Hebrews 2:1-4

¹ Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. ² For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

Commentary

Vs. 1 "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."

Giving the exceedingly great and grand and glorious salvation God has brought to us all through His Son, we all need to take the more earnest heed to His Word, because complacency towards the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel almost always ensures one will drift away to their own eternal ruin (consider Jesus' warning in the parable of the Sower). History then is riddled with men and women who started out well, but never finished their own race of faith (antithesis 2 Tim. 4:7-8). 

Vs. 2-4 "For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,³ how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, ⁴ God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

If the Word of God spoken through angels to the Old Covenant Israelite's proved steadfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward when they disobeyed it, how much more will we be deserving of God's wrath and punishment if we also neglect and fall away from the very Word of God spoken to us all through His own Son! Which was first spoken by Him, then confirmed to us all by those who heard Him; that is everyone who was an eye witnesses of Jesus Christ's life, death, resurrection, and ascension bore witness to it, with God Himself bearing undeniable witness to His Word with signs and wonders, and with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, which He gave according to His own will, which He worked through them all mightily. And so there is no excuse for anyone not to believe the Lord Jesus Christ's Word. For God is the Author of it and so its origins are self evident to anyone whose eyes are not blinded, or whose heart is not hardened. For again God is bore witness to His Word with signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth, and even now as the last days are upon us, we see it's fulfillment unfolding right before our very eyes as lawless abounds and transgressors reach their fullness. Therefore just as the very Word of God spoken through angels proved steadfast to the Israelite's when they disobeyed it (vs. 2). The Word of God in recalling these things to us is doing so that none of us neglect so great a salvation, which the prophets and God's people under the Old Covenant economy steadfastly looked forward too and longed for (1 Peter 1:10-12). Therefore since we are the generation to which it has come to be fulfilled be reconciled to God today by opening your heart to Him and and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and then follow Him in discipleship, "for as many as received Him to them He gave the right to become children of God." John 1:12  

Scripture Quotations 

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 1:1–14

¹ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. ⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? ⁶ But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” ⁷ And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” ⁸ But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” ¹⁰ And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. ¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; ¹² Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.” ¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Preamble: The Book of Hebrews from it's outset has but one objective to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us, above all. For all that God did and brought forth before Him were just mere types and shadows and forerunners sent to reveal and prepare the way for the Manifestation of God's Son Jesus Christ's Glorious Person and Everlasting Ministry. And so with that thought in mind let us look into this wondrous book whose purpose is to fix our faith on Jesus Christ alone. 

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 ¹ God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 

From the outset then the Word of God makes it clear that it is the Lord Jesus Christ and His Preeminence that is being exalted here, for God who spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets (vs. 1), has in these last days spoken to us all by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom He also made the worlds (vs. 2). 

And so it is the Lord Jesus Christ whose Person, Power, Authority, Majesty and His Ministry to us all through His Word that far and away excels and exceeds all that came before Him, for it is He alone to whom all the prophets came to bear witness too, and thus it is the Lord Jesus Christ, and He alone to whom we all owe our submission and obedience too (Deut. 18:15-22), because as the Scripture says God has appointed His Son Jesus Christ heir of all things, through whom He also made the worlds. Thus before anything ever came into existence there was the Everlasting Father, Son, Spirit God who created all things through His own Son, and for His own Son. The Preeminence and Supremacy of God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ then is clear, for it is He and He alone we are all to not only look too for our salvation (John 3:16), but it is the Lord Jesus Christ alone that God commands that we all bow the knee, and thus live in subjection too Him (Isaiah 45:23; Rom 1:1-7 vs. 5; Rom 14:11; 16:25-27; Phil 2:8-11 etc.). And so not the prophets, not Moses, not Elijah, not king David, nor anyone or anything else has ever been spoken of in such a light, only God's Son through whom God also made the worlds. For it is Jesus Christ alone whom God has appointed heir of all things. The significance then of such a statement should not be lost on any of us, since it is God the Father who has Exalted His own Son the Lord Jesus Christ above all things, both in heaven and on earth.

