The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 155

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. 'fhere seems of God. Very solemn and emphatic counsel. no special reference to the Inst exhortation, The ne.mo is given with unusual fulncss, in but e.s the.t deme.nds n specie.I net of order to show the magnit,ule of the sin-'To vigilnnce and self-control, so the activity of TivEUµci Td ci:y,ov -roi'i 0rnU, u Tho 8piri t, tho the devil demands vigilnnce and self-control Holy Spirit of Goel." Ily nn :i.nthro- on all occasions, and especially 1m those on popathy the Spirit is rcprcscntc,l as gricvc,l which the devil is most e.pt to try to get 11 by such treatment as would gric,e us-e.q. foothold. The reference to the devil is not when his work is obstructed, when sin is a figlll'e, but an obvious recognition of his trifled with, when Deity is treated carelessly, personality, and of the liability of all Chris- when place is given to the devil, when the tians to fe.11 under his influence. spirit of the world is cherished. Those who Ver. 28.-Let the stealer steal no more. a.et thus resemble the Se.nba.llats and •o 1t"A.fn.r,.,11may be translated eitheras a noun Tobie.he of the time of the restoration, who or e.s the present participle. In either ca.se it hindred the rebuilding of the temple an,l implies that even Christians might continue the restoration of order and prosperity. to steal, and that they had to be warned When the Holy Spirit would urge co11- age.inst the habit. This may seem strange secre.tion, separat10n from the world, holy to us, but not to those who consider how exercises, a,itive service, our indolent and little theft was thought of among the pagans, worldly hearts are liable to rebel nn<l VPX and how liable such habits are to remain him. To grieve e. parent heedlessly is a grc:at among converts from heathenism. Where sin ;iiow much more to grieve the Spirit of there is a low moral tone and an uneducated God? In whom ye were sealed unto the day conscience, very gree.t irregularities may be of redemption. The Spirit being rather the found. Dishonesty in trade, deceit in Seo.l than the Sealer, who is the Father business, nre just the same. Among the (see eh. i. 13), it is better to tre.nslate i" Ephesians, thieving was probably tho result whom than by whom; besides, this preserves of idle he.bits e.nd of dislike to hard work. the force of the lv, which, whether useJ or Hence the apostle says, But rather let Christ or of the other persons of the Gocl- him labour, working with his hands the hee.d, is eo characteristic of the Epistle. Tu things that are good, that he may have grieve the Spirit is to help to obliterate lho to impart to him that bath need, ldle- see.I, and thus wee.ken the evidence or our .:iess is mean, labour is honolll'e.ble ; Christ redemption. oalls us to work, not for this reason only, but Ver. 31.-Let e.11 bitterness; not only in in order that we may have something to speech, but in mind, disposition, he.bit. And give away. Paganism would rob others of wrath and anger; nearly synonymous, but whe.t is rightfully their own ; Christianity perhe.ps" wrath" is equive.lent to the tuu..ul- lee.de me to give to others what is rightfully tuoue excited ete.te of mind, out of which my own. This different genius of the two comes e.nger, the settled feeling of dislike nnd systems e.ppee.rs here very clearly, Observe enmity. And ole.mour &nd evil-spee.king be the true use of superlluities-look ont for put away from you;" ole.mour," equivalent to the needy, e.nd give for their relief, the loud noise of strife, the excited shouting Ver. 29.-Let no oorrupt word prooeed downofopponents; "evil-speaking," the moro out of your mouth, Not pe.gans only, but delibemte habit of running <luwn their some of whom better tbings might be che.rncter, exciting nn evil feeling against expected, need this che.rge. How revolting them in the minds of others. With e.Jl me.lioe; is the tendency iil some circles to foul e.nd equivnlent to wishing evil, whether in 1t. more blasphemous conversation; to profane pronounced or in a lntent nnd lmlf-conscious nnd obscene jests, songs, e.nd e.llusions; to form, whether expressing itself in the way of feed as it were on more.I gnrbie.ge I From ooe.rse malediction or lurking in e. corner of Christian mouths no such word should ever the heart, ns an evil spirit of which we should issue-it is simply e.bomine.ble. But that be ashnmed ; all are rnga of the old me.u, o.s which is good for improvement of the disgraceful to Christit1ns ns literal rags to ll. oocasion, the.t it may give graoe to them that man of position; utterly unworthy of tho hear. Spee.king should ever bee.r on im- regenerated child of God. Chrysostom, provement or ecli.fice.tion, especially on re.ther fancifully, trents them ns a gonoulogy: turning passing things to good account. "Bitterness bred wrath, wmth anger, anger This should be the e.im; it does not require clamour, clamour evil-spee.king, whioh is spea.king to be uniformly gre.ve, but to lla11e ro.iling." an object. It moy be quite riglrt to he.ve an Ver. 32.-But be ye kind one to another, enlivening object, but among Christians it tender-hee.rted, forgiving one another ( op•  151 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [OH, lV, 1-32,