Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 21
Vers. 21. Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God.
THe Apostle (having from chap. 4. ver. 1. exhorted unto such duties, as belong to all Christians in general, of whatsoever rank or station) doth now, in the second part of this Chapter, exhort to those duties which belong to Christians, as they are members of families. And, first, in this verse to make way from the former purpose to that which followeth, he doth premit a general exhortation unto all, whether superiors or inferiors, to be mutually subject one to another: where, submission, or subjection, is taken, not strictly for that which is the root of obedience in inferiors towards superiors, as ver. 22. but generally, for that service of love which every one oweth to another for their mutuall good and advantage in their severall stations. See upon Gal. 5. ver. 13. And it is called submission to our neighbour; because it is not sufficient that we simply do the commanded dutie unto him, except our so doing flow from a principle of love to him, and that we actually intend therein his good and advantage; and because it must be done with condescendency of spirit and stouping, seing our proud and lofty spirits do look upon every duty towards our neighbour, as below them. And he addeth in the fear of God: which containeth 1. a motive to the duty, this mutuall submission and stouping unto all those duties, which we owe one to another, being an evidence of a man's fearing God, Gen. 42. 18. and, 2. the right fountain, from whence this submission should flow; for, then do we our duty towards others acceptably, and as we ought, when our so doing floweth from the fear and awe of God, Col. 3. -22: and, 3. the rule and measure of this submission, there being none bound to submit himself to please his neighbour further than is consisting with that subjection and obedience which he oweth unto God, Act. 5. 29. Doct. 1. We are not, under pretence of going about the duties of Gods immediate worship, to neglect those other duties of our particular callings, and which we owe to man in our several stations: God alloweth time for both, we are to take time for both; and conscientious regard of the one and of the other, are most consistent: for, the Apostle enjoyneth both the former, and latter sort of duties, as it were with one breath, which is clear from the grammatical construction of the words; Giving thanks alwayes—submitting your selvet one to another. Yea, secondly, The consciencious discharging of those duties which we owe to our neighbour in our several stations, in a way acceptable to God, doth call for, and argue a copious measure of, the saving work of Gods Spirit in the heart no lesse than those other duties of Gods worship and service: for, this verse dependeth upon, and is constructed with ver. 18. Be filled with the Spirit—submitting your selves. 3. There are none living, whom God alloweth to live only to themselves; but all are bound to lay out themselves in their respective imployments for the good and behoof of others; even superiors for the good of inferiors: for, this command is given to all without exception; Submitting your selves one to another. 4. As God hath tyed us not to live to our selves only, but also to others, whose good we are to aim at in our place and station; So, for a recompence, and that there may be a kind of equality, He hath tyed those others to live also unto us, and one way or other to be forth-coming for our good and advantage: for, the command and obligation founded upon it, is reciprocal; Submitting your selves one to another. 5. Where the fear of God is rooted in the heart, it will make a man conscientiously carefull and tender of his duty towards man, so that he will not only do his duty, but also do it from a right principle and motive, and so do as he will not overdo, by displeasing God, while he goeth about to please men: for, he holdeth forth the fear of God, as the fountain, motive and rule of that submission which is here enjoyned; Submitting one to another in the fear of God.