+I. Spiritual forces are much greater, much more efficient, much more
formidable than any mere material forces.+--A strong will is a more
formidable thing than the most highly developed muscle. An idea which
appeals to the intelligence and heart of the multitude is likely to
do more work and to wield a greater sway in the end than any number
of batteries and parks of artillery. It is in the encounter, not of
brute force with conscience and with thought, but in the encounter of
ideas with ideas, in the encounter of wills with wills, that the
destiny of the world is ultimately decided. St. Paul knew that the
Church had to contend with the thought and the reason of paganism
much more truly than with its proconsuls and its legions; and as he
wrote to the Ephesians, he did not mean merely human principalities
and powers, since he contrasts the beings of whom he is speaking with
mere flesh and blood.
+II. Behind all that met the eye in daily life the apostle discovered
another world that did not meet the eye.+--He discerned other forms
hovering, guiding, marshalling, arranging, inspiring that which met
the eye. "Do not let us deceive ourselves," he cries, "as if we had
only to encounter so many social or political forces, so many human
minds and wills, so many human errors, human prejudices, human
traditions, human passions; our real enemies are not human, they lie
in ambush behind the manifold activities of man; they are really
supersensuous. Two great departments of moral life among men are
watched over, each one of them beyond the sphere of human life, by
beings of greater power, greater intelligence, greater intensity of
purpose than man in the world of spirits. These spiritual beings,
good and evil, act upon humanity as clearly, as certainly, and as
constantly as man himself acts upon the lower creatures around. It is
not any mere disposition, inseparable from the conditions of human
thought, to personify, to externalise passion, which has peopled the
imagination of Christendom with demons. It is within ourselves that
we meet now, as the first Christians met, the onset of the
principalities and powers. It is in resisting them, in driving from
us in the name of Christ the spirits of untruthfulness, of sloth, of
anger, and of impure desire, that we really contribute our little
share to the issue of the great battle that rages still."
+III. To love truth and righteousness is to hate their
contraries.+--Hatred of evil is distinct from any hatred of those who
do evil, and who are objects of sincere sorrow, and have claims on
Christian charity. The easy tolerance of moral evil is one of the
most alarming features of our day. Only when the struggle with evil
is a matter of personal experience do we hate it, and enter even
remotely into the apostle's stern language about its agents and its
champions.--_H. P. Liddon._
_The Enemies of Believers._
+I. The enemies referred to are here described as
numerous.+--1. _They are here spoken of in the plural number,_ as
they are also in other passages: "The angels which kept not their
first estate." "The devil and his angels." The names here employed
are collective, and imply numbers. We read of a single person being
possessed with many devils. 2. _Hence the whole world has been filled
with their worship and studded with their temples._ 3. _Hence the
strength of the temptations with which each one is tried._ 4. _Hence
the intensity of human wickedness._ 5. _Hence the need of
watchfulness._
+II. The enemies here spoken of are represented as being in a kind
of subordination the one to the other--there are
"principalities."+--1. _There may be remains among them of that
diversity of rank which originally existed._ 2. _It may be a
submission called for by difference of intellectual and innate
power._ 3. _It may be made conducive to the more successful waging of
the war in which they are engaged_--giving unity of aim, of plan, of
co-operation. They leave no point neglected; turn all their strength
to account. All unity is not of God.
+III. The enemies here described are singly and as detached mighty
for evil.+--They are "powers." 1. _Power intellectual._ 2. _Power
physical._ 3. _Power directed._ 4. _Collective power._
+IV. The apostle characterises these adversaries as the rulers of the
darkness of this world.+--1. _Here a limitation of Satan's dominion
is expressed._--"Rulers of the darkness of this world"--of the hiding
and blinding errors which abound--of those deceived and misled.
2. _It is as the prince of darkness that he contends,_ using
falsehood and the wicked as his instruments.
