+I. Multiplies unnecessary restriction.+
+II. Is a species of self-worship.+
+III. Is unjust to the body.+
* * * * * * * *
+CHAPTER III.+
_CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES._
Ver. 1. +Seek those things that are above.+--Our Lord says that as He
was "from above," so His disbelieving hearers were "from beneath,"
which He interprets as "of this world" (John viii. 23, 24). The
apostle in like manner in the next verse opposes the "things above"
to "things on earth."
Ver. 3. +Your life is hid with Christ in God.+--You are much more
likely to have it kept pure by having it in Christ than by setting
round it a hedge of "Thou shalt" and "Thou shalt not."
Ver. 5. +Mortify therefore your members which are upon the
earth.+--"Quite so!" the heretic teacher might say; "this is just
what we ourselves advise." "Yes," rejoins the apostle; "but let us
know what it is we are to slaughter." It is no hewing and hacking of
the body, but what is as much more difficult as it is noble--the
excision or eradication of evil thoughts (Matt. xv. 19, 20).
+Inordinate affection, evil concupiscence.+--R.V. "passion, evil
desire." The former of these seems to indicate the corrupt conditions
from which the latter springs. +Covetousness, which is
idolatry.+--"Covetousness," or "having more." There is many a man,
beside the clown in _Twelfth Night,_ who says, "I would not have you
to think my _desire of having_ is the sin of covetousness." The full
drag can afford to sacrifice (Hab. i. 16).
Ver. 8. +Anger, wrath.+--The former is the smouldering fire, the
latter the fierce out-leaping flame. +Malice, blasphemy.+--The former
is the vicious disposition, the latter the manifestation of it in
speech that is meant to inflict injury. +Filthy communication+--One
word in the original; R.V. gives it as "shameful speaking." The word
does not occur again in the New Testament. It means scurrilous or
obscene speech. A glimpse of Eastern life helps us to understand the
frequent injunctions as to restraint of the tongue in the New
Testament. Dr. Norman Macleod says: "In vehemence of gesticulation,
in genuine power of lip and lung to fill the air with a roar of
incomprehensible exclamations, nothing on earth, so long as the body
retains its present arrangement of muscles and nervous vitality, can
surpass the Egyptians and their language." But the same thing is
witnessed of other Eastern tongues.
Ver. 9. +Lie not one to another.+--"Very elementary teaching," we
should be inclined to say. Whether there was any special tendency to
this vice in the Colossian converts we cannot know.
Ver. 12. +Bowels of mercies.+--R.V. "a heart of compassion." A case
of concrete for abstract. The physical effect of pity lies at the
bottom of the phrase.
Ver. 13. +Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another.+--Literally it would be, "Bearing with one another, and
dealing graciously with yourselves"; for not only the verbs but the
pronouns also change with a delicate shade of meaning. Forbearance,
like a peace-making angel, passes to and fro between the incensed
parties. +Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.+--The pattern of
all graciousness is Christ. See His parable (Matt. xviii. 33).
Ver. 14. +Above all these things put on charity.+--Reminding us of
the exalted place which the queenly virtue holds in St. Paul's triad.
As the outermost dress of an Oriental was perhaps that which was most
serviceable, so whatever else is put on, "above everything" love must
be remembered. +Which is the bond of perfectness.+--"That in which
all the virtues are so bound together that perfection is the result
and not one of them is wanting to that perfection" (_Grimm_).
Ver. 15. +And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.+--R.V.
margin, "arbitrate." We met the verb for "rule" in ch. ii. 18, but
with a prefix "against." "Let the peace of God be umpire," says the
apostle, in every case of uncertainty and hesitation. He who slept on
Galilee's stormy waters had but to say, "Peace! Be still!" and there
was a great calm. He said, "My peace I leave with you"; and reckless
of consequences the men who received it amazed the authorities by the
boldness of their question, "Whether it be right in the sight of God
to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye" (Acts iv. 19).
