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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:7

Separation from evil. The apostle counsels believers not to be partakers with sinners. That is, in their sins, not their punishment. We are here taught— I. THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR BELIEVERS TO PARTAKE OF THE SINS OF OTHERS . They may do so by conniving at them, by not checking or punishing them, by not mourning over them, as well as by actually committing them. It is a dishonor to God, a lure to others, a mischief to ourselves, to stand in the way of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8

For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Another expressive "but." To make the contrast more emphatic, it is not said, "ye were in darkness, but are now in light;" but, "ye were darkness itself, and are now light itself," and this last is explained by the usual formula, "in the Lord." There was a celebrated Ephesian philosopher, Alexander, who was called "The Light;" but not from that source had the light come. The idea of light-giving is also involved in their being... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8

The darkness turned into light. As a reason for their not lapsing into vices from which they had escaped, the apostle reminds them of the darkness of their pagan condition. I. THEY WERE ONCE DARKNESS ITSELF . "Ye were sometimes darkness." The phrase is very impressive, for it indicates a moral as well as an intellectual darkness. A hard heart is always linked with a blinded understanding. The two act and react upon each other, becoming alternately cause and effect. Men do not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:8-10

Christian life. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." These verses present to us the Christian life in its transformation , obligation , and demonstration . I. TRANSFORMATION . A true Christian is one who has been changed from darkness into light. The figurative language implies: 1. A change from ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:9

For the fruit of light is [shown] in all goodness and righteousness and truth. The exhortation is confirmed by this statement of what is the natural result of light—goodness, the disposition that leads to good works; righteousness, rectitude, or integrity, which is most careful against all disorder and injustice, and renders to all their due, and especially to God the things that are God's; and truth, meaning a regard for truth in every form and way—believing it, reverencing it, speaking it,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:9

The fruit of the light. It is shown or seen in all the forms of "goodness and righteousness and truth." The good, the right, the true, are only to be realized through the light that streams from the Sun of righteousness—"the true light" that "now shineth." The apostle says the fruit, not the fruits, of the light—as if to show that it takes all the three colors to make this light. Christianity would be a very imperfect; manifestation of God if a single one of these elements were missing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:10

Proving what is well-pleasing to the Lord. A general rule applicable to the whole walk. To prove is to ascertain by test and experiment. Our whole walk should be directed to finding out what things are pleasing to Christ, rejecting at once everything that is not so, and clinging to all that is. We are not to follow the tradition of our people, and not to take a vague view of duty; we are to prove the matter, to put it to the test. For the supreme practical rule of the Christian's life must... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:10

The experimental test of the Lord's will. As the ninth verse is a parenthesis, the apostle states that it is by walking as children of light we are in a position to prove "what is well-pleasing unto the Lord." I. CONSIDER THE TRUE STANDARD OF JUDGMENT AS TO RIGHT AND WRONG . The believer is not to discover it in whatever may be well-pleasing to himself, but in what is well-pleasing to the Lord. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of the conscience to regulate... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:7

Be not ye therefore partakers with them - Since these things displease God and expose to his wrath, avoid them. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:8

For ye were sometimes darkness - see the Ephesians 2:11-12 notes; 1 Corinthians 6:11 note. The meaning here is, that they were themselves formerly sunk in the same ignorance, and practiced the same abominations.But now are ye light in the Lord - Light is the emblem of happiness, knowledge, holiness. The meaning is, that they had been enlightened by the Lord to see the evil of these practices, and that they ought, therefore, to forsake them.Walk as children of light - see the notes on Matthew... read more

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