Vs. 3 "who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high"

The Lord Jesus Christ is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of God's Person, and is upholding all things by the Word of His Power, is no less God then God Himself (see Matt. 17:1-8). The Lord Jesus Christ then is upholding all things by the Word of His power, for Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, Creator and Sustainer, by whom all things are being Sustained by the Word of His Power. For it is Jesus Christ alone when He first by Himself purged our sins by His own shed blood and Crucifixion death; and thus having made atonement for us all who believe in Him; Jesus then "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," waiting till all His enemies are made His footstool. Therefore Jesus Christ being the brightness of God's glory and the expressed image of His Person brings to us all, all that can be seen and perceived and received and understood of God by us as finite beings. Thus all of God's Glorious Spiritual and Moral and Eternal Characteristics and Qualities are manifested to us all through God's Son. If you want to know God, then know His Son!

Vs. 4 "having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

Now the angels have power and they bear a glory, and through them God often ministered His Word to His people (Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19). Yet none of them has God the Father ever appointed to be heir of all things. Indeed they ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation (Heb 1:14). And so none of the angels have never been, nor will they ever be exalted to being on par with God's Son. Indeed they are just the Lord's spiritual ministers obeying His Word and doing His will (Psalm 103:20). And so Jesus Christ by inheritance, that is by being God the Father's only begotten Son, has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they. That is both by His eternal position with God the Father as His Son and now by His obedient Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension Jesus Christ by inheritance has obtained a more excellent Name then they. Therefore we are never commanded to look too or worship angels (Col. 2:18; Rev. 19:10; 22:9). "For there is no other Name given under heaven amongst men by which we must be saved" Acts 4:12 

Vs. 5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”? 

Now God the Father in Psalm 2:7 says only to Jesus His Son, "You are My Son today I have begotten You." There is then no reference to any angels in regards to this Word. Now Jesus Christ the Son has always been with God the Father, and so begotten here is referring to when Jesus Christ the Son of God took on a human flesh and became the Son of Man. Thus the prophetic Word of God is here directed exclusively too the Lord Jesus Christ, (and His fulfilling it), not angels. Again there is the prophetic quotation from 2 Samuel 7:14 which as the Holy Spirit reveals here was given of Jesus Christ alone who would come through the genealogical heritage of King David and thus God fulfill His Position as the Son of Man, and so God the Father would be Jesus Christ the Son's Father here on earth as well, to whom God has promised Jesus Christ and Him alone, that He shall rule over the Nations (Psalm 89:27; 110:1-3).  Again no angels have ever been spoken of in this light. 

Vs. 6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

And so the prophetic Word of God directs not only us, but also all the angels of God to worship the Son of God when He comes into the world as the Son of Man. Now this is clearly seen in the Gospel with the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and the angelic hosts praising and worshiping God when He does (see Luke 2:13-14). Now Jesus Christ is not only firstborn of God, in that in doing so He became the Son of Man; and thus heir of all the nations and all of creation; but Jesus Christ is also the firstborn of God amongst us all who believe in Him. For He is the first to attain to the Resurrection of dead, and thus with His glorification Jesus Christ became the firstborn amongst many brethren who by Him will all brought to new and everlasting life by faith In Him and through Him (consider Rom 8:29; Col 1:15, 18; Rev. 3:14). And so it is the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone who is to always have the Preeminence amongst us all, not angels which we who believe in Him will one day judge (1 Cor 6:3). 

