Ephesians 6:1-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:4

And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath ,.... Neither by words; by unjust and, unreasonable commands; by contumelious and reproachful language; by frequent and public chidings, and by indiscreet and passionate expressions: nor by deeds; preferring one to another; by denying them the necessaries of life; by not allowing them proper recreation; by severe and cruel blows, and inhuman usage; by not giving them suitable education; by an improper disposal of them in marriage; and by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:5

Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters ,.... The apostle enlarges on the duty of servants, as well as frequently inculcates it in his epistles; because, generally speaking, they were more rude and ignorant, and less pains were taken with them to instruct them; they were apt to be impatient and weary of the yoke; and scandal was like to arise from servants in the first ages of Christianity through some libertines, and the licentiousness of the false teachers, who insinuated,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:6

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ,.... Doing nothing but when under the master's eye, and then pretending a great deal of diligence and industry, in order to ingratiate themselves into his affections, and neglecting his business when he is absent; whereas they ought to attend his service in his absence, as well as in his presence, and so seek to please him, which is commendable. But as the servants of Christ ; acting in like manner as the servants of Christ, who are not menpleasers;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:7

With good will doing service ,.... To their masters; not grudgingly, with an ill will; no otherwise, nor longer than when they are forced to it; but of a ready mind, and with a cheerful spirit, taking delight in their work, and reckoning it a pleasure to serve their masters; as an Israelite that is not sold, who does his work ברצונו , "with his good will", and according to his own mind F2 Maimon. Hilchot Abadim, c. 1. sect. 7. ; doing what they do as to the Lord, and not to men ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:8

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth ,.... According to the will of God, from right principles in his heart, and with a view to God's glory: the same shall he receive of the Lord ; that is, he shall receive the fruit and advantage of it, in a way of grace, whether he be bond or free ; a bondman or a free man, a master or a servant. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:9

And ye masters do the same things unto them ,.... This does not refer to service and obedience, but to singleness of heart, benevolence, humanity, and a regard to Christ, and the will of God, and to the doing of good things, and to the performance of their duty, as they would have their servants do theirs; whose duty, if religious masters, is, with respect to their souls, to instruct them in, and use them to religious exercises, to pray with them, and for them, to set them good examples, to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:10

Finally, my brethren ,.... This is the conclusion of the apostle's exhortations, in which he addresses the saints as his brethren; which appellation he uses, not merely as a familiar way of speaking among the Jews, but in regard to them as regenerate persons, and of the same family and household of God with himself; and he calls them so, to show his humility, and as a proof of his affection to them, and with a design to encourage them to their duty, as follows: be strong in the Lord, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:11

Put on the whole armour of God ,.... Not that which God himself is sometimes clothed with, and uses against his enemies; but what he has provided for his people, and furnishes them with; the particulars of which are after mentioned: and it is called "the armour of God", because it is prepared by him for his people, and is bestowed on them by him; and because it is in its own nature divine and spiritual, and not carnal; and because it is provided for fighting the Lord's battles, and is used... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood ,.... The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, and some copies, read "you", instead of "we". This is a reason why saints should be strong in the Lord, and why they should put on the whole armour of God, and prepare for battle, since their enemies are such as here described: not "flesh and blood"; frail mortal men, such as were wrestled against in the Olympic games, to which the apostle alludes. For this wrestling, as Philo the Jew says F5 Leg.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:13

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ,.... This is a repetition of the exhortation in Ephesians 6:11 ; which repetition seems necessary by reason of the many powerful enemies mentioned in the preceding verse, and serves to explain what is meant by putting it on: and leads on the apostle to give an account of the several parts of this armour: the end of taking it is much the same as before, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day ; that is, that ye may be able to... read more

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