《The Biblical Illustrator – Ephesians (Ch.5b~6)》(A Compilation)
05 Chapter 5
Verse 12
Ephesians 5:12
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Sinful deeds
The practices of the unconverted heathen are set forth by a double brand--
1. They are done of them in secret.
2. It is a shame to speak of them, there is such a turpitude and filthiness in them. So that in these words may be observed--
For the first I shall observe that all sense of right and wrong, good and evil, is not wholly extinguished in the heart of man; for here the unbelieving Gentiles, though they did abominable things, yet they did them in secret, which showeth some relics of natural conscience and shame in them.
1. Naturally we apprehend a difference between virtue and vice, good and evil; for we apprehend the one as culpable and evil, and the other as honest and commendable.
2. This apprehension is most sensibly betrayed by our affections of shame and fear.
3. This apprehension produceth different effects in the godly and wicked. We have an instance in the text. In the unconverted it produceth hypocrisy, in the converted shyness and abhorrence of sin. In the unconverted pagan Ephesians it produced hypocrisy; they did seek to hide what they would not avoid. Though the things were abominable, and had the marks of nature’s dislike and improbation upon them, yet they committed them in secret; as many a man’s heart reproacheth him, yet he goeth on still in his sins, and if he may commit them secretly, without being seen by others, they think themselves safe and secure, and for the present out of gunshot. But here is another sort of men intimated in the text; the apostle, and those like-minded with himself, all children of light, that abhor these deeds of darkness, are ashamed to mention what others are not ashamed to practise. Unbelievers have but a spark of conscience left; they know their practices are abominable, but they do them in secret. These are so far from committing these things, that they count it a shame to speak of them, or to hear them spoken of by others, it cannot be done without blushing.
1. To show us the evil of sin. Two things in the text discover that.
2. It shows how impudent and desperate in sin they are, and how much they have outgrown the heart of a man, and lost all feelings of conscience, that “declare their sins as Sodom, and hide them not” (Isaiah 3:9).
Men grow not to this impudence at first, but by several degrees they lose the apprehension of evil of sin.
1. Satan suggests to us some sin, to which he finds us by nature prone, and which he seeks plausibly to insinuate as profitable and pleasant (James 1:14).
2. This suggestion, if it be not presently resisted, breedeth in our minds a certain delectation. It is sweet in his mouth, and he hideth it under his tongue.
3. Delight moveth the lust or concupiscence, and draweth out and engageth our consent (Joshua 7:21).
4. This impelleth and urgeth the will to action: “And lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth forth sin” (James 1:15).
5. The act being finished, unless the sinner be corrected by God, or awakened by His Spirit, breedeth security: “Sin when it is finished bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).
6. Security inviteth us to continue in the sin, as also to make no conscience of other sins (Deuteronomy 29:19-20).
7. This continuance and living in sin taketh away the sight and odiousness of it, and produceth hardness of heart and blindness of mind (Hebrews 3:13).
8. This induration and excecation, this blindness and hardness of heart, is at first partial, concerning this or that sin; but at length general, concerning all sin; and this begetteth that horrid impudence that men are past all shame.
9. That it is the folly and madness of sinners that know the filthiness of sin to commit it secretly, and think themselves secure if they may escape the eye of man.
I shall prove it--
1. From the evil of secret sins; although to be a bold and open sinner is in some respects more heinous than to be a secret and private sinner, because of the dishonour to God, the scandal of others, and impudence in the sinner himself.
2. It is folly and madness, because God loveth to discover it. Our Lord telleth us (Luke 12:2).
Exhortation, to press you to three duties.
1. Take more care to get your sins pardoned than hidden: “He that hideth his sin shall not prosper; but he that confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13). We seek to hide our sins from the world, from ourselves, and from God.
2. Study more to approve yourselves to God than to be concealed from men. Godly simplicity and sincerity will be our comfort (2Corinthians 1:12).
3. Humble yourselves, not only for open, but secret, sins (Psalms 19:12). (T. Manton, D. D.)
Too bad for sight
There is a museum at Naples in which are placed the multitudes of curious things found in the two old cities, Pompeii and Herculaneum, when they were dug out. It was found that there were things too foul, too horrible for Christian eyes to contemplate. These have been placed in a room apart, and people are not allowed to go into it without special permission from the authorities. Think what must have been the condition of society when foulnesses of this sort were exposed unblushingly before all eyes, in the streets, on the walls of the chambers, before children from their earliest infancy. (S. Baring-Gould, M. A.)
Old sins require patience
I feel grieved when I hear or read of people who can stand up and talk about what they used to do before they were converted very much in the way in which an old seafaring man talks of his voyages and storms. No, no; be ashamed of your former lusts in your ignorance, and if you must speak of them to the praise and glory of Christ, speak with bated breath and tears and sighs. Death, rottenness, corruption, are all most fitly left in silence, or, if they demand a voice, let it be as solemn and mournful as a knell. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Verse 13
Ephesians 5:13
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.
The light of Christianity reproving the world
In the text we have--
1. An assertion--“But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light.”
2. The proof of it--“For whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
1. An assertion or proposition, where two things are to be considered.
2. The proof is taken from the common nature of all light, natural and sensible, or spiritual and intellectual--“Whatever doth make manifest is light.” Natural light maketh manifest things proper to it; so doth spiritual light things that belong to its sphere, things morally good or evil. That the light of Christianity, shining forth in the Word of God and the lives and actions of Christians, is a great means of reproving and convincing the world. That this light shineth forth both in their words and deeds.