Ver. 16. +Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.+--The word for
"dwell in" is the same which assures the believer of an indwelling
power which shall quicken the mortal body, and which describes the
Divine act of grace. "I will dwell in them." +In psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs.+--See on Eph. v. 18, 19. The same composition may be
either psalm, hymn, or spiritual song. The first may be a technical
word, as in Luke xxiv. 44. It indicates a song accompanied by a
stringed instrument. A hymn is a song in praise of some one, exalting
the character and attributes. The third term is the most
comprehensive, and to it, with good reason, St. Paul prefixes
"spiritual." Bacchanalian songs were common enough about Colossæ with
their noisy, unhallowed mirth. St. Paul, like St. James, would not
object to his readers being merry if the spiritual joys--
"From out their hearts arise
And speak and sparkle in their eyes
And vibrate on their tongues."
Ver. 18. +As it is fit in the Lord.+--See Eph. v. 22. The feeling of
propriety St. Paul emphasises here and limits it "in the Lord."
Ver. 19. +Be not bitter against them.+--As love in its most degraded
form might alternate with paroxysms of anger, St. Paul uses the
nobler word for Christian love which casts out hatred as well as fear.
Ver. 20. +For this is well-pleasing.+--Eph. vi. 1: "This is right."
What in Ephesians is regarded as an equitable due from child to
parent is here looked at in another light. The best commentary is
Luke ii. 51, 52. The child Jesus was _subject_ to his parents and
increased _in favour with God._
Ver. 21. +Fathers, provoke not your children.+--The word for
"provoke" is not the same as in Eph. vi. 4. There the word is "do not
exasperate." Here it is "do not irritate." The difficulty of
discriminating between them may perhaps show how near the original
words are in meaning. "Irritation is the first consequence of being
too exacting with children, and irritation leads to moroseness"
(_Lightfoot_). +Lest they be discouraged.+--Broken-spirited. It is a
sad sight to see a man for whom the stress of life has been too much,
but to see a child cowed and dejected--the world has no sadder
spectacle.
Ver. 23. +Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily.+--Eph. vi. 7, "With good
will doing service." R.V. gives the distinction which is obliterated
by "do, do" of A.V. "Whatsoever ye do, work heartily" (margin, "from
the soul").
Ver. 25. +He that doeth wrong.+--The participle of the original
points to the habitual practice of wrong-doing. +There is no respect
of persons.+--In the Ephesian letter this consideration is urged upon
the masters as it is here upon the slaves. Both are amenable to the
same authority.
_MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.--Verses_ 1, 2.
_The Higher Aspirations of the Soul._
You have seen the clouds gather in the sky and settle on the hills.
The thunder mutters, the rain falls, and the scene is one of storm,
confusion, and darkness. Suddenly the whole aspect of the heavens is
changed. A blaze of light springs up among the hills; the storm
ceases; the gloom is swept away; and the outlook is one of
tranquillity, of triumph, and of splendour. Similar to this is the
striking change between the close of the last chapter of this epistle
and the beginning of the present one. The grave warnings against the
sombre errors of a false philosophy, and the supposed meritorious
torturings of the body, which occupy a considerable part of the
second chapter, give place in the opening of the third chapter to a
luminous and inspiring picture of the glorious privileges and lofty
destiny of the believing soul. These verses teach that, being raised
by Christ into newness of life, the soul should aspire to the
attainment of the highest blessings.
+I. The distinguished relation in which the believing soul stands to
Christ.+--"Risen with Christ" (ver. 1).
1. _This relation implies the living union of the soul with
Christ._--The apostle had spoken of the soul as dying with Christ, as
buried with Him, as quickened with Him; and now he advances another
step, and declares that it is also raised with Him. The union between
the believer and Christ was so complete that he participates with
Christ in all He has done. "Therefore we are buried with Him by
baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead
by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of
life" (Rom. vi. 4). As the dead body of the man cast into the
sepulchre of Elisha revived and stood up the moment it touched the
bones of the prophet (2 Kings xiii. 21), so the soul, dead in
trespasses and sins, is quickened by believing contact with Christ,
and rises into a higher and more glorious life.
