Ephesians Commentary

Do you have proper shoes? | E.6:15

December 16, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

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6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace

Growing up as an athlete, I quickly learned the fundamental importance of a wide base and proper footwork. Additionally, having your feet equipped with the proper shoes made all the difference. Cleats on a basketball court were slippery, and court shoes on a football field were useless. I recall one afternoon I showed up to football practice to discover I had left my cleats at home. Needless to say, it was not a successful practice as I slipped around the field in my tennis shoes.

Proper shoes made it possible to establish good footing which leads to a good base, or foundation. Choosing the proper shoe for the task at hand makes all the difference. I would not want to go to combat in sneakers, and I could not want to play soccer in court shoes.

Continuing in his exhortation on the full armor of God, Paul turns his attention to the shoes in Ephesians 6:15. Written in the middle tense, the Christian has the responsibility to put on these shoes, and further walk in the identity and truth of the Gospel of peace.

Centrality of the Gospel
Every stable and strong physical posture must have good footing and a solid base. Written in the context of being equipped for war, this principle is even more important. In spiritual warfare, the strong base is directly connected to the Gospel.

The centrality of the Gospel is paramount to a firm foundation in the battles of life. It is the Gospel that is the common thread of hope weaving throughout God’s Word. It is the Gospel that should weave into every sermon and into our everyday life. It is the Gospel that should be clearly understood and clearly communicated.

It is a simple message of Good News, that God created man to have a relationship with Him; but sin entered the world through man’s choice. Sin separates us from God, and cannot be removed by any good deed that we may do. Recognized this chasm of separation, God sent His one and only Son on a rescue mission to earth so that man could be redeemed and restored in right relationship. This redemption required a perfect, blood sacrifice of atonement that Jesus willingly offered with His own life. After His death, Jesus was buried, rose again in three days, ascended into Heaven; and how sits at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. there He intercedes for us and is our King.

Our sin has been atoned for, and we now have a right relationship with God because God has declared that we are right with Him due to Jesus’ payment for our sin. This has made peace with God.

Peace holds.
It is the peace that Paul connects to the shoes. Peace is often misunderstood as an emotion or feeling. In fact, peace is much more than an emotion; it is a state or condition. In warfare, once peace is arbitrated and signed it ushers in a state or season of reconciliation. This imagery is what Paul refers to that the Gospel provides for us.

Readiness is established footing
Being in a state of peace as a result of the Gospel work, we then should stand and walk with a confident security. We can go to battle with a strong foothold and wide base because our security and hope is not in our ability, but is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Every day when you put on your shoes, pause and be reminded that this piece of equipment is a symbol of your stable and secure footing of the Gospel for any attack from the Enemy.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Belt of Truth | E.6:14

December 15, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

In Ephesians 6:14, Paul again reminds us of the need to stand, and hold our position. Specific pieces that make up the whole armor of God are described, to include the belt and the breastplate.

Beginning with truth, Paul speaks to the standard by which we must rely upon. In ancient time, as well as in modern time, there is an assault on truth. Absolute truth, moral truth, relativism, and beyond result in a debate of action.   John 3:33 reminds us that God is truth and in John 17:17 we are reminded that His Word is truth. Absolute truth is something that is true everywhere all the time, and God is the embodiment of absolute truth.

Interestingly, Paul uses the Roman soldier’s belt to symbolize this truth. For the Roman soldier, this was a piece of equipment he could not enter into the army with but was given to him, and quickly became his prized possession. History suggests that it was the belt that made the solder identifiable to the world that he was a part of the army.

Additionally the markings on the belt would communicate his rank and position.  If a soldier was disciplined, or court marshaled, it was the belt that was removed resulting in humiliation.  Bringing that imagery into our understanding the belt of truth, God’s absolutism is the identifying standard for us to follow and pursue. Our truthful conduct should be an identifying mark that the world recognizes that we are followers of Christ. Jesus describes Himself as truth in John 14:6.

Beyond truth, Paul urges the breastplate of righteousness. The breastplate was critical in the protection of vital organs. It could be an ornate piece of metal to identify the army or division the soldier was a part of, but this hardware was the difference in life and death. It could be compared to today’s bulletproof vests. This equipment is required for battle.

When we think of righteousness, we know that Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us. Romans 3 and 4 describe this in great detail. We have been declared righteous, or justified, through Christ’s blood.   Putting on this piece of hardware boils down to a matter of understanding and walk in the truth of our identity in Christ. As a Christian, we have been declared righteous, but do we live that way. We should walk in confidence that it is Christ that has redeemed us and we are clothed in His righteousness. This is how we can testify that “we are more than conquerors through Christ” (Romans 8:37).

