The apostle, in this chapter, goes on with his exhortations to the duties of religion; and such in general as relate to purity of life, and against uncleanness; and particularly treats of the duties of married persons.

Be ye therefore followers of God Not in his works of infinite wisdom and almighty power, which is impossible; but in acts of righteousness and holiness, and particularly in acts of mercy, goodness, and beneficence; as in forgiving injuries and offences, and in freely distributing to the necessities…

And walk in love To God; to which the saints are obliged, not only by the law of God, which requires it, but by the goodness of God, and the discoveries of his love to them; and which shows itself in fearing to offend him, in a conformity to his will, in making his glory the chief end of all…

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness The apostle proceeds to dehort from several vices, which are unbecoming the dear children and followers of God; and which the love of Christ should constrain them to avoid: the first of these, which is simple “fornication”, is the sin which is…

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting The former of these may include all filthy gestures and behaviour, every indecent habit and attire, and all actions which have a tendency to excite lust; and also all impure words, these discover an impure heart, and are the means of corrupting…

For this ye know Or, “know ye this”, as the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read: that no whoremonger, nor unclean person; anyone that is guilty of fornication, adultery, incest Nor covetous man, who is an idolater: as every man is, that…

Let no man deceive you with vain words With vain philosophy, vain babblings, with foolish and filthy talking; suggesting that these were not sinful the apostle had condemned; or that they were small sins, the frailties of human life; and that God would take no notice of them, and they might…

Be not ye therefore partakers with them. ] In their sins, and acts of disobedience; by keeping needless company with them; by abetting and encouraging sinful practices; by conniving at them, and not reproving for them; or by committing the same things.

For ye were sometimes darkness Not only dark, but darkness itself; exceeding blind, dark, and ignorant, respecting spiritual things; so the Gentiles were wont to be called by the Jews, (הושך) , “darkness” [[9]] itself; of this darkness, (See Gill on Eph. 4:18).

For the fruit of the Spirit Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his…

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. ] There are many things that are acceptable to God, as the person of Christ, his righteousness, sacrifice, sufferings, death, and mediation; the persons of his people, their services, sufferings, sacrifices of prayer, and praise to him, and of bounty and…

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness It is not said with the workers of darkness, or with the men of the world, who are in darkness, and are darkness itself; to have fellowship with them in a civil way, or to dwell among them, is not prohibited; it is allowed of, and…

For it is a shame even to speak of those things This is a reason, why persons should walk as children of light; why they should prove what is acceptable to God; why they should have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness; why the apostle exhorts to reprove them, and yet does not…

But all things that are reproved As all sins should be, by the ministers of the Gospel, and by other saints, and will be by God; either by his Spirit convincing of them, or by his judgments, and the letting out of his wrath and fury, either here or hereafter, for the punishment of them: are made…

Wherefore he saith Either the man that is light in the Lord, who reproves the unfruitful works of darkness; or else the Holy Ghost by Paul, who here speaks after the manner of the prophets; or God, or the Spirit, or the Scripture; see ; but where is it said? some think the apostle refers to ;…

See then that ye walk circumspectly The Alexandrian copy and the Vulgate Latin version read, “see then, brethren”, it being an exhortation to the saints at Ephesus, upon the foregoing discourse and citation, to take heed to their walk: the believer’s walk is both inward and outward; his inward walk…

Redeeming the time Or “buying time”; a like expression is used in , which we render, gain time: but in the Chaldee text it is, “buy time”: and so Jacchiades, a Jewish commentator on the place, renders it, (העת הזאת אתם נמכרים) , “ye buy this opportunity”; and the Septuagint version uses the same…

Wherefore be ye not unwise No one would be thought to be unwise, but such are, who do not redeem time, and are ignorant of the will of the Lord; believers should not act the unwise part, neither in their talk, nor in their walk and conversation, nor in their use of time: but understanding what the…

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess The sin of drunkenness here dehorted from, is a custom, or habit, of voluntary excessive drinking of any strong liquor, whereby the mind is disturbed, and deprived of the use of reason: though wine is only here mentioned, that being the usual liquor…

Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs By psalms are meant the Psalms of David, and others which compose the book that goes by that name, for other psalms there are none; and by “hymns” we are to understand, not such as are made by good men, without the inspiration of the…

Giving thanks always for all things For things temporal, for our beings, and the preservation of them, and for all the mercies of life; for things spiritual, for Christ, and for all spiritual blessings in him; for electing, redeeming, sanctifying, adopting, pardoning, and justifying grace; for a…

Submitting yourselves one to another Which may be understood either in a political sense, of giving honour, obedience, and tribute, to civil magistrates, since they are set up by God for the good of men, and it is for the credit of religion for the saints to submit to them; or in an economical…

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands This is an instance, explaining the above general rule; which subjection lies in honour and reverence, , and in obedience; they should think well of their husbands, speak becomingly to them, and respectfully of them; the wife should take care of the…

For the husband is the head of the wife (See Gill on 1 Cor. 11:3). Even as Christ is the head of the church; all the elect; (See Gill on Eph. 1:22). And he is the Saviour of the body; not “of our body”, as the Ethiopic version reads, of that part of man, which is called the body; though that indeed…

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ Her head, being wholly dependent upon him, and entirely resigned to him, and receiving all from him; from whom alone is all her expectation of provision, protection, comfort, and happiness; wherefore she has respect to all his commands, and esteems all…

Husbands, love your wives Which consists in a strong and cordial affection for them; in a real delight and pleasure in them; in showing respect, and doing honour to them; in seeking their contentment, satisfaction, and pleasure; in a quiet, constant, and comfortable dwelling with them; in providing…

That he might sanctify and cleanse it Being defiled, both with original sin and actual transgressions; for God’s elect, whom Christ loved and espoused from everlasting, fell in Adam with the rest of mankind; and, in their natural state, live in sin as others do; and so are under the guilt, and in…

That he might present it to himself a glorious church There is a presentation of the church by Christ to his Father at his death, when he gathered the elect together in one, brought them nigh, and reconciled them to God, and presented them to holy, unblamable, and unreproveable in his sight; and…

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies It is a common saying with the Jews, that a man’s wife is (כגופו) , “as his own body” [[16]]; and it is one of the precepts of their wise men, that a man should honour his wife more than his body, (ואהבה כגופו) , and “love her as his body”…

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh This is unnatural, contrary to the first principles of nature; see ; which the [[19]] Jews understand of one that is near akin, and there is none nearer than a wife: but nourisheth and cherisheth it; feeds and clothes it: even as the Lord the church; who…

For we are members of his body Not of his natural body, for this would make Christ’s human nature monstrous; Christ, as man, is of our flesh and of our bones, or a partaker of the same flesh and blood with us; or otherwise, his incarnation would have been of no service to us; and had our human…

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, &c.] These words contain the law of marriage, and are cited from ; and declare what ought to be, and are a prophecy of what should be; and are observed against polygamy, and to stir up mutual affection; (See Gill on Matt. 19:5).

This is a great mystery It has something mysterious in it; it is a figure and emblem of the mysterious union between Christ and his people: for so it follows, but I speak concerning Christ and the church; or mention this law and institution of marriage, with respect to them; for the leaving of…

Nevertheless, let everyone of you in particular The apostle returns to his former subject, and recapitulates the mutual duties of husband and wife, after he had enforced them from the instance and example of Christ, and his church; and would have every married person in particular take the…