truth was. 3.. It was a time when others were fccvoured with revel…
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stantly look for the raising up of men to do its work. It is power to which the greatest sinners may be_ pointed for their conversion to God. In magnifying the Divine power, Panl_ humbles himself.. ~ut not thus does his feelin~ of humility (which none need to cultwa.te more than mm1sters) find adequate expression. I…
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the gospel introduces a. radical change of feeling. "For the law of the Spirit of life i,1 Ghrist Jesus ha.th made me free from the law of sin and death." And is it not golden to have fine feeling-feeling in which there is no sinful element, but only the fine grain of holiness; to have devoutest reverence and tenderest…
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to us (as to the including of the Gentiles) was mystery to them also, being hidden to both in God. They were at a loss to understand what the development of things under the gospel was to be. Du~ they ~ere taught by the events. Now through the Chu\"ch was made known the mamfold WISdom of God. The Church was not to b…
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Wisdom of God, so we may expect to see in his Church a wisdom manifold as himself. What an element in the scheme of redemption, that the Redeemer was a Divine Bein" in human nature I How justice and mercy are reconciled in his cross I How sin i~ forgiven while God at the same time manifests his detestation of it I How …
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a family thl're enters the idea of n hMd with a certain subordination to the head. There also eate.rs the idea of a srecial affection existing between tho members of the same family. X,,w, t!,e whole of this conceptfon hns its oridnation in Godhead. It is fn,m G,-.i that ..m~r:· family in heaven and on earth is nam~…
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grounded in love. And this, we are taught here, is only possible by our believing in Christ. For lovo is in Christ, as Christ in us. As believing, then, is rooting and grounding ourselves in Christ, so it must mean rooting and grounding in love-gettir,::; down into the eternal substratum of all being. And we ask for …
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that worketh in us." We adore God as a~ to do for us in answer to our prayers. It is ~ted of us that we ask, that is, actually desire the blessing, and express the desire. But, beyond all that we ask, there is what we think, that is, what comes into our mind as to what we should desire and express. Now, God is able to …
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were for the men he endeavoured to help. "All for you Gentiles." We offer three remarks concerning his vicarious sufferings, as a true gospel minister. 1. They were intense. What agony of mind is involved in the expression, " For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen accord.in" …
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himself. It is the glory of man that he can receive ideas from the great God himself. He has what no other creature under heaven has-the capacity to take in the thought, of the Infinite. It is essential to a true minister that he does this. He cannot offer any spiritual help t-0 humanity unless he does so. His own i…
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that they should study the manifold wisdom of God. (3) That the Christian Church affords them a grand opportunity for studying this glorious subject. The Church is the effect, the manifestation, and the organ of God's manifold or diversified wisdom. (4) That the use of the Church for this object was according to the et…
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the Fat.her." In the New Testament the fatherhood of God is revealed, Christ Bfeaks of him as the Father, and in his ideal prayer he is addressed as "Our Father.' In this ch~racter Paul her~ nd~n:sses him. \ye see good reason for this. (1) It makes the Object of prayer intelligible to the rumd. Infinite Creator univ…
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immeasurable;" Who by searching can find it ont?" And yet, though it passeth the knowledge of the intellect, there ie a sense in which it can and must be known- knowc. as a matter of consciousness, known as an all-controlling power. "The love of Christ conetraineth us; because we thus judge," etc. 5. The reaching of Di…
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incarnate, suffered, bled, and died. For them the Holy Spirit is in oonstant operation, "All things work together for thefr good." None have engaged so muoh of tho Divine attention as they; none have been recipients of such Divine mercies as they; none are so deep in debt as they. Their hallelujahs ought to be more …
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The immortal dreamer had large liberty in Bedford jail when he travelled to the Beulah heights and almost as far as the gates of the celestial city. JV. THE PRISONER WHO SUFFERS FOB A GOOD CAUSE LAY~ GREAT OBLIGATIONS UPON ALL WHO BENEFIT FROM IT. St. Paul quietly appeals to his imprisonment as a ground for prayer (ve…
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wil of mystery tv pre-.ent a little child from seel.ng the beauty within. The riches of Christ are unsearchable simply because they al'e so nbundnut and so various thnt no man c3Il e,er measure the extent, or count the number, or distinguish all the forms of them. For near upon nineteen centuries this great treasury…
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philosophy is the attempt of man to spell ont some of the ideas of God. What wisdom was requisite for the creation of the world and the ordering of all things, from tho movements of a star down to the life of a cell! What wisdom is involved in the govern- ment of the world, maintaining life and gladness, developing t…
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only be rightly contemplated under spiritual a.id; but the true understanding of it will be fruitful in rich blessings. I. T~ OBEAT MYSTERY o_F THE LOVE OF CHRIST, Everything in Christ is wonderful, but nothing more so than his love. The multitude were astonished at his miraculous powers. Keen e.nte.gonists were confo…