+V. The enemies are spiritual in their nature.+--1. _They are
intelligent and crafty._ 2. _Invisible._ 3. _Active and unwearied._
+VI. They are wicked spirits.+--1. _They are in themselves wicked._
2. _They would make others wicked._ 3. _They employ the most wicked
means._
+Lessons.+--1. _Watch._ 2. _Pray._ 3. _Resist._ 4. _Stand
fast.--Stewart._
_Evil Angels._
+I. The nature and properties of evil angels.+--1. _Their original
properties were the same as those of the holy angels._ 2. _We do not
know either the occasion of their apostasy or what effect it
immediately produced upon them._ 3. _From the time they shook off
their allegiance to God, they shook off all goodness, and contracted
those tempers which are most hateful to Him and most opposite to His
nature._ 4. _In the prosecution of their infernal designs they are
diligent in the highest degree._ 5. _They do not wander at large, but
are all united under one common head._
Transcriber's Note: With respect to point 5 below, the
Transcriber asserts that man is perfectly capable of doing
evil without any help. Please see Jer. xvii. 9 and James
i. 13-15.
+II. The employment of evil angels.+--1. _They are, as far as God
permits, the governors of the world._ 2. _Satan and all his angels
are continually warring against us, and watching over every child of
man._ 3. _By them the foolish hearts of those who know not God are
darkened._ 4. _They hinder every good word and work._ 5. _There is no
evil done, spoke, or thought without the assistance of the devil._
6. _Such is the malice of the wicked one that he will torment whom he
cannot destroy._ In all these instances we say "the devil," as if
there was only one, because these spirits, innumerable as they are,
all act in concert, and because we know not whether one or more are
concerned in this or that work of darkness.--_Wesley._
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 13-17.
_The Christian Warrior equipped._
+I. He is clothed from head to foot with defensive armour.+--1. _The
girdle of truth._ "Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth" (ver. 14). The military girdle was the belt or cincture
with which the warrior braced himself round the waist, to tighten and
keep every part of his armour in its true place, that there might not
be anything loose and trailing about him to encumber his movements.
Everything about him must be tense and firm, that he may be prepared
to receive the attack of the enemy, however suddenly and powerfully
made, and to act with decision and concentrated energy. So the
Christian warrior must be strengthened and sustained with the girdle
of truth. The truth of the Gospel must be known and conscientiously
embraced, so that we may detect the numerous foes that error is
constantly letting loose upon us, and be able to attack and conquer
them. To cast away our girdle is to incapacitate ourselves for the
combat, and to expose ourselves to wounds and defeat. Conscious
integrity inspires the spiritual warrior with confidence and bravery.
"Let this be my brazen wall, that no man can reproach me with a
crime, and that I am conscious of my own integrity." On the truth we
take our stand, and by the truth we stand. If we keep the truth, the
truth will keep us, and we shall not be "tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of doctrine." "The luxury of
agnosticism, the languors of doubt, the vague sympathies and hesitant
eclecticism in which delicate and cultured minds are apt to indulge;
the lofty critical attitude as of some intellectual god sitting above
the strife of creeds, which others find congenial--these are
conditions of mind unfit for the soldier of Christ Jesus. He must
have sure knowledge, definite and decided purposes--a soul girdled
with truth."
2. _The breastplate of righteousness._--"And having on the
breastplate of righteousness" (ver. 14). The military breastplate or
cuirass was the chief piece of defensive armour. It consisted of two
parts or wings; one covered the whole region of the thorax and
protected the vital organs of the body, and the other covered the
back as far down as the front part extended. As the breastplate
guarded the vital functions contained within the region of the
thorax, so righteousness--the life of God in the soul of man--defends
everything on which the spiritual existence and triumph of the
Christian warrior depend. Righteousness--conscious integrity of
character--is an impenetrable mail from which the missiles of the
enemy fall pointless. Rectitude of life is an invulnerable defence
against the most furious attacks of calumny and oppression: it is an
immovable rock that breaks up the dark billows of opposition into
clouds of helpless spray.
