13 Till G3360 we all G3956 come G2658 in G1519 the unity G1775 of the faith, G4102 and G2532 of the knowledge G1922 of the Son G5207 of God, G2316 unto G1519 a perfect G5046 man, G435 unto G1519 the measure G3358 of the stature G2244 of the fulness G4138 of Christ: G5547
Whom G3739 we G2249 preach, G2605 warning G3560 every G3956 man, G444 and G2532 teaching G1321 every G3956 man G444 in G1722 all G3956 wisdom; G4678 that G2443 we may present G3936 every G3956 man G444 perfect G5046 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus: G2424
Which G3748 is G2076 his G846 body, G4983 the fulness G4138 of him that filleth G4137 all G3956 in G1722 all. G3956
Brethren, G80 be G1096 not G3361 children G3813 in understanding: G5424 howbeit G235 in malice G2549 be ye children, G3515 but G1161 in understanding G5424 be G1096 men. G5046
That G2443 they all G3956 may be G5600 one; G1520 as G2531 thou, G4771 Father, G3962 art in G1722 me, G1698 and I G2504 in G1722 thee, G4671 that G2443 they G846 also G2532 may be G5600 one G1520 in G1722 us: G2254 that G2443 the world G2889 may believe G4100 that G3754 thou G4771 hast sent G649 me. G3165
For G4314 the perfecting G2677 of the saints, G40 for G1519 the work G2041 of the ministry, G1248 for G1519 the edifying G3619 of the body G4983 of Christ: G5547
And G1161 we know G1492 that G3754 the Son G5207 of God G2316 is come, G2240 and G2532 hath given G1325 us G2254 an understanding, G1271 that G2443 we may know G1097 him that is true, G228 and G2532 we are G2070 in G1722 him that is true, G228 even in G1722 his G846 Son G5207 Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547 This G3778 is G2076 the true G228 God, G2316 and G2532 eternal G166 life. G2222
Simon G4826 Peter, G4074 a servant G1401 and G2532 an apostle G652 of Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 to them that have obtained G2975 like precious G2472 faith G4102 with us G2254 through G1722 the righteousness G1343 of God G2316 and G2532 our G2257 Saviour G4990 Jesus G2424 Christ: G5547 Grace G5485 and G2532 peace G1515 be multiplied G4129 unto you G5213 through G1722 the knowledge G1922 of God, G2316 and G2532 of Jesus G2424 our G2257 Lord, G2962 According as G5613 his G846 divine G2304 power G1411 hath given G1433 unto us G2254 all things G3956 that pertain unto G4314 life G2222 and G2532 godliness, G2150 through G1223 the knowledge G1922 of him that hath called G2564 us G2248 to G1223 glory G1391 and G2532 virtue: G703
But G1161 strong G4731 meat G5160 belongeth to them that are G2076 of full age, G5046 even those who by reason G1223 of use G1838 have G2192 their senses G145 exercised G1128 to G4314 discern G1253 both G5037 good G2570 and G2532 evil. G2556
That G2443 their G846 hearts G2588 might be comforted, G3870 being knit together G4822 in G1722 love, G26 and G2532 unto G1519 all G3956 riches G4149 of the full assurance G4136 of understanding, G4907 to G1519 the acknowledgement G1922 of the mystery G3466 of God, G2316 and G2532 of the Father, G3962 and G2532 of Christ; G5547
Yea G235 doubtless, G3304 and G2532 I count G2233 all things G3956 but loss G2209 for G1511 G1223 the excellency G5242 of the knowledge G1108 of Christ G5547 Jesus G2424 my G3450 Lord: G2962 for G1223 whom G3739 I have suffered the loss G2210 of all things, G3956 and G2532 do count G2233 them G1511 but dung, G4657 that G2443 I may win G2770 Christ, G5547
If there be therefore G3767 any G1536 consolation G3874 in G1722 Christ, G5547 if any G1536 comfort G3890 of love, G26 if any G1536 fellowship G2842 of the Spirit, G4151 if any G1536 bowels G4698 and G2532 mercies, G3628 Fulfil ye G4137 my G3450 joy, G5479 that G2443 ye be likeminded, G846 G5426 having G2192 the same G846 love, G26 being of one accord, G4861 of one G1520 mind. G5426 Let nothing G3367 be done through G2596 strife G2052 or G2228 vainglory; G2754 but G235 in lowliness of mind G5012 let G2233 each G240 esteem G2233 other G240 better than G5242 themselves. G1438
Having abolished G2673 in G1722 his G846 flesh G4561 the enmity, G2189 even the law G3551 of commandments G1785 contained in G1722 ordinances; G1378 for to G2443 make G2936 in G1722 himself G1438 of twain G1417 one G1519 G1520 new G2537 man, G444 so making G4160 peace; G1515
