Chapter 2
The
riches of God’s grace towards men, shown from their deplorable state by
nature, and the happy change Divine grace makes in them
|
1–10
|
The
Ephesians called to reflect on their state of heathenism
|
11–13
|
And
the privileges and blessings of the gospel
|
14–22
|
Verses 1–10
Sin is the death of the soul. A man dead in trespasses and
sins has no desire for spiritual pleasures. When we look upon a corpse, it
gives an awful feeling. A never-dying spirit is now fled, and has left nothing
but the ruins of a man. But if we viewed things aright, we should be far more
affected by the thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen spirit. A state of sin
is a state of conformity to this world. Wicked men are slaves to Satan. Satan
is the author of that proud, carnal disposition which there is in ungodly men;
he rules in the hearts of men. From Scripture it is clear, that whether men
have been most prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being
naturally children of disobedience, are also by nature children of wrath. What
reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for that grace which will make
them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! God’s eternal
love or good-will toward his creatures, is the fountain whence all his mercies
flow to us; and that love of God is great love, and that mercy is rich mercy.
And every converted sinner is a saved sinner; delivered from sin and wrath. The
grace that saves is the free, undeserved goodness and favour of God; and he
saves, not by the works of the law, but through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in
the soul is a new life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes a living soul;
he lives a life of holiness, being born of God: he lives, being delivered from
the guilt of sin, by pardoning and justifying grace. Sinners roll themselves in
the dust; sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this world,
by Christ’s grace. The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners
heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to hope in his grace and mercy.
Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest
any man should boast. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by
us, therefore all boasting is shut out. All is the free gift of God, and the
effect of being quickened by his power. It was his purpose, to which he
prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit
producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our good
conversation, and perseverance in holiness. None can from Scripture abuse this
doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to evil. All who do so, are without
excuse.
Verses 11–13
Christ and his covenant are the foundation of all the
Christian’s hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but who is able to
remove himself out of it? Would that this were not a true description of many
baptized in the name of Christ. Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the
misery of a person, separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the
body of Christ, fallen from the covenant of promise, having no hope, no
Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all eternity? To have
no part in Christ! What true Christian can hear this without horror? Salvation
is far from the wicked; but God is a help at hand to his people; and this is by
the sufferings and death of Christ.
Verses 14–18
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in
every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their
being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one
church. Through the person, sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are
allowed to draw near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into
his presence, with their worship and services, under the teaching of the Holy
Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son. Christ purchased leave for us to
come to God; and the Spirit gives a heart to come, and strength to come, and
then grace to serve God acceptably.
Verses 19–22
The church is compared to a city, and every converted sinner
is free of it. It is also compared to a house, and every converted sinner is
one of the family; a servant, and a child in God’s house. The church is also
compared to a building, founded on the doctrine of Christ; delivered by the
prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of the New. God dwells in all
believers now; they become the temple of God through the working of the blessed
Spirit. Let us then ask if our hopes are fixed on Christ, according to the
doctrine of his word? Have we devoted ourselves as holy temples to God through
him? Are we habitations of God by the Spirit, are we spiritually-minded, and do
we bring forth the fruits of the Spirit? Let us take heed not to grieve the
holy Comforter. Let us desire his gracious presence, and his influences upon
our hearts. Let us seek to discharge the duties allotted to us, to the glory of
God.
Excerpt from:
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible
Matthew Henry (1662 - 1714)
Visit www.e-sword.net
or www.ccel.org
