Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;… I. The matters put in opposition to each other, which are both things and actions. The things are "wine" and the "Spirit": the actions, being "drunk with wine," and "filled with the Spirit." First: The things: these two are put in opposition — 1. To check the temptation. The sensual pleasure which men find in wine enticeth them to excess. There are higher pleasures men should be taken up with, namely, the joy of faith and a delight in holiness. 2. To show the difference between the holy societies or meetings of the faithful, and the dissolute feasts of the heathens in honour of their idols. 3. Because of the analogy between wine and the Spirit; they are often proposed in Scripture as correspondent, or as having some likeness in their operations; as wine cheereth and exhilarateth the spirits: "It maketh glad the heart of man" (Psalm 104:15); so the Spirit filleth the soul, and exhilarateth it. Only in this fulness there is no excess: "Drink abundantly, O beloved" (Song of Solomon 5:1). And in this mirth there is no dissoluteness; when we are filled with the Spirit, it is no corruptive joy, but perfective, such as strengtheneth the heart: "The joy of the Lord is your strength " (Nehemiah 8:10). But what is it to be filled with the Spirit? The phrase is taken two ways — (1) Either to be filled with the gifts of the Spirit; or (2) with the graces of the Spirit. (1) The gifts of the Spirit: "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:4). (2) To be filled with the graces of the Spirit. And here we must consider His three offices — as He is our guide, sanctifier, and comforter. II. The inconsistency of the one with the other; to be drunk with wine is inconsistent with being filled with the Spirit. 1. They that are filled by the one are acted by a contrary principle. 2. This contrary principle hath such an influence on them, that the Spirit of the gospel hath no place in them. (1) Their sight is blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4). (2) The delight and relish of the soul is corrupted (Philippians 3:19). (3) Their strength is weakened, that they cannot resist any temptation. (T. Manton, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;WEB: Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, |
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