Vs. 7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”

Now in exalting the Son of God, God's angels still have a very important service with God, but there's is not to rule over the nations, nor His creation. Rather they are His angelic servants through whom God often brought forth His Revelation to His servants the prophets (consider Daniel 7:1-9:27; 8:16; 9:20-27; 10:1-12:13; Zechariah 1:9, 13, 14, 19; Acts 7:53; Gal 3:19 etc.), or they serve as God's emissaries which can also take on a human bodily form (Heb 12:2), warning people as with Lot before God executed His judgment as on Sodom and Gomorrah, and thus they are also His ministers through whom He has rendered judgment on both people and nations (consider Gen. 19:1-29; 1 Kings 22, vs. 20-23), but to us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ they are His ministering spirits sent forth to us who will inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). Angels then may serve to guide us, protect us, or even instruct us (consider Matt. 28:2-8; Acts 5:17-21; 8:26-40; 10:1-8, vs. 3; 12:5-19; 12:20-24; 27:21-26 etc.). And so angels are very powerful spirit beings which no one is to speak evil of (2 Peter 2:10-11; Jude 8-9). 

Vs. 8-9 ⁸ But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” 

Since angels are a means by which God exercises His judgment on His enemies (vs. 7), His Son is the means by which He exercises His rule. And so to His Son God says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. The Lord Jesus Christ isn't just our Savior and Redeemer, He is by God's Will our Lord and King and Ruler of all! Now a scepter here is being used as a metaphor to signify the Lord Jesus Christ's Right to Rule. And rule in righteousness is what Jesus always does, that is what is meant in verse eight when it states, "A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom" (see Psalm 45:6-7). This then is affirmed in verse nine, when it says again of God's Son the Lord Jesus Christ, "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness". For that is the principal quality that qualifies Jesus Christ to serve in God's Presence as God's Holy King, for God's Son loves righteousness and hates lawlessness. Righteousness as revealed in God's Word and lawlessness that will be judged by the same. "Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions." The anointing of oil here is not just symbolic of the Son being chosen as God's King and Priest, rather God the Father anointing Christ the Son with the "oil of gladness", is because Jesus' delight is in doing all righteousness at all times, thus God the Father has anointed Him with the oil of gladness making Him exceedingly joyful as He perpetually does, loving righteousness and hating lawlessness; and thus ruling justly and without partiality is what the Lord Jesus Christ always does, for He always rules in the fear of the Lord (see Isaiah 11:1-5).  "Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

Vs. 10-12 ¹⁰ And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. ¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment; ¹² Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail.”

The Son of God is not just the Preeminent One in God's Kingdom, but He is Preeminent One over all of God's creation. For the earth and the stars and all things within them are all the work of the Lords hands, and these all have an end, they all will perish, but the Son of God has no end, He is the same from generation to generation (Heb 13:8) and His years will not fail because His Person and Power and Rule is forever! 

Vs. 13 ¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? ¹⁴ Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

The finial and most decisive thought in dealing a death blow to all who would want to worship angels, or spirits, or put them on par with the Son of God comes to us in the form of a question, asking us all "But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”? The answer is none, because as verse fourteen states they are all just ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation, not minister too us (as those in the occult would try to have demon spirits do, become subservient to their own persons and will), but minister for us, that is God's angels are at work behind the scenes of the visible realm, fighting spiritual battles and paving spiritual paths as God directs them, so that we can all faithfully follow the Lord Jesus Christ. And so angels are never to be worshiped or exalted just as they themselves declare (see Rev 19:10; 22:9). For again is God Himself who has said to His Son and not to the angels, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” Psalm 110:1  And so it is God Himself who has reserved the Highest place and seat of Everlasting Honor, Prestige, Power and Glory exclusively for His Son the Lord Jesus Christ who having fulfilled His Word through His own life, death, resurrection and ascension is now seated at God's right hand waiting till God makes all of His enemies His footstool. And so it will be God the Father Himself who will subjugate and relegate all of His Sons enemies to the place of perpetual defeat and eternal condemnation when He exalts His Son the Lord Jesus Christ in the Presence of all of His Creation. And so whether these enemies are in heights of heaven or the depths of hell, they will all be made to be Lord Jesus Christ's footstool at the time God fulfills His Word and glorifies His Son. Which is a day that not only believers long for, but all of creation now awaits. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Ephesians 6:21–24

²¹ But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. ²³ Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Commentary

Vs. 21-22 "But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; ²² whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts." 

