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2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 2:22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.



Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Ephesians
Book: Ephesians
Chapter: 2

Overview:
The riches of God's Grace towards men, shown from their
deplorable state By nature, and the happy change Divine Grace
makes in them. (1-10) The Ephesians called to reflect On their
state of heathenism. (11-13) And the privileges and blessings of
the Gospel. (14-22)

1-10 Sin is the Death of the soul. A Man dead in trespasses and
sins has No desire for spiritual pleasures. When we look upon a
corpse, it gives an awful feeling. A never-dying Spirit is now
fled, and has left nothing but the ruins of a Man. But if we
viewed things aright, we should be far more affected By the
thought of a dead soul, a lost, fallen Spirit. A state of Sin is
a state of conformity to this world. Wicked men are slaves to
Satan. Satan is the author of that proud, Carnal disposition
which there is in ungodly men; he rules in the hearts of men.
From Scripture it is clear, that whether men have been most
prone to sensual or to spiritual wickedness, all men, being
naturally children of disobedience, are also By nature children
of wrath. What reason have sinners, then, to seek earnestly for
that Grace which will make them, of children of wrath, children
of God and heirs of Glory! God's eternal Love or good-will
toward his creatures, is the Fountain whence all his mercies
flow to us; and that Love of God is great Love, and that Mercy
is rich Mercy. And every converted sinner is a saved sinner;
delivered from Sin and wrath. The Grace that saves is the free,
undeserved Goodness and favour of God; and he saves, not By the
Works of the Law, but through Faith in Christ Jesus. Grace in
the soul is a new Life in the soul. A regenerated sinner becomes
a living soul; he lives a Life of Holiness, being born of God:
he lives, being delivered from the guilt of Sin, By pardoning
and justifying Grace. Sinners Roll themselves in the Dust;
sanctified souls sit in heavenly places, are raised above this
world, By Christ's Grace. The Goodness of God in converting and
saving sinners heretofore, encourages others in after-time, to
Hope in his Grace and Mercy. Our Faith, our Conversion, and our
eternal Salvation, are not of Works, lest any Man should boast.
These things are not brought to pass By any thing done By us,
therefore all boasting is shut out. All is the free Gift of God,
and the effect of being quickened By his power. It was his
purpose, to which he prepared us, By blessing us with the
knowledge of his will, and his Holy Spirit producing such a
change in us, that we should Glorify God By our good
Conversation, and perseverance in Holiness. None can from
Scripture abuse this doctrine, or accuse it of any tendency to
evil. All who do So, are without excuse.

11-13 Christ and his Covenant are the foundation of all the
Christian's hopes. A sad and terrible description is here; but
who is able to remove himself out of it? Would that this were
not a true description of many baptized in the name of Christ.
Who can, without trembling, reflect upon the misery of a person,
separated for ever from the people of God, cut off from the body
of Christ, fallen from the Covenant of promise, having No Hope,
No Saviour, and without any God but a God of vengeance, to all
eternity? To have No part in Christ! What true Christian can
hear this without horror? Salvation is far from the wicked; but
God is a help at Hand to his people; and this is By the
sufferings and Death of Christ.

14-18 Jesus Christ made peace By the Sacrifice of himself; in
every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and
substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union
with the Jewish believers in one Church. Through the person,
Sacrifice, and mediation of Christ, sinners are allowed to draw
near to God as a Father, and are brought with acceptance into
his presence, with their Worship and services, under the
teaching of the Holy Spirit, as one with the Father and the Son.
Christ purchased leave for us to come to God; and the Spirit
gives a Heart to come, and strength to come, and then Grace to
serve God acceptably.

19-22 The Church is compared to a City, and every converted
sinner is free of it. It is also compared to a House, and every
converted sinner is one of the family; a servant, and a Child in
God's House. The Church is also compared to a Building, founded
On the doctrine of Christ; delivered By the prophets of the Old
Testament, and the apostles of the New. God dwells in all
believers now; they become the Temple of God through the working
of the blessed Spirit. Let us then ask if our hopes are fixed On
Christ, according to the doctrine of his Word? Have we devoted
ourselves as holy temples to God through him? Are we habitations
of God By the Spirit, are we spiritually-minded, and do we bring
forth the fruits of the Spirit? Let us take heed not to grieve
the holy Comforter. Let us desire his gracious presence, and his
influences upon our hearts. Let us seek to discharge the duties
allotted to us, to the Glory of God.

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