The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 212

clement which makes all clear." W-e should iDfiuitely vital, so ns to know what is truly thus have in t.he latter clause a proposition, best. . affirming as universal what in the former Ver.16.-Redeeming the time, beoalllle tho clause is affirmed of one particular case: days are evil; or, buying up for yoursellles "things reproved are made manifest by the tl&e opportunity, the idea being thu.t of 11, light. for it is only light that makes things merchant who, knowing the vu.lue of an elc'Ar." The exhortation to reprove would nrticle,and the good use to which ha can 1!rns bi' oonfumed by the consideration that put it, bu:yidt up. The opportunity is the the only wsy of making immoral things ap- opportunity of spreading the light and act- prox in their proper clmracter is to let in on ing according to it; and the reason assigned, them the light of the gospel. The great "because the days are evil," indicates that, practie--.ll point is that Chri.stiam ought to W owing to the prevnlenco of evil, . there is i11 a11,l diff- Ula lighl. much need for thCl light over .which tbe Yer. H.-Therefore he S&ith, Awake thou Christie.n has control. It may be hinted that sleepest, and &rise from the dead, and likewise that the prevalence of evil is apt to Christ shall give thee light. This is cool the love and diminish the zeu.l of the c-ddently intended to give an additione.l Christian ; hence the need for, special eager- impulse to the Ephesians to walk as children ness of spirit in the matter-he must of the light ; but a difficulty arises as to the greedily watch for his opportunity. • source of the quotation. There is no Ver. 17.-Wherefore be ye not unwise, difficulty m!.h the formula, "he saith,''. but understa)!.ding what. is the will of the which, like the sa.me expression in eh. iv. 8, Lord. The " -;wherefore 1/ bears on , all the is clearly to be referred to God. -But no preceding argument: because ye are children such words occur in the Old Testament. of light; because light is so valuable and so The passage that comes nearest to them is indispensable; because your whole circum- Is:i.. lx.. I," Arise, shine; for thy light is come, stances demand so much care and earnest- and the glory of the Lord hath risen upon ness. "Unwise" is equivalent to senseless; thee." The simplest and best explanation " understanding," to both knowing and lay- is, not that the apostle quoted from any lost ing to heart, as in parable of sower : "When book, bnt that he did not mean to give the any one heareth the word of the kingdom, words, bnt only the spirit of the passage. and undetttandeth it not," i.e. does not con- This is evident from his introducing the sider or ponder it, "then cometh the wickc<l word 14 Christ." It must be owned that the one," etc. The will of the Lord is the greu.t apostle i=kes a very free use of the pro- rule of the Christian life; to know an<l in phet's words. But the fundamental idea in the deeper sense understand this, is to walk the prophecy is, that when the Church gets wisely and to walk surely. t!,e light of heaven,she is not toliestilL as if Ver. 18.-A.nd be not intollioated with sh<': were asleep or dead, but is to be active, wine, wherein is dissoluteness. Drunken- is to make use of the light, is to use it for ness is suggested because it is a work of illuminating the world. The apostle main- darkness; it is the foe to vigilance and tains that the Ephesian Church had got the earnestness, and it leads all who yield to. it light of heaven; she, therefore, was not to to act unwisely. It is the social aspect of sleep or loiter, but spring forth as if from drunkenness the apostle has in view-the the grave, and pour light on the world. exhilarating influence of wine in company, The changes which the apostle makes on givi,ng a rush of high spirits. 'Acr,.,Tla, from the form of the prophecy are remarkable, a e.ud ""''"'• the opposite ,of savingue.'!e, and show that it was to its spirit and sub- wastefulness, dissoluteness, or the process stance rather than to its precise form o.nd of being dissohed, involving perdition. letter that he attached the authority of Spoken of the prodigal son, " riotous inspiration. livjng;" the lia/Jit which sends everything t.o Yer. 15.-Ta.ke heed then how ye walk t11Teck and ruin. But be filled with the strictly. The construction is somewhat Spirit. Instead of resorting to wine to cheer r=ulia.r, CtJmbining two ideas-&ee that you and animate yon, throw your hearts open to walk strictlv, bnt COUBider well the kind of the Holy Spirit, so that he may come o.nd ~trichles!!. ·Do not walk l~ly, without fill them; seek the joy that the Spirit in- fi.xe:d princi pies of action ; but make B11ro spires when he makes you to sit with that ..-olll" roles are of the true kind. Many Christ in heavenly places, so that, instead are strict who are not wisely strict; they of pouring out your joyous feelings in l,arn rules, bot not good rules. Not as o.n- bacchanalian songs, you may do so in wise, but aa wise. This rendering brings Christian hymns. r,ut the force of licro,po, and crocpvl: "fools" Ver. 19.-Speaking to one another. Lite- (A.V.) ii rather strong, for it is not utter rally, this would denote antiphonal singing, folly that is reproved. but cnEy-mindedness, but this is rather an artificial idea for want of earnest c,nsirle~ation in a matter so so sim_ple times. It seems hero to denole en. v. 1-33.] TUE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 211