Now in order to keep the Ephesians informed about his affairs and those with him, the Apostle Paul now commends to them a beloved Christian brother named Tychicus, whom Paul describes here as a faithful minister in the Lord. Clearly then Paul trusted Tychius, as he not only entrusts him here with delivering his most prized possession, this epistle too the Ephesians, but Paul also is trusting Tychicus of informing them of all his affairs in such a way so as to comfort their hearts. Now this is not the only mention of Tychius in the N.T., for the Apostle Paul also gives a great commendation of Tychicus to all the believers in Colassae as well (Col. 4:7-8). And so Tychicus a beloved brother, faithful minister of the Gospel, and most endearing a loyal friend to the Apostle Paul is just one of the many named and unnamed saints who down through the centuries not only served the Gospel of Christ with their lives; in every good word and deed; but they in their faithfulness to Christ our Lord and Savior also helped to preserve it for us all. Every Gospel preacher than needs to have a believer and friend like Tychius in their lives as well (also see Acts 20:4; 2 Tim 3:9-12; Titus 3:12). 

Vs. 23 "Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." 

In concluding his epistle Paul now bestows some blessings upon all the brethren, beginning with peace, both a personal inner peace that comes from knowing God and being in a right relationship with Him, as well as peace with each other because all peace and harmony in ourselves and with each other comes from God our Father, same with love and faith, which are the evidences of the Lord Jesus Christ working mightily in and through a believer or an assembly.  These three things then should define us as Christians: faith, love and peace. For faith is what pleases God (Heb 11:6) for through faith we believe in God, and seek God, and trust God, and thus we serve God in His Son, all by faith. While love and peace is the manifested Presence of God in our persons and lives which God gives us all who believe in His Son through His Spirit. And so all people can perceive Christ within us through the same. Now how they respond to that fragrance of Christ given them through us will always be different. For to the one whose longing, and thirsty, and broken soul is looking for rest we will be a welcomed refreshing, comfort, and a joy (Matt 11:28-30). While to the other when they perceive Christ's Presence and peace within us they only well up with all manner of rage and fury, for such is their "fathers" nature, and thus so is theirs, to only be continually antagonistic and hostile and furious towards all that comes from God and is truly of God (consider John 8:44; Rev. 12:2). Nonetheless we always have cause to rejoice because God is not only sustaining us by faith, but He is watching over us in His love and peace and giving us the same, as we journey homeward with Him.   

Vs. 24 "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen."

The Apostle Paul now bestows God's grace on us all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity (that is with an incorruptible undying love, that doesn't forsake ones relationship with Christ for something less, consider Heb 12:14-17, vs 16). And so here Paul is wishing us all wellness in our lives and fullness in our relationship with God our Father.

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Ephesians 6:10–20

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Commentary

Vs. 10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might."

In bringing to a close this epistle (and as a precursor of all that is to follow), the Apostle Paul now tells us all to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. For every Christian will face innumerable challenges and difficulties and temptations as we sojourn through this life (Matt. 7:13-14). And so if there is one thing that will carry each and every believer in good times and bad it is our strength (or confidence) in the Lord, in the power of His might to accomplish in us, and do through us all that we cannot. Thus from our redemption and regeneration, to our ongoing sanctification, as we walk through the perils of this world and life, to our finial salvation when we take our forever places with Christ in His Kingdom in heaven, our confidence must never be in our talents, gifts, or abilities, (and thus ourselves) but in the Lord Jesus Christ and the power of His might (consider Phil. 1:6). 

Vs. 11 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." 