For G3754 God, G2316 who G3588 commanded G2036 the light G5457 to shine G2989 out of G1537 darkness, G4655 G3739 hath shined G2989 in G1722 our G2257 hearts, G2588 to G4314 give the light G5462 of the knowledge G1108 of the glory G1391 of God G2316 in G1722 the face G4383 of Jesus G2424 Christ. G5547
Now G1161 I beseech G3870 you, G5209 brethren, G80 by G1223 the name G3686 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ, G5547 that G2443 ye G3004 all G3956 speak G3004 the same thing, G846 and G2532 that there be G5600 no G3361 divisions G4978 among G1722 you; G5213 but G1161 that ye be G5600 perfectly joined together G2675 in G1722 the same G846 mind G3563 and G2532 in G1722 the same G846 judgment. G1106
And G1161 the multitude G4128 of them that believed G4100 were G2258 of one heart G2588 and G2532 of one G3391 soul: G5590 neither G2532 G3761 said G3004 any G1520 of them that ought G5100 of the things which he G846 possessed G5224 was G1511 his own; G2398 but G235 they G846 had G2258 all things G537 common. G2839
G2532 O righteous G1342 Father, G3962 the world G2889 hath G1097 not G3756 known G1097 thee: G4571 but G1161 I G1473 have known G1097 thee, G4571 and G2532 these G3778 have known G1097 that G3754 thou G4771 hast sent G649 me. G3165 And G2532 I have declared G1107 unto them G846 thy G4675 name, G3686 and G2532 will declare G1107 it: that G2443 the love G26 wherewith G3739 thou hast loved G25 me G3165 may be G5600 in G1722 them, G846 and I G2504 in G1722 them. G846
And G2532 these things G5023 will they do G4160 unto you, G5213 because G3754 they have G1097 not G3756 known G1097 the Father, G3962 nor G3761 me. G1691
All things G3956 are delivered G3860 unto me G3427 of G5259 my G3450 Father: G3962 and G2532 no man G3762 knoweth G1921 the Son, G5207 but G1508 the Father; G3962 neither G3761 knoweth G1921 any man G5100 the Father, G3962 save G1508 the Son, G5207 and he G2532 to G3739 whomsoever G1437 the Son G5207 will G1014 reveal G601 him.
For then will I turn H2015 to the people H5971 a pure H1305 language, H8193 that they may all call H7121 upon the name H8034 of the LORD, H3068 to serve H5647 him with one H259 consent. H7926
And say H1696 unto them, Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I will take H3947 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 from among H996 the heathen, H1471 whither they be gone, H1980 and will gather H6908 them on every side, H5439 and bring H935 them into their own land: H127 And I will make H6213 them one H259 nation H1471 in the land H776 upon the mountains H2022 of Israel; H3478 and one H259 king H4428 shall be king H4428 to them all: and they shall be H5750 no more two H8147 nations, H1471 neither shall they be divided H2673 into two H8147 kingdoms H4467 any more at all:
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Ephesians 4
Commentary on Ephesians 4 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 4
We have gone through the former part of this epistle, which consists of several important doctrinal truths, contained in the three preceding chapters. We enter now on the latter part of it, in which we have the most weighty and serious exhortations that can be given. We may observe that in this, as in most others of Paul's epistles, the former part is doctrinal, and fitted to inform the minds of men in the great truths and doctrines of the gospel, the latter is practical, and designed for the direction of their lives and manners, all Christians being bound to endeavour after soundness in the faith, and regularity in life and practice. In what has gone before we have heard of Christian privileges, which are the matter of our comfort. In what follows we shall hear of Christian duties, and what the Lord our God requires of us in consideration of such privileges vouchsafed to us. The best way to understand the mysteries and partake of the privileges of which we have read before is conscientiously to practise the duties prescribed to us in what follows: as, on the other hand, a serious consideration and belief of the doctrines that have been taught us in the foregoing chapters will be a good foundation on which to build the practice of the duties prescribed in those which are yet before us. Christian faith and Christian practice mutually befriend each other. In this chapter we have divers exhortations to important duties.
