An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 5 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
HEE proceeds to give Precepts touching oeconomical and common Christian duties. There are two parts of the Chapter: The first contains four Precepts touching oeconomical duties, to vers. 10. The other is the conclusion of the Epistle, containing some common duties, unto the end.
Vers. 1. Children, obey your Parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Precept 1. to children, that they should honour their Parents, and yeeld reverence and obedience to them in all things, so far as is possible, and pleasing to God: the reasons hereof are four.
(1) Because it is required by all Law both of God, and of Nature, that children should obey their Parents.
Vers. 2. Honour thy Father and thy Mother (which is the first Commandement with Promise.)
Reas. 2. Because the obedience of children is expressly mentioned in the Commandements, as a part of honour due to Parents, and commanded in the Law.
Which is] Reas. 3. Because this is the first command which hath a particular promise particularly applyed.
Vers. 3. That it may bee well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Reas. 4. Because the obedience of children towards their Parents, conduces to the childrens good, and hath a special blessing, the lengthening of temporal life: which Promise is either simply fulfilled, or else by change of the benefit, for one much better, of a better life.
Vers. 4. And yee Fathers provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Prec. 2. Touching the part and duty of Parents towards their children, that on the one side, by too much severity towards their children, they abuse not their Fatherly power (lest they drive their childrens affection from them) and on the other side, that by too much indulgence, they do not nourish any childish malepertness in their children, but that rather they strive to correct their vices, and instruct them in good manners in the fear of the Lord.
Vers. 5. Servants bee obedient to them that are your Masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ:
Prec. 3. Of the duty of Servants towards their Masters: the parts whereof are six. (1) That they obey their Masters, acknowledging their external servile condition to bee from God, and that they are not freed from a political servitude by Christ, who neither takes away, nor changes Governments. (2) That they remember that their Masters are not Masters of their consciences, but of the flesh or outward man, and in things which concern this life. (3) That they serve them in reverence, and in fear of their anger. (4) That laying aside deceit, they deal truly and sincerely with their Masters. (5) That they serve them with reference to Christs command, and so in obeying them they will serve Christ.
Vers. 6. Not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart:
5. With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
(6) That without flattering deceit, they take care of their Masters business, no less in their absence, than when they are present to over-look them, and not onelyonly that they may please their Masters, but that they may please God. Lastly, That they serve, not out of self-love, or meer fear, but out of good will, as those that serve God, and not men: for hee serves God, who obeyes him commanding him to serve his Master.
Vers. 8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing man doeth, the same shall hee receive of the Lord, whether hee bee bond or free.
Besides the Arguments which are tacitly couched in what went before, to confirm this Precept, hee adds the hope of reward, which they shall receive from God, who liberally rewards the works of his servants whether they bee free or bond in the flesh.
Vers. 9. And yee Masters do the same things unto them, forbearing threatning: knowing that your Master also is in Heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him.
Prec. 4. Concerning the duty of Masters towards their servants. That proportionably making use of the same virtues, they should exercise their masterly power over their servants after a Christian manner: and particularly that they should bee moderate in threatnings, lest they rule tyrannically over them.
Knowing] Hee adds two reasons. (1) Because they have the Lord above them, who is able to revenge their weak tyranny. (2) Because God is just, who doth not respect the person of the Master or servant, but beholds the cause and work of both according to equity.
The Second Part.
Vers. 10. Finally my Brethren, bee strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
The other part of the Chapter contains the conclusion of the Epistle; which hath in it four points. In the first hee exhorts them to constancy in Faith and Holiness of life, and to put on the spiritual armor against our enemies, with whom wee must grapple as long as wee live, Brethren (saith hee) bee yee strengthened in the Lord. The Arguments to press on this Exhortation are three.
Argum. 1. Because they have communion with the Lord, in whom is power and strength, in whom, if yee continue by Faith, and make use of his Grace, hee will bee ready to help you, with his power and effectual operation; that so you will both dare to venture on, and bee able valiantly to oppose all your enemies and hinderances: Therefore bee yee strengthened in the Lord.
Vers. 11. Put on the whole Armour of God, that yee may bee able to stand against the wiles of the Devil.
Argum. 2. Because you are armed with all sorts of weapons, which are necessary for your war; which weapons hee exhorts them to put on, that they may bee able to stand in the fight against the Devils assaults and treachery.