3. _The greaves, or feet-guards._--"Your feet shod with the
preparation of the gospel of peace" (ver. 15). The military greaves
or brazen boots covered the shin or front of the leg. A kind of
_solen_ was often used which covered the sole and laced about the
instep, preventing the foot from being wounded by thorns or rugged
ways, and giving firmness and security to the foothold. Thus shod,
the warrior would take his stand with safety, or move with alertness
over all sorts of ground. Being "shod with the preparation of the
gospel of peace" indicates that the Christian soldier is ever ready
to move with expedition and willingness in publishing the good
tidings of peace. The Israelites were commanded to eat the passover
with their feet shod to show that they were ready for their journey.
Christ commanded His messengers to be shod with sandals, that they
might be ready to go and proclaim the Gospel wherever they were sent.
The Christian warrior is on his way through a strange and hostile
country, and should be every moment not only prepared to proceed, but
be every moment in actual progress, proclaiming peace on his way to
the land of eternal peace. Progress in truth is made by being firmly
established in its principles; every advancing step is taken with
confidence and with the air of one who is assured of the ground on
which he is treading. The Gospel of peace establishes peace between
God and man, and proclaims goodwill and peace to the universe. "The
objection that the apostle is addressing the faithful at large who
are not all of them called to preach the Gospel is mistaken. Every
believer should be prepared to witness for Christ so often as
opportunity affords and needs a readiness thereto. The knowledge of
Christ's peace qualifies him to convey its message. He brings it with
him into the strife of the world. And it is the consciousness that he
possesses himself such peace, and has it to communicate to others,
which enables him to walk firmly and with sure step in the way of
faith" (_Von Hofman_). We preserve the truth by spreading it; and the
best defence against the enemies of the truth is to persuade them to
accept the Gospel of peace. The Christian warrior is not a fighter,
but a peacemaker.
4. _The shield of faith._--"Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the
wicked" (ver. 16). The shield signified is not the small round
buckler or targe of the light-armed man, but the oblong, doorlike
shield, measuring four feet by two and a half, and curved to the
shape of the body, that the Greek hoplite and the Roman legionary
carried. Joined together, these large shields formed a wall, behind
which a body of troops could hide themselves from the rain of the
enemy's missiles. These military shields were made of wood, covered
on the outside with thick leather, which not only deadened the shock
of the missile, but protected the frame of the shield from the
fire-tipped darts used in the artillery of the ancients. So faith is
the shield of the Christian soldier, defending him from the fierce
attacks of the foe, from within and without. By "the fiery darts of
the wicked" the apostle may allude to the darts called _falarica,_
which were headed with lead, in or about which some combustible stuff
was placed that took fire in the passage of the arrow through the
air, and often burnt up the enemies' ships and engines, or stuck in
the shields and set them on fire. The shield of faith cannot be
pierced or destroyed by the fiercest fires of hatred or malice. The
arrows of the wicked, flaming with cruelty, are caught on this
shield, blunted, and extinguished.
5. _The helmet of salvation._--"And take the helmet of salvation"
(ver. 17). The helmet was the armour for the head, was of various
forms, and embossed with a great variety of figures. On the top of
the helmet was the crest or ridge, adorned with several emblematic
figures, either for ornament or to strike terror. The apostle may
refer to a helmet which had an emblematic representation of
hope--that the person who wore it should be safe, should be
prosperous in all his engagements, and escape unhurt from battle. So
the hope of conquering every adversary, and surmounting every
difficulty by the salvation of the Gospel, is a helmet that protects
the head, and is of such impenetrable texture as the blow of the
battle-axe cannot cleave. The hope of continual safety and
protection, built on the promises of the Gospel, protects the
understanding from being confused by the subtle attacks of Satan or
the sophisms of unbelief. Salvation guards the whole man, the head
and heart, and is both helmet and shield.
+II. He is armed with an all-potent offensive weapon.+--"And the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (ver. 17). The
military swords were in various sizes, and in the earliest times were
made of brass. The swords of Homer's heroes were all of this metal.