Eph 4:1
This is a general exhortation to walk as becomes our Christian profession. Paul was now a prisoner at Rome; and he was the prisoner of the Lord, or in the Lord, which signifies as much as for the Lord. See of this, ch. 3:1. He mentions this once and again, to show that he was not ashamed of his bonds, well knowing that he suffered not as an evil doer: and likewise to recommend what he wrote to them with the greater tenderness and with some special advantage. It was a doctrine he thought worth suffering for, and therefore surely they should think it worthy their serious regards and their dutiful observance. We have here the petition of a poor prisoner, one of Christ's prisoners: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you,' etc. Considering what God has done for you, and to what a state and condition he has called you, as has been discoursed before, I now come with an earnest request to you (not to send me relief, nor to use your interest for the obtaining of my liberty, the first thing which poor prisoners are wont to solicit from their friends, but) that you would approve yourselves good Christians, and live up to your profession and calling; That you walk worthily, agreeably, suitably, and congruously to those happy circumstances into which the grace of God has brought you, whom he has converted from heathenism to Christianity. Observe, Christians ought to accommodate themselves to the gospel by which they are called, and to the glory to which they are called; both are their vocation. We are called Christians; we must answer that name, and live like Christians. We are called to God's kingdom and glory; that kingdom and glory therefore we must mind, and walk as becomes the heirs of them.
Eph 4:2-16
Here the apostle proceeds to more particular exhortations. Two he enlarges upon in this chapter:-To unity an love, purity and holiness, which Christians should very much study. We do not walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called if we be not faithful friends to all Christians, and sworn enemies to all sin.
This section contains the exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, with the proper means and motives to promote them. Nothing is pressed upon us more earnestly in the scriptures than this. Love is the law of Christ's kingdom, the lesson of his school, the livery of his family. Observe,
Eph 4:17-32
The apostle having gone through his exhortation to mutual love, unity, and concord, in the foregoing verses, there follows in these an exhortation to Christian purity and holiness of heart and life, and that both more general (v. 17-24) and in several particular instances, v. 25-32. This is solemnly introduced: "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord; that is, seeing the matter is as above described, seeing you are members of Christ's body and partakers of such gifts, this I urge upon your consciences, and bear witness to as your duty in the Lord's name, and by virtue of the authority I have derived from him.' Consider,
In the midst of these exhortations and cautions the apostle interposes that general one, And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, v. 30. By looking to what precedes, and to what follows, we may see what it is that grieves the Spirit of God. In the previous verses it is intimated that all lewdness and filthiness, lying, and corrupt communications that stir up filthy appetites and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. In what follows it is intimated that those corrupt passions of bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, and malice, grieve this good Spirit. By this we are not to understand that this blessed Being could properly be grieved or vexed as we are; but the design of the exhortation is that we act not towards him in such a manner as is wont to be grievous and disquieting to our fellow-creatures: we must not do that which is contrary to his holy nature and his will; we must not refuse to hearken to his counsels, nor rebel against his government, which things would provoke him to act towards us as men are wont to do towards those with whom they are displeased and grieved, withdrawing themselves and their wonted kindness from such, and abandoning them to their enemies. O provoke not the blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences from you! It is a good reason why we should not grieve him that by him we are sealed unto the day of redemption. There is to be a day of redemption; the body is to be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection-day, and then God's people will be delivered from all the effects of sin, as well as from all sin and misery, which they are not till rescued out of the grave: and then their full and complete happiness commences. All true believers are sealed to that day. God has distinguished them from others, having set his mark upon them; and he gives them the earnest and assurance of a joyful and glorious resurrection; and the Spirit of God is the seal. Wherever that blessed Spirit is as a sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of the redemption-day; and we should be undone should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.