Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 4:1-6”
Categories: Ephesians“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”
--- End of Scripture verses---
Okay I guess we need to spend a few days on this passage in order to do it any justice at all. We mentioned in the introductory remarks about this letter that one of its main themes is “unity”. Paul really drives that theme home in today’s verses as he gives reference to the “seven ones” as motivation to “preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (verse 3). Just as surely as there is only one body (the church), one (Holy) Spirit, one hope, One Lord (Jesus Christ), one faith, one baptism and one (Heavenly) Father; we should strive to unite as one in the kingdom of our Savior.
In order to effectively become a truly united body of believers, we must, as individuals, make some personal sacrifices. We really need to learn the art of putting others before self, and that is not always an easy skill to acquire. We must strive to interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ with “all humility and gentleness” (verse 2). To be humble is to take a “lowly” view of oneself. If we think too highly of ourselves then we are always going to be putting our own needs, wants and opinions before everyone else’s, and that is a formula for disaster in a congregation.
“Gentleness” or “Meekness” is not “weakness” but strength under control. We will need to exercise this gentle disposition in order to resist the urge to retaliate when a fellow Christian does us wrong, because, let’s face it—we all treat each other poorly at one time or another. We need, by God’s grace, to develop the ability to absorb a wrong suffered and then to freely and eagerly forgive the offender. Paul wrote in verse 32 of this same chapter, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
We need to exhibit “patience” when we are dealing with Christians from a variety of backgrounds and at differing levels of spiritual development. This is the Greek word “makrothumias” and it is often rendered “longsuffering”. If we truly love our spiritual family, we will learn to “show tolerance” for their weaknesses and quirks, understanding that, yes, we all have our own! “Love is patient, love is kind…” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Love also “bears all things” and “endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). We dare not tolerate sin and error, but we must learn to deal patiently and tolerantly with imperfect people who sometimes stumble.
More tomorrow Lord willing!
Have a blessed and safe day!
-Louie Taylor
