Text to read: Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:63-69
- Read and meditate on next Sunday’s scripture: Ephesians 6:10-20 and John 6:63-69.
- Pray each day for the leaders of our community.
19 And pray for me, too, that whenever I open my mouth, the words will be given to me to be bold in making known the secret of the Good News, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may speak boldly, the way I should.
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, 64 yet some among you do not trust.” (For Yeshua knew from the outset which ones would not trust him, also which one would betray him.) 65 “This,” he said, “is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has made it possible for him.”
66 From this time on, many of his talmidim turned back and no longer traveled around with him. 67 So Yeshua said to the Twelve, “Don’t you want to leave too?” 68 Shim‘on Kefa answered him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the word of eternal life. 69 We have trusted, and we know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Ephesians 6:10-20
Verse 10
[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Brethren — This is the only place in this epistle where he uses this compellation. Soldiers frequently use it to each other in the field.
Be strong — Nothing less will suffice for such a fight: to be weak, and remain so, is the way to perish.
In the power of his might — A very uncommon expression, plainly denoting what great assistance we need as if his might would not do, it must be the powerful exertion of his might.
Verse 11
[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Put on the whole armour of God — The Greek word means a complete suit of armour. Believers are said to put on the girdle, breastplate, shoes; to take the shield of faith, and sword of the Spirit.
The whole armour — As if the armour would scarce do, it must be the whole armour. This is repeated, verse 13, because of the strength and subtilty of our adversaries, and because of an "evil day" of sore trial being at hand.
Verse 12
[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
For our wrestling is not only, not chiefly, against flesh and blood - Weak men, or fleshly appetites.
But against principalities, against powers — The mighty princes of all the infernal legions. And great is their power, and that likewise of those legions whom they command.
Against the rulers of the world — Perhaps these principalities and powers remain mostly in the citadel of their kingdom of darkness. But there are other evil spirits who range abroad, to whom the provinces of the world are committed.
Of the darkness — This is chiefly spiritual darkness.
Of this age — Which prevails during the present state of things.
Against wicked spirits — Who continually oppose faith, love, holiness, either by force or fraud; and labour to infuse unbelief, pride, idolatry malice, envy, anger, hatred.
In heavenly places — Which were once their abode, and which they still aspire to, as far as they are permitted.
Verse 13
[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
In the evil day — The war is perpetual; but the fight is one day less, another more, violent. The evil day is either at the approach of death, or in life; may be longer or shorter and admits of numberless varieties.
And having done all, to stand — That ye may still keep on your armour, still stand upon your guard, still watch and pray; and thus ye will be enabled to endure unto the end, and stand with joy before the face of the Son of Man.
Verse 14
[14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Having your loins girt about — That ye may be ready for every motion.
With truth — Not only with the truths of the gospel, but with "truth in the inward parts;" for without this all our knowledge of divine truth will prove but a poor girdle "in the evil day." So our Lord is described, Isaiah 11:5. And as a girded man is always ready to go on, so this seems to intimate an obedient heart, a ready will. Our Lord adds to the loins girded, the lights burning, Luke 12:35; showing that watching and ready obedience are the inseparable companions of faith and love.
And having on the breastplate of righteousness — The righteousness of a spotless purity, in which Christ will present us faultless before God, through the merit of his own blood. With this breastplate our Lord is described, Isaiah 59:17. In the breast is the seat of conscience, which is guarded by righteousness. No armour for the back is mentioned. We are always to face our enemies.
Verse 15
[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel — Let this be always ready to direct and confirm you in every step. This part of the armour, for the feet, is needful, considering what a journey we have to go; what a race to run. Our feet must be so shod, that our footsteps slip not. To order our life and conversation aright, we are prepared by the gospel blessing, the peace and love of God ruling in the heart, Colossians 3:14,15. By this only can we tread the rough ways, surmount our difficulties, and hold out to the end.
Verse 16
[16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Above or over all - As a sort of universal covering to every other part of the armour itself, continually exercise a strong and lively faith. This you may use as a shield, which will quench all the fiery darts, the furious temptations, violent and sudden injections of the devil.
Verse 17
[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
And take for an helmet the hope of salvation — 1 Thessalonians 5:8. The head is that part which is most carefully to be defended. One stroke here may prove fatal. The armour for this is the hope of salvation. The lowest degree of this hope is a confidence that God will work the whole work of faith in us; the highest is a full assurance of future glory, added to the experimental knowledge of pardoning love. Armed with this helmet, the hope of the joy set before him, Christ "endured the cross, and despised the shame," Hebrews 12:2.
And the sword of the Spirit, the word of God — This Satan cannot withstand, when it is edged and wielded by faith. Till now our armour has been only defensive. But we are to attack Satan, as well as secure ourselves; the shield in one hand, and the sword in the other. Whoever fights with the powers of hell will need both. He that is covered with armour from head to foot, and neglects this, will be foiled after all. This whole description shows us how great a thing it is to be a Christian. The want of any one thing makes him incomplete. Though he has his loins girt with truth, righteousness for a breastplate, his feet shod with the preparation of the gospel, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit; yet one thing he wants after all. What is that? It follows,
Verse 18
[18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Praying always — At all times, and on every occasion, in midst of all employments, inwardly praying without ceasing.
By the Spirit — Through the influence of the Holy Spirit.
With all prayer — With all sort of prayer, public, private, mental, vocal. Some are careful in respect of one kind of prayer, and negligent in others. If we would have the petitions we ask, let us use all. Some there are who use only mental prayer or ejaculations, and think they are in a state of grace, and use a way of worship, far superior to any other: but such only fancy themselves to be above what is really above them; it requiring far more grace to be enabled to pour out a fervent and continued prayer, than to offer up mental aspirations.
And supplication — Repeating and urging our prayer, as Christ did in the garden.
And watching — Inwardly attending on God, to know his will, to gain power to do it, and to attain to the blessings we desire.
With all perseverance — Continuing to the end in this holy exercise.
And supplication for all the saints — Wrestling in fervent, continued intercession for others, especially for the faithful, that they may do all the will of God, and be steadfast to the end. Perhaps we receive few answers to prayer, because we do not intercede enough for others.
Verse 19
[19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
By the opening my mouth — Removing every inward and every outward hinderance.
Verse 20
[20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
An ambassador in bonds — The ambassadors of men usually appear in great pomp. How differently does the ambassador of Christ appear! and John 6:63-69
Verse 63
[63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
It is the Spirit — The spiritual meaning of these words, by which God giveth life.
The flesh — The bare, carnal, literal meaning, profiteth nothing.
The words which I have spoken, they are spirit — Are to be taken in a spiritual sense and, when they are so understood, they are life - That is, a means of spiritual life to the hearers.
Verse 64
[64] But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
But there are some of you who believe not — And so receive no life by them, because you take them in a gross literal sense.
For Jesus knew from the beginning — Of his ministry: who would betray him - Therefore it is plain, God does foresee future contingencies: - "But his foreknowledge causes not the fault, Which had no less proved certain unforeknown."
Verse 65
[65] And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Unless it be given — And it is given to those only who will receive it on God's own terms.
Verse 66
[66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
From this time many of his disciples went back — So our Lord now began to purge his floor: the proud and careless were driven away, and those remained who were meet for the Master's use.
Verse 68
[68] Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
Thou hast the words of eternal life — Thou, and thou alone, speakest the words which show the way to life everlasting.
Verse 69
[69] And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
And we — Who have been with thee from the beginning, whatever others do, have known - Are absolutely assured, that thou art the Christ. (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes).
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