Vers. 12. For wee wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Argum. 3. Because our strife is not meerly with men, or against our own flesh, or against men onelyonly (such a fight might seem tolerable) but wee are to fight against the author of all these evils, the Devil, and the whole army of unclean spirits, who are no weak and ordinary souldiers, but all of them principalities and powers, or spirits which bear rule over worldly men: and govern the wicked (who are here and elsewhere called darkness) and stir them up against us: these also as they are very powerful and very crafty, so they are most wicked and malicious: And lastly, they are spiritual, such as wee cannot discern with our eyes, and flye about in the open air, so that they can when they will set upon us at unawares, unless wee watch.
Vers. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may bee able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Here hee repeats the Exhortation, that they would put on the whole armour of God, that they might bee able to stand in the evil day, or the day of temptation, and in the day of victory, expecting new on-sets of the enemy, and at length having overcome him, might triumph.
Vers. 14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with Truth, and having on the breast-plate of Righteousness.
Hee takes a similitude from bodily weapons, and names those helps against the Devil, which answer to bodily armour, fitted to defend us from, and to offend the enemy; to this end hee bids every one stand, that is, keep himself within his general and particular calling, and watch against the enemy. The parts of the armour for the defence of the Truth, are seven.
Loyns] (1.) Constancy in the Doctrine of Truth, which hee compares to a girdle, which bindes the looser parts of the body that they do not fall asunder; for knowledge strengthens us, that wee do not waver through weakness.
Having on] (2.) The breast-plate of righteousness by which wee understand the righteousness of Christ applied to us, which is alwayes accompanied with an endeavour after a holy life, and a good conscience; which as it were fortifies our breasts against the adversaries assault upon our faith, and manifests it to bee sincere.
Vers. 15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace.
(3.) A readiness of minde to acknowledge and advance the Gospel in our place, against all hindrances and difficulties; this is, to have our feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel.
Vers. 16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith yee shall bee able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
(4.) The shield of faith, or trust in Christ, by which as by a shield are received, and kept off all those poysoned temptations of the Devil, which hee, our great enemy, doth brandish against us as his weapons.
Vers. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
(5.) The helmet of salvation, or a certain hope and assurance of our salvation, by which being armed and assured of the victory, wee may confidently continue the fight.
The sword] (6.) The sword of the Spirit, or the Word of God, wherewith drawing and brandishing it, wee may repell the Devil himself, and put him to flight.
Vers. 18. Praying alwayes with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance, and supplication for all Saints:
(7.) Prayer, wherewith a Christian souldier betaking himself to his General, Christ, begs his assistance, not once onelyonly, but at any time when necessity urges; not coldly, and with his lips onelyonly, but with a fervent Spirit; not faintly, as if hee feared not the enemy, but watching and attending to this duty with greatest earnestness; not for himself onelyonly, but also for the whole Church, or for Gods whole Army, and for every one of the Saints, so far as hee shall bee acquainted with their necessities.
Vers. 19. And for mee, that utterance may bee given unto mee, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel:
The second point of the Conclusion is an exhortation to pray for the Apostle, that God would inable him to declare and preach the Gospel, fully, plainly, and boldly.
Vers. 20. For which I am an Ambassadour in bonds; that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
There are three Reasons of this Exhortation.
Reas. 1. Because for this very end I am sent an Apostle with Authority, that I may declare the Gospel.
In bonds] Reas. 2. Because I am held in bonds for the testimony given, in which it is necessary that God should confirm mee by means of your prayers.
As I ought] Reas. 3. Because it becomes mee wh… …m an Apostle to preach the Gospel with liberty of speech, and in a free manner.
Vers. 21. But that yee may also know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus a beloved brother and faithful Minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things.
22. Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that yee might know our affairs, and that hee might comfort your hearts.
The third point is about the sending of Tychicus unto them, for which hee gives a reason from the end, viz. That so the Ephesians might bee acquainted with the Apostles business, and might receive comfort by reason of Gods presence with him in his bonds, and so might bee confirmed in the faith.
Vers. 23. Peace bee to the brethren, and love, with faith from God the Father, and the Lord Iesus Christ.
14. Grace bee with all them that love our Lord Iesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
(4.) Point is an Apostolical benediction, wherein under the form of a wish, hee prayes that peace and love, with faith, may bee still bestowed and communicated from God and Christ to the beleeving brethren.
And then hee pronounceth grace on all those who love Christ with a sincere affection; which grace is the fountain of that faith which worketh by love, and by which wee have peace with God for ever.