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I. CB:R='s r=-.:xa IS RU.L. It mnot eMugh thrit. he should be with us only as "the choir iu,is.ible" of the dcp.vted great are near; i.e. in our memory·and in his influenC<'. We are not satisfied with having bis spirlt among us in the sense in which the spirit of Plato and the spirit of Shakespeare are _still with t…
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answer tho.t tumeth away wrath. Long- parison : o.s Teacher, o.11 hang on his word.i ; suffol'iug nnd loving forbearance are phases o.s Master, all own his supreme nuthority; to of the ea.me state of mind-denoting the his exo.mple o.11 refer ns the standard; hid o.bsence of that ira.scibility and proneness to likeness …
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i;et.s for the good of the re.st; the Church is a ,er. 10.-Re that desoended is the same fe:lowship or brotherhood, where each has an also that ascended far above all the heavens. inte=t in all and nll in each, and is bound There was a proportion between the descent to act accordingly. e.od the asceut. His descent w…
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setting it up, o.nd e.s all Christian history for the gifts for these offices were not con- he.a katified, they were o. marvellous gift of tinued, and without the gifts the offices are Christ to his Church. And some, prophets. impossible. The meaning- is that, till tho Next to the o.poatles in point of value, as event …
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by nu_, pl:rn~ihl<- rer.:,,n thnt profe.."SeS to be articulated to one auother (this prooess a Christi,rn ten<'her, and such persons are being oontinuous; seo present po.rtioiples, ortC':i 'l"ery dnngel\mS, working by the sleigh& ""J'Ol'll'oA.o')'Oilµ•vov nud uuv/31/Ja(oµ,vov). In of ,:;,,,n, i.a. tho <'lmning leger…
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for its nouri~hmcnt, love for its ntmosphere, wo.s and is something dreadful. Many of oJHl Cln'ist for its Head. them gave themselves to it o.s a business, V ers. 17-24.....:...CoNSl'RASTED PRINC!l'LES worked o.t it as o.t a trade or cmplovmcn t Oil' GENTILE AND CamSTI.AN CHARACTER. (seo Uhlmo.nn's • Conflict of Cl,ri…
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ness." Whfohis rotting &O(lordinrto the luata Ver. 25--ob. v. 2.-RAoa 011' TD OLD of deoeit. The present participle, ~ip6- MAN AND RoaES OF THE N11:w. ,,.,,,.,v, indiC\'ltes cont.innl\nre or progress in Ver. 25.-Wherefore, putting away fala► com1pti,,n. Sin is n disintegrating dis- hood, speak every man truth with h…
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seemly Blways to fell BBleep in the same should e.lwe.ys be such e.s befits their pro- temper. fession, e.nd tends to help on the exalted Ver. 27.-Neither give plaoe to the devil. objects e.t which they aim. Place or room, opportunity and scope for Ver. 30.-And grieve not the Holy Spirit noting in and through you. 'fh…
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posed to bitterness, wrath,, anger; :J]ongel). to the great orroi:: that the Father personally Kind (xp,,,,--ro[), sweet, amiable in disposi- was not disposed to forgive • till he was tion, subduing all that is harsh and hasty, preveiled ou to do so by the interposition encouraging all that is gentle o.nd good; of t…
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thought nothing of in the worldly. If wha.t David did in re Uriah bad been done by Nebuchadnezzar, no one would have said anything. A consistent walk is, by God's help, within.the reach of all. It is an impressive sermon to the world, a continual sermon, a.n unanswerable sermon. Let all preach this sermon, though it be…
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The marks of Christ's care for bis Church are innumerabfo; they recede back through nil et.l'rnity i,.nd fonrnrd for evermore (eh. iii. 18, 19). His death marked the climax of his srlf-s~crifice; but e,·on that did not end Christ's service for his Church. For her he 1wt ,mly descended from heaven to earth, but for h…
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Obrist has a work of perfection on hand. 'l'his denoted by-" for the perfecting of the saints" (ver. 12), and "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the ful- ness of Christ" (ver. 13). What a high aim with reference to creatures so poor a1,<l needy as the members of his Church! 11. In order to this…
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urging you to use the means towards it, Accept aud improve these movements of the Spirit within you. (3) In this way, "put on the new man," and especially encourage and seek t-0 have developed these two features of the new creation-rio-hteousness and holiness. Righteousness, including int.egrity, honest., true, fair…
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-Ethics after theology. The doctrinal part of the Epistle is now finished and the practical part begins. This is the true and natural order. l. IT IS IN THE SPHERE OF THE DOCTRINAL THAT WE FIND THE POWER TIIAT CAB.RIES US THROUGH ALL PRACTICAL DUTIES. In all the Epistles the duties…
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specially needful in the Church; for their opposites; pride, irascibility, and impatience do much to create heart-burning and division. I. LoWLINESS OF MIND. 1. Its tuiture. It is that deep humility, as opposed t1, pride, arrogance, and_ conceit, which is produ~ by a right sense of our weakness, 1gnornnce, an~ depe…
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contemptuous inuifference, but from that love which" suffereth Ion", and is kind." It is "charity which covercth a muHitude of sins," just as surely as'?, hatred stirreth up strife" (Prov. x. 12). It would be impossible to secure the eq uauimity of life if the principle of forbearance, prompted and guided by love, were…
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Vers. 4-6.-Tlie sevenfold unity. The apostle proceeds to state the nature and [;rounds of the unity which is to be so oaretully guarded. It has its basis in the fact that the Church is one, and does not consist of two rival societies. I. "THERE IS ONE BODY." The body with_its many members and its many funo. t ions …