Great dexterity was acquired in the use of the sword, and an expert
swordsman was an antagonist greatly dreaded. The Word of God is the
offensive weapon wielded by the Christian combatant. It is called the
sword of the Spirit, because it comes from the Holy Spirit, and
receives its fulfilment in the soul through the operations of the
Spirit, who alone can teach its potent use. Facility in quoting the
Word in times of temptation and trial enables the spiritual warrior
to cut in pieces the snares of the adversary. The shield of faith and
the sword of the Spirit are the principal armour of the soul. The
enemies of the cross of Christ fall humiliated and defeated under the
powerful strokes of the Spirit's sword. There are times when the
Christian soldier must not only stand on the defensive, but must lead
the attack with unflinching bravery on the forces of evil. He is safe
only by slaying the enemy.
+III. He is fully prepared to resist and conquer his terrible
opponents.+--"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" (ver. 13). _Stand_ is the spiritual battle-cry. Being armed,
defend your liberties, maintain your rights, discomfort your
spiritual foes, hold your ground against them, never put off your
armour, but be ever standing ready to repel any new attack. The
defence is necessary, for the evil day is at hand, is already
dawning. The early Church had its evil day of persecution and
defection, and the Church of to-day is threatened by an evil day of
subtlest error. The unwary and supine will go down before the forces
of evil, and only the brave and steadfast will survive.
+Lessons.+--1. _The Christian armour is invulnerable._ 2. _The
Christian warrior must attack as well as defend._ 3. _The Christian
warrior can conquer only as he uses the armour provided._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._
Vers. 13-17. _The Christian's Armour._--St. Paul lay in prison at
Rome, bound with a chain to the Roman trooper who watched him day and
night. He employed his prison hours in writing. It was very natural
that his language, like his thoughts, should be coloured here and
there by the objects around him; and we find that whilst writing this
circular epistle to the Ephesians his eye had actually been resting
on the soldier to whom he was chained. In the outfit of the Roman
legionary he saw the symbol of the supernatural dress which befits
the Christian. The ornamented girdle or _balteus,_ bound around the
loins, to which the sword was commonly attached, seemed to the
apostle to recall the inward practical acknowledgment of truth, which
is the first necessity in the Christian character. The metal
breastplate suggests the moral rectitude or righteousness which
enables a man to confront the world. The strong military sandals
spoke of the readiness to march in the cause of that Gospel whose sum
and substance was not war, but spiritual even more than social peace.
And then the large oblong, oval, wooden shield, clothed with hides,
covering well-nigh the whole body of the bearer, reminded him of
Christian faith, upon which the temptations of the evil one, like the
ancient arrows, tipped as they often were with inflammable
substances, would light harmlessly and lose their deadly point; and
then the soldier's helmet, pointing upwards to the skies, was a
natural figure of Christian hope directed towards a higher and better
world; and then he sword at his side, by which he won safety and
victory in the day of battle, and which you will observe is the one
aggressive weapon mentioned in this whole catalogue--what was it but
the emblem of that Word of God which wins such victories on the
battle-fields of conscience, because it pierces, even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, and is the power
of God to salvation to every one that believeth? Thus girded, thus
clad, thus shod, thus guarded, thus covered, thus armed, the
Christian might well meet his foes. He was indeed more than a match
for them, and might calmly await their onset.--_H. P. Liddon._
_The Whole Armour of God._
+I. Truth.+--"Having your loins girt about with truth." By truth is
intended sincerity in our Christian profession, or a firm belief of
and full consent to the Gospel of Christ. A rational conviction of
its truth, joined with a sense of its importance is our best security
against apostasy in the evil day.
+II. Righteousness.+--"And having on the breastplate of
righteousness." A holy and inoffensive life will prevent many
injuries. It will command the reverence of bad and the compassion of
good men. It will obtain the protection of God's providence and the
supports of His grace. It will preserve peace and serenity of
conscience under the reproaches of a malignant world.
