Ephesians 5:1-4

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 5:2

And walk in love. Taking up anew the exhortation of Ephesians 4:1 . Let your ordinary life be spent in an atmosphere of love. Drink it in from heaven, as plants drink in the sunshine; radiate it forth from eyes and face; let hands and feet be active in the service; let looks, words, and acts all be steeped in it. Even as Christ also loved us. The passing from the Father to the Son as our Example is not a new departure; for the Son reveals the Father, the Son's love is the counterpart of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:2

The walk of love. We are bound to love one another. I. THIS WAS THE GREAT DUTY OF THE LAW . "All the Law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself' ( Galatians 5:14 ). "The end of the commandment is love" ( 1 Timothy 1:5 ). All our duty to our neighbor is summed up in love. Love supplies the motive-power to all right relations with our fellow-men. II. THIS WAS THE NEW COMMANDMENT OF CHRIST , "A new commandment... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:2

The pattern of Christian love. "As Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor." Jesus was an example of love in his life, for he went about every day doing good ( Acts 10:38 ). But it is to his suffering of death that the apostle points us for the most sublime and impressive illustration of his love. The words suggest many pregnant thoughts. I. WHO OFFERED HIMSELF ? It was Christ, the only begotten Son... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:2

The sacrifice of Christ. I. THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST WAS VOLUNTARY . He gave himself. He said he had power—right as well as ability—to lay down his life ( John 10:18 ). Had the sacrifice of Christ not been the free giving of himself, it would have been like the human sacrifices of the heathen—a fearful deed in those who slew him and of no import to any one else. The essence of the sacrifice, all that gave to it propitiatory efficacy, was the willingness of the Sufferer who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:3

But . Another of the remarkable contrasts of this Epistle; the fumes of lust are doubly odious in contact with the sweet savor of Christ's offering. Fornication and all impurity, or covetousness. The combination of covetousness with sins of the flesh, occurring several times in the apostle's writings ( 1 Corinthians 5:11 ; Ephesians 5:3 ; Colossians 3:5 ), is rather unexpected. πλεονεξία , covetousness, means the desire of having more, which is peculiarly true of sensual sins;... 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

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