Now being strong in the Lord and the power of His might requires that we ourselves not only submit ourselves to the will of God (James 4:7), but that we put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles (schemes) of devil. Hence no Christian is ever called to be passive, rather we are to be proactive by preparing ourselves for all the temptations and trials and tribulations that are surely to come by him, and then resisting him steadfast in the faith through the same when they do (consider 1 Peter 5:8-9).  

Vs. 12 "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

The Apostle Paul now directs us away from seeing "flesh and blood" (i.e. people) as our adversary, to who really is our adversary, that is the devil and all of Satan's army of angelic beings through whom he not only seeks to induce as much havoc and carnage and misery as he can in this world, by deceiving and manipulating and enraging people into doing his will (consider 2 Tim 2:25-26), but through the same spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, he also makes war with each and every believer. For we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who seek to obey God and keep His commandments, are the focus of his greatest fury and wrath (Rev. 12:17). For nothing undermines his agenda (to destroy men and woman's and children persons and lives, and ultimately keep them from eternal redemption) more than when we believe God and keep His commandments. Therefore we who believe in and belong to the Lord Jesus Christ are not at "war" with "flesh and blood"; that is with unbelievers, or the world, or anyone of a different ideological, political, or cultural stripe etc. We have but one adversary, and that is the devil and all his spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places who is leading this world astray to its own eternal ruin (Rev. 13, 17, 19:19-21). It's unnerving to think that the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19), which is not a total control of this world and it's affairs, but rather Satan and his forces have a continuing and ongoing influence over this world and the people of it, which if people are not released from by their repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will end in their own eternal ruin (consider Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13; Rev 20:11-15). 

Vs. 13 "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 

Having identified our enemy, the Apostle Paul now commands that we take up the whole armor of God so that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, having done all to stand. The evil day then is not something brought about by God, for God tempts no one, and He Himself is not tempted by evil, (James 1:13); rather the evil day is something that is orchestrated and brought about by the devil who may use ones own reasoning as he did with Eve in the garden (Gen. 3). Or it may be like with Jesus in the wilderness where the devil thought to induce Christ to cast of His confidence in God and use His own Person, Stature, and Power to defeat him, and when that failed he thought to induce Jesus into sinning against God by promising Him all the riches and power and such of this world if He would worship him (see Matt. 4:1-11). And so the the evil day is not just a single day or assault, but more than likely will entail the devil coming at you from various angles and positions and at different times in our lives, and through different mediums, attacking our perceived weaknesses, or points of vulnerability, again using our own powers of reason (or if that fails using confusion and doubts as he did with John the Baptist, see Matt. 11:2-6) to induce us away from obeying God and into obeying him. Therefore we are all commanded to take up the whole armor of God which is God's provisions for us all against his doing so, so that we will be able to take our stand against him in the evil day. For as with Jesus in the wilderness, where God did not intercede until Christ had passed through the most difficult and taxing of trials that any human has ever faced, so with us. For the responsibility to submit to God and resist the devil rests with us, not with God (James 4:7; also consider 1 John 5:18).

Vs. 14 "Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness"

