The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 138

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" to the flesh" I According to Dean Alford, Dr. Wordsworth, Professor Plumptre, Jowett and our best critics, this ~eans su~h a.n agonizing ~esi!e for the salvation of men as'would prompt the most terrible sa.cn:fices to accomplish it. In another place he represents his state of mind a.s a parturition distress. "I travail in birth again." Again, "I suffer trouble, as a.n evil-doer, even unto bonds." And a.gain he sa.ys, "I endure all things for the elect's sa.ke, that they may obtain the salvation tha.t is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. ii. 9). Every true gospel minister knows something of this intense spiritual sufferino- for others. What solicitudes, disappointments, wrestlings of soul ha.s he! So in tens:' was the desire even of Moses for the good of others, tha.t he said," If thou wilt forgive their sins-; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written " (Exod. xxxii. 32). 2. They were voluntary. Hu.man society is so organized that a certain amount of vicarious suffering comes on all men, irrespective of their choice, and even contrary to their choice. The innocent suffer for the guilty, children suffer on account of the sins of their parents. The present generation groans under the burdens of the past. But the vicarious sufferings of Paul, as a minister, were voluntary, he entered into them freely. The love of Christ "constrained" him to put himself in the place of suffering men, a.nd to feel with them and for them. Hence he sa.ys, "Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I bum not?" (2 Cor. xi. 29). 3. They were Christ-like. Whilst there are points which mark the vicarious sufferings or Christ, both in their nature and amount, from the vicarious sufferings of those of hi, ministers, yet there are points of agreement which are worthy of our notice. That such correspondence exists is suggested by the similarity of Scripture-language by which both are set forth. Both a.re represented a.a endured for sinners and in order to effect th~r salvation. Indeed, Paul speaks of his whole life as a sacrifice (Phil. ii. 17). 'l.'wn points of analogy are especially worthy of remark. (1) Both partook of intense grief on account of human sins. Christ's grief on account of sin was intense, agonizing, and fathomless in amount. "0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem," etc. Paul participated to some extent in this feeling. "Of whom I tell you even weeping, they are enemies of the cross of Christ." In truth, the vicarious sufferings of all genuine ministers partako of this. Even those of the Old Testament felt it. Jeremiah says," Oh that my eyes were fountains of waters," etc. I and the psalmist, " I beheld the way of transgressors, and was grieved." (2) Both partook of an intense anxiety for man's salvation. Tc, restore man to the knowledge, image, and fellowship of God was the one great object of Christ. For this he laboured; for this he agonized, bled, and died. This was Paul's great aim. "For though I be free from all men, yet ha.ve I made myself a servant unto all, that I might gain tbe more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the·Jews; to them that are under the Law, as under the Law, that I might g:iin them tha.t are under the Lnw; to them that are without Law, as without Law (being not without La.w to God, but under the Law to Christ), that I might gain them that arc without Law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the wenk: I am mac\11 all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Cor. ix. 19-22). Ancl in another place he says, "I please all men in. all things, not seeking mine own prou t, but the .profit of many, tha.t they may be saved" (1 Cor. x. 33). Now, my position is that this intense, voluntary, Christ-like, vicarious suffering, not only ever characterizes the history of every genuine minister of Christ, but is an essential qualification for the office. Paul felt that his great efficiency in the work depended upon his proximation to Christ in the amount of his vicarious suffering1. What else did he mean when ho said, "I Paul rejoice in my sufferings for you, aad fill up that which is behind of tho afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the Church" (Col. i. 2!)? II. THE RECIPIENT OF DIVINE IDEAS. "By revelation he bath made known to mo the mystery," etc. The gospel truths which Paul had to proclaim to the Gcntil~s were not derived from any human source. They wero not the dclluctions of his own reason or the intuitions of his own soul, but they wero revealed to him by God. " l never received it of man," said ho, "neither was I taught it, but by tho re,e!::ttion of Jesus Christ" (see Acts xvi.). We have an account of this revelation given by l'aul  13G 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. ton. m. l-2l.