Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 4

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

It is a loving call. Walk lovingly. It is the condescension of God that called you. Be, therefore, lowly. It is God in tenderness who has loved you. Be, therefore, meek, forbearing one another in love.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you...

Paul puts force into the argument by his manner of speaking; you can hear in his words the rattle of his chains. Here is a man who, for Christ's sake, has lost his liberty, and who for that reason pleads with his fellow Christians: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you —

That ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

"Do not dishonour the good cause, let not your lives bring disgrace upon Christ; if you are called Christians, be Christians."

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

This is the very spirit of Christianity: to be able to bear and forbear, to be gentle, not to be selfish or self-seeking, or angry and passionate, but full of lowliness and meekness. Brothers and sisters, do not seek the highest place. If you do, you will at least have a contested election, for many want that position; but if you choose the lowest place, you shall have it, and nobody will try to run in opposition to you.

There is always plenty of room in the lowly places, and there is peace there. And, let me whisper to you, they are really the highest places in the Church of God. If we will go down, we shall ascend; but if we are striving to be great and to be masterful, we shall not gain the ends we are seeking, and we shall not honour our Master.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

"You are called to be sons of God, you are called to be one with Christ, you are called to be kings and priests to God; this is the highest possible vocation that anyone can have, so walk worthy of it." O beloved, if we walk worthy of this vocation, what holy and noble lives we shall lead! The apostle so much desired godliness and holiness to be the characteristics of those to whom he wrote that he used a very strong term of entreaty: I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

With all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love;

You are not called to domineer over men, to be lords over God's heritage; you are called to be Christ-like, to be gentle and tender, ready to bear and to forgive all manner of wrong that may be done to you.