+III. Peace.+--"Your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of
peace." This peaceable disposition is a preparation for the trials of
an evil day, and an excellent defence against the asperities of our
Christian path. This will go on before us to smooth the rough
passages of life, or attend us to guard our feet against the sticks
and traps which our enemies cast in our way. Possessed of this
disposition we shall give no offence and provoke no injuries by an
insolent, overbearing behaviour.
+IV. Faith.+--"Above all, taking the shield of faith." Faith is a
grace of universal influence. It is the basis of all Christian
graces. It is the ground-work of all religion in the heart. Faith is
a more effectual defence against the temptations of Satan and the
world than the shields of the mighty against the darts and spears of
their enemies.
+V. Hope.+--"And take the helmet of salvation." The hope of
salvation. God brings salvation. We appropriate it by hope. We must
fight the good fight of faith in hope that the Captain of salvation
will support us in the conflict and lead us to victory.
+VI. Knowledge.+--"The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of
God." The Divine Word is called the sword of the Spirit because it is
rendered effectual by the Spirit in slaying the fleshly lusts and
repelling the outward temptations which war against the soul.
+Reflections.+--1. _We see of what importance it is that we have the
power of religion in our hearts._ 2. _It concerns us to live much in
the exercise of faith._ 3. _Let us exercise our courage according to
the various exigencies of the Christian life.--Lathrop._
_The Duty of Believers in the Evil Day._
+I. The time to which the exhortation refers--the evil day.+--1. _By
the evil day we are clearly to understand the season of temptation._
When "we wrestle."
2. _The evil day may be understood of life itself._--"Few and evil
have been the days of my pilgrimage." Man is tempted till his death.
3. _The evil day may refer to seasons during which temptation is
peculiarly strong._--With our first parents whilst they listened to
Satan. With Christ in the wilderness--near death (John xiv. 30).
4. _Of such seasons we have many examples in Scripture._--The lives
of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Job, Lot, Samson, David, Asa, Hezekiah,
Peter, Demas.
5. _Such seasons each believer can mark in his history._--They are
generally turning points. They are attended by every variety of
outward circumstances, prosperity, adversity, society, solitude,
health, sickness.
6. _With the wicked such days are evil._--Days of suffering, of
danger, of backsliding, of apostasy, of dishonour to Christ, and
triumph to the world and to all the enemies of Christ.
7. _This season of temptation is short._--A day. We should not grow
weary.
8. _Though it be short it is important._--The day of battle is
generally most important in its results. So in spiritual warfare. The
temptation in Eden, etc.
+II. The duty which falls to be performed in the evil day.+--1. _To
withstand._ (1) This has reference to Satan as an assailant. (2) It
binds us to resistance, _i.e.,_ to perform the duty from which Satan
dissuades, to refuse the sin which he recommends, to hold fast that
which we have, and to reject that which he offers in exchange (Rev.
iii. 2).
2. _To proceed from the defensive to the offensive._--"Having done
all," or "conquered all." (1) The believer, as "the good soldier of
Christ," is, like his Master, to be an assailant. (2) By attacking,
Satan discovers himself; and the believer, having resisted, may gain
an advantage. When his stronghold in the heart is found out, it may
be pulled down. Is it pride? (2 Cor. x. 4, 5). (3) Satan can be
contended against only by carrying on an offensive warfare--in the
heart, in the world. The Romans could be conquered only in Italy.
3. _That having resisted and conquered, we still stand._--(1) Though
repulsed, Satan is not slain, his resources are not exhausted, "his
wrath" continues. (2) We must therefore "stand" after victory. Our
armour must be kept on. We must be vigilant. We must be in an
attitude for the fight.
+III. The preparation necessary to the performance of the peculiar
duties of the evil day.+--1. _The evil day is a day of war,_ and
hence its duties and the kind of preparation called for.
2. _There are three things to be noticed in the account of the
believer's preparation._--(1) He must be armed--Divine grace. An
unarmed soldier a contradiction; he is useless for duty, exposed to
death. (2) _He must be completely armed._ For defence and for
offence. (3) _His armour must be that "of God."_ Human virtues will
not do. Human energies will not do.--_Stewart._