Notice that every believer is called to stand against his assaults, not capitulate, not negotiate, not even contemplate what to do, rather stand. Now in order to do that we must first have girded our waists with truth, to which God's Word truth is more than sufficient to rebuke and defeat the father of lies and expose whatever angles he is coming at as from. Again Jesus when faced with the devils assaults did not lean on His "understanding", nor did He enter into a debate or try to reason with him, rather He quoted God's Word's truth. For again it is God's Word's truth that exposes all that is not true, for it searches the hearts and minds, and is the discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart (see Heb 4:12-13), and it alone has both the Authority and the Power to expose and rebuke all that is not true (2 Cor 10:3-5). And so your first line of defense is always God's Word truth. Now employing the truth it is not going to do you much good if you are living and practicing a lie, that is living in sin or rebellion against it (consider Jer. 9:6; Rev 22:15). For in order for it's Authority and Power to be enacted in one's life requires two things, the first is faith, that is believing it (consider Heb 4:2; 11:1), and the second is submission or obedience to it (Rom 16:19-20; 1 John 5:18, antithesis Heb 3:18). These two things are the essential ingredients to enact the Word of God's Authority and Power in ones own life and keep the devil and his schemes at bay. Girding ones waist with truth then is where ones victory over sin and Satan always begins. 
Next the Apostle Paul says we need to put on the breastplate of righteousness. Now having a righteous standing with God begins and ends with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 5:1); that said, living righteously, and thus in accord with God's commandments given us in the N.T. which reflect and or are based upon all the moral and ethical precepts found throughout God's Word is critical to living victoriously and fruitfully. For though we are not under the Law as a means for justification in the sight of God, we are still commanded to keep the commandments of God (Rev 14:12), that again are reiterated in both Word and deed in the Gospel (Matt. 13:52) as well as the N.T. Scripture (consider 1 Tim 1:5-11; 1 Peter 1:14-15). Therefore putting on the breastplate of righteousness will do much in keeping you well grounded in the faith, and again keep the devil at bay (1 John 5:18). 

Vs. 15 "and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace" 

To shod ones feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace is to be ready to share the Gospel of peace wherever you are and wherever you go (consider Rom 10:15). That is what we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are all called to do, take the Gospel to people and places where it has not been heard. For the Gospel is not just to be spoken and heard in the church and amongst it's own members, (consider Matt 9:37-38), rather the whole world is to be (and will be) filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 26:9; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 24:14; Luke 24:46-47). For it is the knowledge of the Lord through His Gospel, and thus what He has done for us all, that brings remission of sins and everlasting salvation and life to everyone who repents and believes in Him. Therefore just as Jesus bore the reproach of the Cross outside the gate, so let us all who believe in Him likewise bear the reproach of the Gospel outside of the safe confines of church, (Heb 13:12-13), because no one is called to be static about it's presentation or it's declaration (Matt 12:30; Mark 8:38; Rom 1:16-17).

Vs. 16 "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one."

Now the shield of faith is our first line of defense and so it is listed as above all, because it is by faith and faith alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life, and thus have been united with Christ, sealed and sanctified by His Holy Spirit for all eternity. And so though we strive for righteousness and holiness and goodness and all truth, no one in this life will ever attain to that holy perfection (1 John 1:8-10). Therefore we must always direct our faith towards God (and not ourselves and what we have done or not done) because it is God alone who is the Just and the Justifier of everyone who has their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 3:19-28, vs. 26). Therefore when the enemy accuses us, whether falsely or justly, for that is what he does accuses the brethren night and day (Rev 12:10), we direct our focus not on ourselves and trying to defend ourselves from his accusations, but rather on Christ and His Word and His promises to us all who believe in Him, which are not dependent upon our us and our abilities (or better inabilities) to maintain a perfect and blameless standing with God, but on Him and what He has done for us, and that is giving us by faith in His Person a Perfect and Blameless standing with God Himself (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14-16; 7:25; 1 John 2:1 etc.). Therefore the shield of faith is the most important armor that we can bear, because as the Scripture says without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). Therefore when you stumble and fall, because we all do, and the devil lets loose his fiery darts of accusations at you, seeking to beat you up and beat you down, look to our God and Father and His Son who loves you and is waiting for you to come home so that He might forgive you and heal you (Luke 15:11-32).