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manner, and it is in all a faith that "purifieth the heart," "worketh by love," and "overcometh the world." It is not, therefore, an external unity that this faith builds up, but a union of a. spiritual character, wrought by the grace of God. This principle or grace of faith has a thoroughly uniting tendency, because i…
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Ven,.. ~10.-~ Sowrm <f all UUJ gifts. It is Christ himself in virtue of his enltati.:on. l. THE AscJn.-sroN THE GROUND ALlKB OF THE FOUNDING, THE PRESERVATION, AND THE PERFECTIO~ OF THE CmnlCH. This historic circumstance is the sequel of our LC1~ci's rernrrection from the dead, and can only be rightly appreciated b…
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least two inspired orders of teachers-and make no similar provi~ion for all future generations ?-T. C. Ver. i2.-771e design of t!u, ministry. It is to perfect the saints for Christian seryice and for sharing in the edification of the Church. The ministry is intende<l. to "equip or prepare for future enterprise by mean…
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appointed to bring the Church forward to maturity, and therefore it is concerned to carry it safely through the intermediate stages. We are consequently warned not to continue children, but to advance steadfastly towards manhood, There are two faults hintai at by the apostle. I. Clm.DREN ARE APT _TO BE UNSTABLE, "T…
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members of Christ's body must keep rank and order, acting within their own sphere with due wisdom, harmony, and love, the eye not doing the work of the hand, nor the hand the work of the foot, but abiding each in his own calling. IV. THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL ACTION OF EACH MEMBER. "According to the effectual working in …
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plunges int-0 all forms of impurity, with the spirit of covetousness, aa if he could never be satisfied with sinning, but sought ever new enormities of lawless desire. This is, in brief, the tremendous picture of hca.thenism given by an inspired apostle.-T. O. , ers. 20-24.-In Christ Oie tro,isitr"on effeded from tAe …
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L TnE soOUL DUTl.. "Speak every man truth with his neighbour." What i/1 truth? There is truth as opposed to falsehood, which is an express intention to deceive. There is truth of character, which is opposed to insincerity. Both kinds of truth are manifest in three circumstances-in common conversation, in bearing testi-…
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Let them not tolera~e li&rs in their society (Ps. ci. 7). 2. Mnrk how religion ten.de to :promote the well-being and comfurt of society. Truth is the cement of society. 8. l,emember that thti devil is the father of liars (John viii. 44), and that "whosoever i.,,erh and ma.keLh a lie" shall not enter the heavenly Jeruss…
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that such an admonition should be addressed to believers. It is no more strange than admonitions against fornication. "Flee fornication" (1 Cor. vi. 18). It is a warning against dishonesty, which often assumes insidious disguises that conceal the true character of the injury done to our neighbours. l. THEFT IS ONE OF …
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Ver. 30.-~in and ingratit~ of grieving the Spirit of God. 'l'he apostle, as if to • show the senons consequence ,of corrupt speech in a Christian says "Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God." That would be a most deplorable result. ' ' I. CONSIDER WHAT IS IMPLIED IN THIS ACT. 1. It implies the holy personality of the Th…
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V. EVIL-SPEAKING. This points to the licence of speech which wounds the reputa- tion of others. It is an outrage alike upon truth and charity. VI. MALICE. This marks the rooted enmity out of which all the five forms of evil naturally spring.. It has been remarked that their genealogical relationship is manifest in the…
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from his iD~rcession to admonish the Ephesian Christians about the necessity of oulti- TI\ting lcrwline&ll of mind and mutual consideration, that in the Churoh there may be preserved "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." It is plain from the verses that follow that Paul's conviction was that the Divine glo…
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inability to make up our minds a.bout the essential doctrines of the faith. If we arc tossed about ~ke vessels 1:1nmoored, if w~ are a prey to designing and cunning men, wo cannot contribute anything to the unity of the Church. 2. Our development will enable us to be communicative and so far edifying. (Vera. 15, 16.) F…
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heathen could not be calculated on; and what Wll.S true in Paul's time is true still. The testimony of missionaries is to this effect, that you cannot rely on the word of the heathen. An interesting fact may here be quoted in illustration. "A Christian Santai wa$ once going through several villages to make an extens…
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are established. But it is to be observed that " the apostle does not honour all industry: far from it. He always reprobates the covetous, moncy-"etting 0 spirit. He even says, ' The love of money is the root of all evil,' and he calls covetousness idolatry. . . . He admires industry, but it must he industry which…
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~is.n.t men shoul<l: (although it be false) ~lie_,~ themselves born of the gods, that theu minds, thence bear~.ng a confidence of their drnne extraction, may more boldly under- take fY8St enterpnses, pun,-ue them more earnestly, s.n.d hence accomplish them more happi:y, from the security the conceit produccth." It i…
973 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.