The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 257

in tho fond whioh the Lord thy Goel giveth Ver. 5.-Bond-aervants, obey your master■ thco." While'the Decalogue was an expres- aooording to the flesh. There were many sion of the will of God on matters of moml slaves in the early Church, but, however nnd indefeo.siblo obligation, it had a local unjust their position, the apostle could not Hobrew element hero and there. In the but counsel them to obedience, this courso present case the apostle drops what ie being the best for ultimately working out specially Hebrew, adapting the promise in their emancipation. The words of Uhrist spirit to R wider o.rea. The special promise were peculiarly wekome to them " that of long life in the land of Canaan is trans- labour and are heavy laden;" and, as we la.ted into a general prnmise of prosperity find from Celeus and others, the early nnd longevity. As before, we must not Church was much ridiculed for the li,rgc suppose that the apostle excludes excep- number of uneducated persons in its pale. tions. The promise is not for each indi- With fear and trembling. Comp. 1 Cor. ii. vidual ; many good and obedient children 3; Phil. ii. 12, from which it will be seen do not live long. But the general tendency that this expression does not denote slavish of obedience to parents is towards the results dread, but great moral anxiety l6jt one should specified. Where obedience to parents is fail in duty. It was probably a proverbial found, there is usually found along with it expression. In the singleness of your heart, temperance, self-control, industry, regular as to Christ, Not with a got-up semblance ways of life, and other habits that tend of obedience, but with inwo.rd sincerity, towards prosperity and longevity. In knowing that it ie your duty; and even if Christian families there is commonly affec- it be irksome, doing it pleasantly, as though tion, unity, prayer, mutual helpfulness, Christ required it, and you were doing it to reliance on God, trust in Christ, o.ud all him. that makes life sweet and wholesome. The '7.er. 6.-N ot in the spirit of eye-servioe, spirit of the promise ie realized in such ae men-pleasers ; but as the bond-servants ways, and it may be likewise in special of Christ, doing the will of God from the mercies vouchsafed to each fRmily. heart. Exegetical of the Inst exhortation, Ver. 4.-And, ye fathers, provoke not your with a negative ancl a positivo clause, ohildren to wrath. "Fathers" is inclusive o.c,cording to the apostle's frequent practice of mothers, to whom the practical adminis- (comp. eh. ii. 8, 19; iii. 5; iv. H, 15, 25, tration of the household and training of the 28, 29; v. 18, 27, 29; vi. 4). Eye-eervicu children so much belong. The first counsel and men-pleasing have reference only to on the subject is negative, and probably has what will pass muster in the world; Chris- respect to a collllllon pagan habit, against tians must ~o deeper, as bound to Christ•~ which Christians necdecl to be put on their service by the great claim of redemption guo.rd. Irritation of children was common, (1 Cor. vi. 20), and remembering that "mnn through loss of temper and violence in looketh on the outwl\rd l\ppcarnnce, but tho reproving them, through capririous and Lord lookcth on tho honrt" (1 Sam. xvi. 7). unsteady treatment and unreaeonablo com- The will of God is our great standard, • nJ llll\nds; but moro especially (what is still our daily prayer is, " Tliy will be dona on so common) by the parents being violently earth, ns it ie in heaven." In heaven it is angry when the children, inconsiclerntely, done "from the heart." perhaps, disturbed or 1mnoycd them, rather Ver. 7.-With good will doing service, Bll than when they deliberately did wrong. to the Lord, and not to men. Somo join tho All this the apostle deprecates. But bring last words of the preceding verse to this them up in the training and admonition of clause, "from the lieart with good will,'' the Lord. 'fhe words ,.,,.6.fa nnd vou8«rla eto., on the ground that it is not nccclcJ for o.re not easily defined in this connection ; vor. 6, for if you ,Jo the will of GoJ nt nil, the former is thought to denote the dis- you must do it from the heart. Dut one cipline of training, with its appropriate may do the will of God in a sense outwnrclly rewards and punishmeuts; the !utter, in- and formally, tlioro foro tile clnuso is not struction. Doth are to be "of the Lord," superfluous in vol'. 6, whcrcns, if ono docs such as he· inspires o.nd approves. Instil- service with good will, one snroly does it ling sound princi pies of life, training to from tho heart, eo that tile olauso woukl bo good habits, cautioning and protecting more suporlluous horo. Jesus is the Over- against moral dangers, encouraging prayer, lord of overy earthly lord, nud his follower Bible-reading, church-going, sahbath-keep- has but to substitute him by faith. for his ing; taking pains to let them have good earthly master to enable him to do service associates, and especially dealing with them with good will. prayerfully and earnestly, in order thnt Vcl'. 8.-Xnowing that whatsover good they may accept Christ as their Saviour and thing each man shall have dona, the sam& follow him,-are among tho IIltlttere included shall ho reoeive from the Lord, whether lio in this counsel. be bond or free. Tho liopo of rcw,ml i~ EPHESIANS, s  THE EPISTLE 'l'O 'l'HE EPHESIANS. [en. vr. 1-24,