3. This then is that which we are to make conscience of, that our light may be a reproving light to the wicked and carnal world; and that for these reasons--
It informeth us of divers truths.
1. That though by the light of nature we have some sense of the turpitude of sin, yet we have not a perfect knowledge of it; the light of Christianity giveth us that.
2. It informeth us that some general sense of the shamefulness of sin will not break the power and force of it. To persuade us to get light. It is a shame to be ignorant of our necessary duty. If a man be asked whether he can paint or carve, he may answer without shame, I am ignorant; that skill is not necessary; but if he be ignorant how to love and please and serve God, then he is brutish, like the horse or mule, that hath no understanding. (T. Manton, D. D.)
Light reproves sin
A colonial governor of the Bahamas, who was about to return to England, offered to use his good offices to procure from the Home Government any favour the colonists might desire. The unanimous reply was as startling as the demand for the head of John the Baptist in a charger: “Tell them to tear down the lighthouses; they are ruining the prosperity of this colony.” (The people were wreckers.) (W. C. Church.)
Verse 14
Ephesians 5:14
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
A call to slumbering souls
I. The character of those addressed.
1. If you allow yourself in the practice of known wickedness, your conscience is asleep.
2. If you live in the customary neglect of self-examination, you are in a state of slumber.
3. If you have never been in any degree affected with a sense of your guilt, and of your dependence on the mercy of God in Christ, you are among those who are asleep.
4. If you have no conflicts with sin and temptation, you are in a state of slumber.
5. The prevalence of a sensual and carnal disposition is a sign of spiritual death.
6. Stupidity under the warnings of God’s word and providence, indicates such a state of soul as the Scripture compares to sleep.
II. Apply the call.
1. This awakening must suppose and imply a conviction of your sin, and a sense of your danger.
2. This awakening from sleep, and arising” from the dead, implies a repentance of sin and turning to God.
3. They who have awoke from their sleep and risen from the dead will experience the properties, and maintain the exercises of a holy and spiritual life.
III. The encouragement--“Christ shall give thee light,” shall shine upon and enlighten thee.
1. This may be understood as a promise of pardon and eternal life on your repentance.
2. The words farther import God’s gracious attention to awakened souls, when they frame their doings to turn to Him. The call is, Awake, arise from the dead, repair to the Saviour. Say not, “We are unable to discern the way.” Christ will shine upon you and give you light. Say not, “We are unable to rise and walk.” He will meet you with His grace. Arise, He calleth you. He will guide your steps. (J. Lathrop, D. D.)
Awake
I. Images of the sinner’s state.
1. Sleep. This state, though usually benign and refreshing, is sometimes one of great danger. The traveller who sleeps when exposed to excessive frost, the sailor who sleeps upon the mast, are examples.
2. Darkness. This is emblematical of ignorance, error, and iniquity, and especially of the want of any certain prospect for the future.
3. Death. The insensibility, powerlessness, and immovableness of the corpse are an awful representation of the sinner’s state.
II. Representations of the sinner’s need.
1. Awakening.
2. Enlightening.
3. Raising to life.
The ministry of our Lord Jesus affords us many and striking instances of the exercise of a Divine power in these ways.
III. A revelation of the sinner’s hope.
1. A Divine command: Awake! arise! There is something for man to do in order that he may enjoy the blessings of the gospel.
2. A Divine promise: Christ will enlighten thee. (Clerical World.)
The Church aroused
I. The state of mind into which a Christian may sometimes get.
1. The insidious character of it,
2. What is the evil itself? It is an unconsciousness of one’s own state, and a carelessness of such a kind as not to want to be conscious of it. The man takes everything for granted in religion. He seems, too, to be perfectly immovable to all appeals. The best argument is lost on a sleeping man, and then this slumbering spirit spreads itself over everything else. There is a heartlessness in the manner in which everything is gone about.
3. Now, two or three words upon what makes this evil of Christians being asleep a great deal worse.
4. What is it that sends us to sleep?
II. Christ’s message to those of His people who are asleep.
1. Jesus speaks this in love. He would not say “awake,” were it not the kindest thing He could say to you. Sometimes a mother’s love lulls her child to sleep, but if there is a house on fire the mother’s love would take another expression and startle it from its slumbers; and Christ’s love takes that turn when He says to you, “Awake! Awake! awake!”
2. It is His wisdom as well as His love that makes Him say it. He knows that you are losing much by sleeping.
3. It is a voice, too, which you ought to own, for it is backed up by the authority of the person from whom it comes.
4. It is a voice which has been very often repeated. Christ has been saying, “Awake! Awake!” to some of us many hundreds of times. You were sick, were you, a few months ago? That was Christ, as it were, shaking you in your sleep, and saying, “Awake, My beloved, awake out of thine unhealthy slumbers!”
5. A personal cry--“Thou.” Not, “Awake all of you”; but, “Awake thou!” Shall I pick you out one by one?
6. He puts it very pressingly in the present tense. “Awake! awake now.” Not a few years hence, but now. This moment.
III. The promise with which Christ encourages us to awake--“Christ shall give thee light.” What means this?
1. Instruction.
2. The light of joy. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Christ the Spiritual Light
I. The characters here addressed. “Asleep,” “dead”--expressions applicable to the natural state of man.
II. But to such the gracious invitation is given--“Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” This invitation or command, very naturally divides itself into two branches--the external call of the gospel, and the internal call of the Holy Spirit.