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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:6

Verse 6 6.Let no man deceive you. There have always been ungodly dogs, (156) by whom the threatenings of the prophets were made the subject of merriment and ridicule. We find such characters in our own day. In all ages, indeed, Satan raises up sorcerers of this description, who endeavor by unholy scoffs to escape the Divine judgment, and who actually exercise a kind of fascination over consciences not sufficiently established in the fear of God. “This is a trivial fault. Fornication is viewed... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

The walk suitable to the children of light: no fellowship with sins of the flesh. The fearful prevalence of sensual vice at Ephesus naturally led the apostle to dwell on it emphatically as one of the worst rags of the old man, a rag to be wholly and forever cast away. But, indeed, there are few heathen communities where sensual vice does not flourish when men have it in their power to indulge in it. It is singular how universal sin is in connection with the irregular and disorderly... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-14

What to imitate and to avoid. I. THE IMITATION OF GOD AND CHRIST . 1. The imitation of God . "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children." The force of example is abundantly acknowledged. How much do most of us suffer from the low standard of opinion and practice with which we are surrounded? On the other hand, we have all felt what it is to come into Contact with one who is raised above the common standard. By his strength of principle and generous... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:1-16

The love and the wrath of God enforcing morality. Paul is still working for the unity of the Church and calling for that watchful and pure walk on the part of the Ephesians which can alone promote it. He consequently brings to bear upon them the allied motives of the love and the wrath of God. And here we may remark, in passing, that the moralities which have tried to work themselves without the aid of Divine sanctions have proved practically powerless. No "independent morality" has as yet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:3-5

Warnings against impurity of all kinds. The sins here described were common among the heathen, and received no adequate check from their moral guides. Indeed, the old pagan world regarded them as things indifferent. They are, for the most part, sins against ourselves, as the sins condemned in the previous verses are sins against our neighbors. They are to be condemned on many grounds. I. THEY ARE EXPRESS VIOLATIONS OF THE DIVINE LAW . ( Exodus 20:14 .) II. THEY ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:3-5

Warning against covetousness. It is singular to find covetousness, which is often the sin of respectability, linked with sins of gross impurity. In reality it springs from selfishness, like these other sins. It has its origin in the same unholy root. I. CONSIDER THE NATURE OF COVETOUSNESS . It is the inordinate love of riches, manifesting itself in several ways. 1. In the eager anxiety to attain wealth , without respect either to God's glory or our own spiritual good.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:3-7

Covetousness amongst the worst of human crimes. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:5

For this ye know well ; an appeal to their own consciences, made confidently, as beyond all doubt. That no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom. Covetousness, the twin-brother sin of uncleanness, is denounced as idolatry. It is worshipping the creature more than the Creator, depending on vast stores of earthly substance in place of the favor and blessing of God. It must receive the doom of the idolater; instead of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:6

Let no man deceive you with empty words. No man, whether pagan or nominal Christian: the pagan defending a life of pleasure as the only thing to be had with even a smack of good in it; the Christian mitigating pleasant sins, saying that the young must have an outlet for their warm feelings, that men in business must put all their soul into it, and that life must be brightened by a little mirth and jollity. As opposed to what the apostle has laid down ( Ephesians 5:5 ), such words are... read more

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