Vs. 17 "And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" 

Until now all of our armament has been mostly focused on our protection, on a defensive stance as it were. Here though we are called to be reactive to the devils assaults. But before we can do that we must be completely assured of our own salvation, and thus our eternal security with and through Christ Himself (Eph 1:13-14). For that is our putting on the helmet of salvation which will prevent any lethal blows to our faith as we dawn it in the battle. Having done so then the Apostle Paul says we are to take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Notice that it is the Holy Spirit Himself who takes up the fight when we rightly divide and use the Word of God, for Satan and all of his forces are powerless against it, as Jesus proved in the wilderness. For again we are never called to be passive when the devil assaults us, or seeks to propagate his lies and deceptions in our lives or anyone else's. Rather we are called to take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which is mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, and thus we are to cast down arguments and every high thing which exalts itself against all true knowledge of God (see 2 Cor 10:3-6). For if believers do not stand for the truth in their homes and in their churches and workplaces and wherever else we are, then we only give ground to him to strengthen his foothold in peoples hearts and minds and lives. Now what should not be lost in all of this is the manner in which we are to do so; (in regards to this consider 2 Tim. 2:25-26 and 1 Peter 3:15 and the emphasis there on gentleness and humility); because even the Lord Jesus Christ did not break a "bruised reed", or damage a "smoldering flax", which are themselves symbolic of people who have been bruised or damaged in their faith, or in their lives, nor was He seen or heard arguing with people in the streets (see Isaiah 42:3; Matt. 12:18-21, vs. 19-20). For there is a time for boldness and firmness as when we take our stand against the devil and his assaults on us, or against the faith (Jude 4), just as there is a time for meekness and gentleness and fear when we give a reason for the hope that is in us to anyone who inquires about God through us.
And so in taking up the Sword of the Spirit be considerate in how you wield it, because we are never called to do more damage as Jobs friends did to him when Satan assailed him (Job 42:7-8), rather through it we are to minister God's Word truths to one and to all.

Vs. 18 "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—"

The Apostle Paul in revealing to us our Spiritual armor now declares that it must all be backed by prayer. Pray is what Jesus did often, and prayer is what we are to do often as well (Luke 22:20), not formulated prayers that are recited like there is some sort of magical power when one uses them, (or long winded public prayers meant to impress others, which do not bring the one praying them, or anyone else into communion with God), and certainly not prayer that is only rooted in gratifying oneself (James 4:3; antithesis 1 Kings 3:4-15), but prayer that is done in the Spirit, and thus is a seeking, searching, diligent prayer that has at it's heart a trust and dependency on God, with all submission to Him (Phil. 4:6-7). For prayer that expresses the heart of the believer is prayer that God always hears (consider Psalm 3:4; 18:6; 22:24; 34:4; 106:44; 120:1; 141:1-2). And so praying in the Spirit is in accord with Him, and thus God's Will for us all, and is how we are all to pray with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, meaning our prayers must be ongoing (Luke 18:1-8) and are to be made for all of God's people, because praying for one another not only brings God into all our circumstances, but it also helps strengthen our ties and Christian fellowship.

Vs. 19-20 ¹⁹ and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Having directed us all to always be praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, not only for ourselves in all our circumstances, but also for each other; the Apostle Paul now makes request of the Ephesians for their prayers for himself. Now notice that Apostle Paul's focus is not upon God first changing his circumstances (he was at that time imprisoned for his faith) but rather that they would pray that God would enable him to preach the mystery of the Gospel, boldly. Twice in fact he mentions this. For timidity (which is not humility or meekness) is the enemy of every true Gospel preacher. For the Gospel is a Message of Power and bearing witness to Christ anywhere or in any circumstance should never be done in any manner other than with boldness (consider Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 2 Cor 3:12; Philippians 1:20; 1 Tim 3:13; Heb. 10:19-25; 1 John 4:17 etc.). For just as Jesus was throughout His ministry when questioned by the Pharisees and Sadducee's, or when they sent men to arrest Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, He did not capitulate or surrender to whatever fears He may have been feeling at that moment and deny His own Person before the angry mob sent to "arrest" Him. Rather He boldly asserted that whom they were seeking to crucify He was the Man (see John 18:1-11). Similarly then no believer should ever falter when declaring the testimony of Christ, lest the godless, unbelieving, and profane become emboldened (consider Prov 25:26); because inevitably they will be mixed in amongst those who will believe and receive the truth, and so give no ground to Satan or his own, for nothing gives greater witness to the truth then when a Man of God declares the Word of God boldly, which is proof of salvation to the one, and perdition to the other (Phil. 1:28).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Ephesians 6:5–9

⁵ Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. ⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Commentary

Vs. 5 ⁵ Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 

Continuing on from his exhortations to the families the Apostle Paul now moves to the workplace. Today there are not bondservants, but there are employers and employees and so the exhortations here apply to those relationships and responsibilities. To begin then the Apostle Paul addresses employees first, since that is what must of us are, saying, we are to be obedient to our employers in sincerity of heart, as to Christ. Obviously this is not a blind obedience that would requires us to place ourselves (or anyone else) at risk of injury, or prosecution, or scrutiny for violating civil laws or workplace regulations and such given for the direction and safety of all employees. Similarly the employer has no jurisdiction when it comes to an employees faith and conscience, to command anyone to knowingly violate theirs. That said an employee may have to reconsider their employment if an employer would require them to do something that they themselves feel is a violation of theirs, but that decision would be up to the employee and employee alone, for not even the church Pastor has jurisdiction in this, for it always comes down to the individual believer and their own faith convictions and conscience that determine this, therefore do not judge one another in regards to this (see Rom 14:10), unless another believer is using this precept to justify doing a undeniably clear violation of God's Moral Law (1 Cor 5:3-5). Now the manner in which we are to obey our employers is with "fear and trembling". The idea here is not that we be cowering in their presence, but rather we are to respect (if not their person) then the position and the authority God has given them to rule and govern us in the workplace. And thus bad mouthing the boss when they are not around should never be heard coming from any Christians mouth, same with slacking off in the workplace, because the work that we perform there we must view as to Christ, and thus we should seek to serve Him there to the best of our abilities, (first proving ourselves there to Him, so as to be qualified to serve Him elsewhere) and thus let us all serve Him in all honesty and integrity and faithfulness in our workplaces. 

Vs. 6 "not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" 

Having commanded our obedience to our employers (see verse 5), the Apostle Paul now addresses the manner in which we are to serve Christ in the workplace. And so we are not to serve our employers (and thus Christ) with mere "eye-service." Meaning we don't try too look busy, or only do what they say we are to do, when they are around. Rather we work in same manner when they are there, and when they are not, "doing the will of God from the heart". Which means we all strive to be a faithful and diligent employee whose employer doesn't have to come and regularly check up on us to see if were doing what we are supposed to be doing, or to see if we are doing our work in the manner in which we were instructed to do it, because they have come to trust that what we are when they are around, so we are when they are away. Thus we don't take shortcuts in exercising our duties, or do things half-heartily, or take unnecessary restroom breaks, or speak ill of others so as to try to promote oneself, or partake in all of the workplace rumors and gossip that inevitably undermine the companies harmony and productivity. Rather as bondservants of Christ we do the will of God from the heart, which is to serve our employers not with eyeservice, but as if we are serving Christ Himself! 

Vs. 7-8 ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

And so it is we are to serve our employers with goodwill (gr. εὔνοια) which means we are eager employees who willingly and wholeheartedly serve our employers in whatever duties that are assigned to us. Because as the apostle Paul says, what we do in the workplace is in fact our serving Christ Himself and He will reward us according to what we have done there, according to what we have done there in our service towards Him.

Vs. 9 "And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him." 

Having addressed us as employees, the Apostle Paul now addresses us as employers. Notice that holding such a position is likewise a responsibility that also carries with it an accounting to our mutual Master in heaven, who does not show favor towards employer or employee, or in fact anyone (consider Deut. 16:19-20; Job 13:10, 31:13; Acts 10:34-35; James 2; 1 Peter 1:17-20).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.