Matthew Henry Commentary Ephesians 4

Nothing is urged more earnestly in the Scriptures than to walk in a manner worthy of those called to Christ's kingdom and glory. By lowliness, understand humility, which is opposed to pride. By meekness, understand that excellent disposition of the soul, which makes people unwilling to provoke others and not easily provoked or offended.

We find much in ourselves for which we can hardly forgive ourselves; therefore, we must not be surprised if we find in others that which we think it hard to forgive. There is one Christ in whom all believers hope, and one heaven they are all hoping for; therefore, they should be of one heart. They had all one faith, regarding its object, Author, nature, and power.

They all believed the same concerning the great truths of religion; they had all been admitted into the church by one baptism, with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, as the sign of regeneration. In all believers God the Father dwells, as in his holy temple, by his Spirit and special grace.

To every believer is given some gift of grace, for their mutual help. All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow on everyone. He received for them, that He might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Spirit. Not a mere head knowledge, or simply acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but the kind that brings trust and obedience.

There is a fullness in Christ, and a measure of that fullness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure until we reach heaven. God's children are growing as long as they are in this world; and the Christian's growth tends to the glory of Christ. The more a person finds himself drawn to make good use of all that he has received—in his station and according to his measure—for the spiritual good of others, the more certainly he may believe that he has the grace of sincere love and charity rooted in his heart. (Ephesians 4:17–24)

The apostle charged the Ephesians in the name and by the authority of the Lord Jesus that having professed the gospel, they should not be like the unconverted Gentiles, who walked in futile thinking and worldly desires. Do men not, everywhere, walk in the futility of their minds? Must we not then urge the distinction between real and nominal Christians?

They were devoid of all saving knowledge; they sat in darkness and loved it rather than light. They had a dislike and hatred for a life of holiness, which is not only the way of life God requires and approves, and by which we live to him, but which also has some likeness to God himself in his purity, righteousness, truth, and goodness. The truth of Christ appears in its beauty and power when it appears as it is in Jesus.

The corrupt nature is called a man; like the human body, it is of diverse parts, supporting and strengthening one another. Sinful desires are deceitful lusts; they promise men happiness, but render them more miserable, and bring them to destruction if not subdued and mortified.

Therefore, these must be put off as an old garment, a filthy garment; they must be subdued and mortified. But it is not enough to shake off corrupt principles; we must have gracious ones.

By 'the new man,' is meant the new nature, the new creature, directed by a new principle—namely, regenerating grace—enabling a man to lead a new life of righteousness and holiness. This is created, or brought forth, by God's almighty power.

Notice the specific ways in which we should adorn our Christian profession. Beware of everything contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God's people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Beware of anger and ungoverned passions.

If there is just cause to express displeasure at what is wrong and to reprove, ensure that it is done without sin. We give place to the devil when the initial impulses of sin are not grievous to our souls, when we consent to them, and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that, just as sin, if yielded to, lets the devil in, we must resist it, avoiding all appearance of evil.

Idleness makes thieves. Those who will not work expose themselves to temptations to steal. People ought to be industrious, so they can do some good and be kept from temptation. They must labor, not only so they can live honestly, but also so they may have something to give to meet the needs of others. What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices!

Alms, to be accepted by God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt offerings.

Filthy words proceed from corruption in the speaker, and they corrupt the minds and manners of those who hear them: Christians should beware of all such discourse. It is the duty of Christians to seek, by the blessing of God, to bring persons to think seriously, and to encourage and warn believers by their conversation. Be ye kind one to another.

This sets forth the principle of love in the heart and its outward expression in humble, courteous behavior. Notice how God's forgiveness causes us to forgive. God forgives us, though we had no cause to sin against him. We must forgive, as he has forgiven us.

All lying, and corrupt communications, that stir up evil desires and lusts, grieve the Spirit of God. Corrupt passions of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil-speaking, and malice, grieve the Holy Spirit. Do not provoke the holy, blessed Spirit of God to withdraw his presence and his gracious influences. The body will be redeemed from the power of the grave at the resurrection day.

Wherever that blessed Spirit dwells as a Sanctifier, he is the earnest of all the joys and glories of that redemption day; and we should be undone, should God take away his Holy Spirit from us.