The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 56

Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the know- ledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened ; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the snint.s, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly placllS, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, a.rid every no.me that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come : and he.th put all 1 nings under his feet, and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." This passage, which is confessedly :;:.:imewhat invol,ed and obscure in some of its expressions, may be homiletically Ti'-_:a.ded a.s illustrating apostolic philanthropy. There is a great deal of what is called l iiL-mt.hropy in this age. Most men who are candidates for public suffrage profess h• ieel its inspiration, and advocate its claims. Indeed, there are not a few who trade in its holy name. Under the co,er of serving their race, they gratify their own vanity ar;.d enrich their own coffers. Amongst so much of spurious philanthropy it may be well to take a glance at the genuine thing. Paul was a philanthropist of the true type; his love for his race was disinterested, self-sacrificing, and unconquerable. The passage before us gives us a glimpse of philanthropy as it existed in his noble soul. We observe- r. fus PHILA1'."TBBOPY REGABDED SPffiITUAL EXCELLENCE AS THE ESSENTIAL NECES- SITY OF lUNKIND. Two elements of spiritual exceilence a.re mentioned here, which must be regarded, not merely a.s the specimen of others, but as the root of all genuine g-oodness of heart. 1. P'l'actical faith in Ohrist. "Faith in the Lord Jesus." In the New Testament this is everywhere made the one thing needful. Faith in him is represented as essential in the moral restoration of man to the knowledge, image, and' fellowship of God; and both the philosophy of the human mind and the experience of mankind concur in demonstrating that practical faith in the Son of God can alone confer real and lasting good on man. 2. Genuine lO'lle /0'1' the good. "Love unto all the saints," i.e. all the genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. The love is virtuous, it is for ruen on account of their goodness-" saints." This love is catholic, it is for "all the saints." Xow, Paul regarded these two things as existing in the Ephesian Church as the most hopeful and essential things. He makes no reference to their secular education, to their mercantile progress, to their artistic improvements, to their political acivan.cement; he knew that these were comparatively useless without spiritual excel- lence, and that with spiritual excellence these would grow up to highest perfection. He looked to the reformation of SC1ule as that which was a good in itself, and which· a.lone could give value to any other reformation. • II. His PHILABTHBOPY LIVED IN THE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES OJ!' ms SOUL. ., Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." Observe three things concerning Paul's religious devotions. 1. They werii profoundlg reverential. How great did that God whom he worshipped appear to him I (1) "The God of our Lord Jesus." The God of that mighty Being who wrought such wonders when on this earth. (2) "The Father of glory." One who dwelt "in light which.,no man could approach unto." The central Fount of all honour and dignity. (3) The Dispenser of the Spirit. "Given unto you the Spirit," etc. Such is_ the God he worshipped. Great ideas of God geIJerate reverence in souls. 2. '1.'heg were wnaasing i-r. thanks and prayer. "Cease not to give thanks for you,'' etc. In prayer and supplication he made known his requesui to God. Unceasing thanks for the past, and prayer for the future, is the !ITand duty of aJ.J, and the happy life of Christians. 3. They were ever animated uitl~lcroe to men. ~ he appeared before this great God in worship, he bore the int.erest of the Church at Ephesus in his prayers. He presented Ephesus to the care and love of him who alone can save and bleu. True philanthropy has ever used, and must Her use, prayer a.s its chief instrument. The prayer of Abraham all but saved Sodom &:..c. Gomorrah. On the day of judgment it will be seen that the world's greatest bene- facron; were toe men of greatest prayer. ill liis PBILU'THROPY EA.B1'""ESTLY SOUGHT JUWS ADV.ANCEHENT IN BPffilTUAL n,TELLIGENCE. He desired the increase of their knowledge in three things. 1. In [Jiilir.e truth, He prayed that God" would give them a spirit of wisdom and revelation Oll, I. 1-23,] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS.