The
closing exhortations - that is, of our chapter - are full of
importance, and are, as might be expected from all previously seen, in
view of the path in this world proper to the saints, who have Christ
appearing in the presence of God for them. They do not, consequently,
rise to the height of the communications in Ephesians; for the subject
throughout has been the heavenly calling, rather than the mystery of
Christ and the church.
Brotherly
love is to continue spite of obstacles. Hospitality is not to be
forgotten, if we would fare like Abraham. Prisoners and the ill-used
are to be borne in mind, considering ourselves and our own
circumstances. Marriage is to be honoured and purity sought in or out
of that state. Our conduct is to be without avarice, contented with
what we have; for God will be true to His word of unfailing care, even
as to these things; so that we say boldly, "The Lord is my helper and I
will not fear. What shall man do to me?"
The Holy Ghost then tells the saints (v. 7) to remember their leaders
who had spoken God's word to them, the issue of whose conversation was
worthy of all consideration and their faith to be imitated. They were
gone; but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
Let them not, then, be carried away by various and strange doctrines.
Grace is that which establishes the heart, not meats by which those who
walked in them were not profited. It is a mistake to think that
Christians have no altar: they have one, whereof those who serve the
tabernacle have no authority to eat. That is, the Jews have lost their
place of privilege, which now belongs in an infinitely more blessed way
to such as have Jesus. As in Him, so in us, the extremes of shame here
and glory above are found to meet. It was not so with Israel. They had
the camp, and they could not draw within the veil. And yet even they
had the most striking type of another state of things. "For the bodies
of those beasts whose blood is brought into the sanctuary for sin, are
burned without the camp. Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify
the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go
forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For
here have we no continuing city, but we seek the one to come."
Christians now must bear the cross, waiting for heaven with Christ. All
middle ground is gone with the old covenant. But if we wait for glory,
not the less but the rather should we praise continually, offering by
Jesus to God the fruit of the lips which confess His name, and not
forgetting sacrifices of doing good and communication.
Further,
we are called to obey our leaders and to submit ourselves; for "they
watch over your souls as those that shall give account." It is not that
they are to give account of the souls of others, but of their own
conduct in respect of others. Obedience on the part of those watched
over would be much for these guides, that they might do their work with
joy, and not groaning, for this would be unprofitable for the saints.
The
apostle asks their prayers, which he could with a good conscience,
occupied with the work of grace, and not the weakness and failure of a
careless walk. Moreover, he besought it of them, that he might be the
sooner restored to them.
And how blessed and suited to their need and comfort is his concluding
prayer! "The God of peace that brought again from among the dead our
Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, in [virtue of] the blood
of the everlasting covenant, perfect you in every good work to do his
will, doing in you that which is pleasing before him, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
The
name of Paul does not appear at the close any more than at the
commencement; and this for obvious reasons in a letter to saints of the
circumcision. But who else would have so spoken of Timothy? The writer
was in Italy, and sends the salutation of such as were there. The
apostolic under-current is apparent to a spiritual mind.