2. _This relation indicates the nature and tendencies of the
soul._--"Risen with Christ: . . . set your affections on things
above, not on things on the earth" (vers. 1, 2). The change involved
in union with Christ affects man's whole nature. It affects not only
his practical conduct, but also his intellectual conceptions. He is
translated from earth to heaven; and with this translation his point
of view is altered, his standard of judgment wholly changed. His
aspirations spurn the earthly and transitory, and soar towards the
heavenly and eternal. The flies that sport upon the summer stream,
while they plunge their bodies in the water, are careful not to wet
their wings, so that they may fly again into the sunny air. So, while
we are necessarily immersed in "things on the earth," we should take
heed that the wings of our soul are not so clogged as to retard our
flight to heaven.
+II. The sublime objects of the soul's higher aspirations.+--"Things
above." (ver. 2).
1. _Christ is above._--"Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God" (ver. 1). This indicates that Christ is exalted to the highest
dignity. He is above all angelic powers, whatever their position or
rank. The right hand of God also indicates the right hand of power.
Thence Christ wields all the authority and power of universal
government. "Him hath God exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour." He
reigns on high in order to carry out to a glorious consummation the
work He accomplished on the cross. To Him all hearts turn for love
and blessedness, as the flowers turn to the sun. The rudiments of the
world have no longer any power to satisfy. The soul ascends to
heaven, for where the treasure is there will be the heart also; and
the flow of time is rapidly hurrying us on to the moment when we
shall be--
"Caught up to share
The triumph of our Lord."
2. _The source of the greatest spiritual blessings is above._--When
Christ ascended into the heavens He received gifts for men; and from
His lofty throne He delights to distribute those gifts to the needy
sons of men. Thence we receive pardon, the conscious favour of God,
holiness of character, comfort in every time of distress, and hope to
light the pathway of the future. Of all the blessings laid up for us
above, the highest and the best is that which in itself includes all
others--the gift of the Holy Ghost. All, all we want is there.
3. _The heavenly home is above._--There is the abode of peace and
purity; there temptation has no power, and suffering and sorrow can
never enter; there the Saviour reveals His glories and diffuses the
joy of His radiant presence; there all the members of the Father's
family assemble from every part of the globe, never more to separate.
The soul, burdened with the cares of life, and troubled with
multiplied disappointments, yearns for the rest of the heavenly home.
The things on the earth can never satisfy the wants of the soul; they
are unsuited to it; they are beneath it; and, liberated from their
trammels by the resurrection power of the Christ, it seeks its true
happiness above the stars.
+III. The paramount duty of the soul to aspire to the highest
good.+--Seek, set "your affections on things above" (ver. 1). A
similar expression repeated for the emphasis. You are not only to
_seek_ heaven, but also to _think_ heaven. The understanding must be
engaged in duly estimating the value of heavenly things, the will in
preferring them above all things earthly, the affections in embracing
them as the objects to be most evidently desired and loved; in fact,
all the powers of the soul must be constantly exercised in the
search. The soul, raised from the death of sin, is ever responding to
the attractive influence of its risen Lord. "Being thus already
risen, every motion of grace is the struggle of the soul for the
final consummation--the bird is caged, but the wings are free to
flutter within their prison." The soul is now willing, cheerfully and
faithfully, to follow the call of duty, whatever it may entail.
"Oft where she leads, thy blood must mark thy footsteps;
Oft where she leads, thy head must bear the storm,
And thy shrunk form endure heat, cold, and hunger;
But she will guide thee up to noble heights,
Which he who gains seems native of the sky;
While earthly things lie stretched beneath his feet,
Diminished, shrunk, and valueless."
+Lessons.+--1. _The soul is endowed with vast powers and capable of
the highest destiny._ 2. _It is sad to witness thousands whose souls
rise no higher than the things on the earth._ 3. _The soul can
realise its highest aspirations only as it is risen with Christ._
_GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._