John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 4:30

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, in whom ye were sealed unto the day of redemption." — Ephesians 4:30 (ASV)

And do not grieve. As the Holy Spirit dwells in us, every part of our soul and body ought to be devoted to Him. But if we give ourselves up to anything that is impure, we may be said to drive Him away from making His dwelling with us. To express this still more familiarly, human affections, such as joy and grief, are ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Endeavor that the Holy Spirit may dwell cheerfully with you, as in a pleasant and joyful dwelling, and give Him no occasion for grief. Some take a different view of it: that we grieve the Holy Spirit in others when we offend godly believers, who are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14), by filthy language or in any other way. Whatever is contrary to godliness is not only unwelcome to godly ears, but as soon as it is heard, it produces in them deep grief and pain. But what follows shows that Paul’s meaning was different.

By whom you are sealed. As God has sealed us by His Spirit, we grieve Him when we do not follow His guidance but pollute ourselves with wicked passions. No language can adequately express this solemn truth: the Holy Spirit rejoices and is glad on our account when we are obedient to Him in all things, and neither think nor speak anything but what is pure and holy. On the other hand, He is grieved when we admit anything into our minds that is unworthy of our calling. Now, let anyone reflect what shocking wickedness there must be in grieving the Holy Spirit to such a degree as to compel Him to withdraw from us. The same mode of speaking is used by the prophet Isaiah, but in a different sense, for he merely says that they vexed his Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10), in the same sense in which we are accustomed to speak of vexing a person's mind. By whom you are sealed. The Spirit of God is the seal by which we are distinguished from the wicked, and which is impressed on our hearts as a sure evidence of adoption.

Until the day of redemption — that is, until God leads us into the possession of the promised inheritance. That day is usually called the day of redemption, because we shall then be finally delivered from all our afflictions. It is unnecessary to make any observations on this phrase, in addition to what have already been made in explaining Romans 8:23 and 1 Corinthians 1:30. In this passage, the word sealed may have a different meaning from that which it usually bears — that God has impressed His Spirit as His mark upon us, so that He may recognize as His children those whom He perceives to bear that mark.