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Livius, XXVII , 13 , 9; Frontinus, Stratagemata I V, I , 26 –27 , 43; Valerius Maximus II , 7 , 9; Plutarch Luc. 15 ; S uet. Octavian 2 4.

Join the Resistance | E.6:13

December 13, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Recent political wars have caused one party to cry for others to join the resistance between alternate parties they feel are oppressive. This language is familiar in our post-modern and narcissistic society. Movies like “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent” paint a dramatic picture of a society that organizes against a powerful and oppressive force. While this imagery is entertaining in movies and motivating in politics, it is very real in the spiritual world. Ephesians 6 clearly describes the power of the Devil and his crafty schemes to rule and oppress the world with evil.

JOIN THE RESISTANCE

Ephesians 6:13 is a call to take a stand and resist. The word used for “withstand”, or “stand firm”, is anthistēmi. This challenge is a proverbial call to arms for all of God’s children to recognize the war around them and decide to join the resistance.

TAKE UP

For this to occur, one must answer and obey the commands of our Lord and Commander, Jesus Christ. This requires a willing and submissive heart that surrenders to His Lordship and yields to His way. Here in 6:12, Paul uses the word “analambanō”, which is translated “take up”. This is a military command that would result in an army to snap into position and take up arms once and for all. It is both intentional and ironic that Paul uses military verbiage to describe the needed conduct for a spiritual war. Of this reality “the historian, Gibbon, relates how the relaxation of discipline and the disuse of exercise rendered soldiers less willing and less able to support the fatigue of the service. They complained of the weight of their armor, and obtained permission to lay aside their cuirass and helmets.” In response to this, our regular and routine spiritual discipline is needed to maintain the strength to hold our position in this resistance.

This discipline is not reliant on emotional swings or pivotal spiritual moments. Many rely on the injection of spiritual adrenaline received from a revival, conference, or summer camp. While those mountaintop moments are beneficial, it is the daily battle and routine discipline that wins the war.

EVIL DAY

Paul urges us to be prepared for the “evil day”. While some theologians suggest this means a definite point in time or ultimate day of battle in the future, I tend to believe this literally means a day. Any day that the Devil can and will attack with evil schemes is considered an “evil day”. Any reader will then realize that this means every day.

If your life is like mine, there is a tendency to be more prone to yield to temptation in the evening. Ironically, for the Hebrew culture, a day begins in the evening and goes until the following evening. Therefore, in this context, those highly tempestuous moments are the start of this evil day.

ANXIETY

It has been my observation that in the evening, or the start of a biblical day, anxiety is at its strongest. Worries of what has been witnessed build and thoughts of what is to come the following morning can be obsessed. An evil scheme of the Devil is to use fear to cripple us.

ISOLATION

Similar to anxiety, in the evening we are most likely to feel isolated and alone. For the child, this may be the reality of being in their dark room and separated from their parents. For the adult, this may be in a hotel room alone at the end of a long day of business travel. It is in these moments of isolation that the Devil begins to work in the “evil day”. Thoughts of worry, fear, and temptation are heightened in the dark.

SELF-GRATIFICATION

This darkness is where the Devil seems to be most comfortable and most effective. These feelings of isolation and loneliness can quickly justify acts of self-gratification. Binge eating, pornography, drunkenness, and other typical sinful activity are most often consumed in the darkness at the beginning of a biblical day.

The reality of war is evident. The call for resistance is clear. The question is, “what do we do”. The need for taking up the full armor of God, as described in the following verses in Ephesians 6, is essential. For the modern day believer, we must begin to view our day more in a biblical sense. Most often we choose to pursue Jesus in the morning. In the evening, we are fatigued and let our guard down. In fact, this it the time we should be most on guard. An assessment of how we spend our time in the evening is crucial. This is an ideal time to practice the spiritual disciplines. Family worship, praise music, reading, praying, and more can help us use our time more wisely and stand firm against the evil.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:13). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Eph 6:13). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Wrestling is real – E.6:12

December 12, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  

As a child, I was fascinated with wrestling. Convinced it was real, I obsessed with the larger than life characters that would parade into the squared circle and go to battle. The drama and storytelling developed around this entertainment would depict good versus evil and championships won at the highest stakes.

While solely intended for show, this imagery does apply to Ephesians 6:12. In this verse, Paul uses a word that is only used one time in Scripture. Pale means to struggle and is translated as wrestle.   This significance of this word is that it implies close quarter combat with high stakes. Using this word to a mostly Greek audience, Paul knew that his readers would understand the significance of this battle.

For a Greek wrestler, the traditional consequence of losing was to have their eyes gouged out, therefore living the rest of his life in blindness. For the Christian, Paul paints a picture of this close quarter combat on a spiritual mat that is even more significant and with eternal consequences.

In a world filled with human relationships, we often consider our enemy to be those we hate or who have hurt us. Paul urges us to recognize that our battle is not in the physical, but in the spiritual world. Our real enemy is the Devil and his legion of demons. They work in a world we cannot see and tempt us with thoughts that move us to sinful conduct, resulting in relational pain that is very physical.

Seeds of discord, temptations of self-satisfaction, arrogant personal gain, and lust for more are just a few of the tactics used in this cosmic war. This close quarter combat takes place in the mind every second of every day. Another way of saying it is that there is a world we cannot see that directly impacts the world that we can see.  It is critical that a Christian be aware of the spiritual warfare around them.

This is not a matter of dramatic entertainment but is one of life and death. People in our life are not the enemy but are being tempted and influenced by the Enemy. We must engage in the war at the spiritual level through intense prayer and use of God’s Word.   Jesus modeled for us that temptation is most effectively resisted by using Scripture. Paul is waving the flag of battle to capture our attention so that we will see the importance of choosing to put on the full armor of God each day and walk in the victory of the Enemy that has already been provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Wuest, K. S. (1997). Wuest’s word studies from the Greek New Testament: for the English reader (Eph 6:12). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 6:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Walking in the dark | Eph.5:15

November 2, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  

If you have ever walked in the woods at night, you are fully aware of the importance of taking care where you place each step, as well as remaining fully aware of your surrounding. While the flashlight in your phone may provide some light, your natural instincts heighten your senses of sound and sight. This imagery provides a layer of understanding and application to Ephesians 5:15.   Paul challenges us to “look carefully how you walk”.

The implication here is one of discernment in observations and careful accuracy in movement.   Furthermore, he urges that we exercise wisdom with proper motivation; instead of walking foolishly. The interesting contrast in this verse is the strictness and discipline needed in walking, coupled with the comparison of foolishness.   It is possible for us to exercise discipline and strict rules but still do so in foolishness.

Let’s look back to our imagery of walking in the woods at night to better understand.   Keeping your eyes straight down on the ground with your flashlight illuminating the next step may ensure you don’t misstep; however, without taking a pause of your surroundings you could easily walk into danger. Remember, there are animals that can see you long before you see them.

As we navigate the path of life, it is critically important to establish rules and boundaries that serve as guard rails and deploy discernment in how we walk. Conversely, we must not be foolish and ignore our surroundings. A legalistic mindset can place borders so strictly that we cannot exercise grace in our quest for truth.   It is wise to engage culture and be aware of how rapidly things are changing.

Understanding and making some sense of our world will allow us to show grace, in addition to wisely standing for truth.   Our ability to live a life of holiness and fulfill the Great Commission lies in the balance of discovering how to walk with discipline and discernment. The great joy is that we have the Light of the World with us to light our path and to help us avoid missteps and also to look out and see a world that is crying out for hope.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 5:15). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Have You disappointed God? | E.4:30

September 23, 2017 by rickysmith Leave a Comment

4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption

Have you ever disappointed God? The very thought caused my stomach to churn! Much has been said about “grieving the Holy Spirit”. The word literally means to disappoint or sadden. I recall as a child often wanting to please my parents and even often seeking affirmation. While others may need physical discipline, I have the type of personality that can be broken by knowing that I have let someone down. The ultimate failure is knowing that I have disappointed or saddened my God.

Ephesians 4:30 is written in the context of how important it is to use words that build up and promote unity. When we don’t extend grace in response to the grace he has extended to us, it breaks His heart.

We should honor Him in all things, to include our words and love others. We read in Ephesians 1:13 that we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. This truth is repeated here in 4:30. While our sin cannot remove us from the hand of God, our actions which grieve the Holy Spirit can damage the seal which historically exists to affirm the authority of the Sealer. The point is that our actions and words ultimately serve as evidence of our redemption and a witness to the Hope of Glory.

In a positive respect, our commitment to building others up serves as a positive witness to point others to Jesus. On the flip-side, our refusal to obey the Lord in this regard can inhibit others from seeing the seal of the Spirit in our lives and the glory of God. This breaks His heart and should break ours as well with a motivation toward holiness.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 4:30). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.