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I. THE PURPORT OF THE APOSTLE'S EXHORTATION. Here is —

1. Something to be presented unto God. "Your bodies." Not that Paul was unmindful how important it was that they should present their souls. He had already acknowledged that they had "obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which had been delivered" unto them; but he probably thought there was some danger lest they should not to the requisite extent "serve of righteousness."

2. The purpose for which this presentation must be made. It is not a gift — something which we have a right to present, or to withhold; nor a loan, to be returned, nor a service or benefit to be rewarded, but a sacrifice; i.e. —

(1) An acknowledgment of what is due to God.

(2) An entire resignation of it to the Divine use and disposal.

3. The manner in which this sacrifice must be presented. It is to be(1) A living sacrifice, i.e. —

(a) According to the original a sacrifice alive. "Present your bodies a sacrifice" would startle those who associated the term with death; and hence the necessity of the assurance that it was life, not death, that God required. We are neither to devote ourselves to destruction, as many of the heathen do, to satisfy the claims of their idols, nor to embitter and waste our lives by austerities, as many of the papists do.

(b) Or the apostle may have meant that the "sacrifice" was not to be a solitary act, nor even a frequent repetition of such acts, but the prevailing habit of our lives. There are indeed particular seasons when the sacrifice should be formally presented; but "whether we eat or drink, or whatsoever we do," we must "do all to the glory of God."(2) A "holy" sacrifice — i.e., solemnly set apart for the Divine service. As "living" implies perpetuity, "holy" intimates entireness. Under the law that the sacrifice might in all cases be entire, the poor were permitted to present "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons." So we are not to appropriate our bodies to one master and our souls to another, nor to reserve any faculty of body or of soul.

(3) "Acceptable unto God." Under the law the mode of presentation had to be attended to, or the sacrifice was spurned as an abomination. The place in which the sacrifice was to be offered was defined, and it had to be presented through the priest. And so we must take care that our sacrifice be presented at the proper altar, viz., Christ, by whom alone our gifts are sanctified. And by Him, as our High Priest, the sacrifice is to be offered to God.

II. THE MOTIVE BY WHICH THE APOSTLE'S EXHORTATION IS URGED. He might have urged terrific motives, viz., that, should they fail to present themselves, God would hereafter seize upon them for a prey. Or he might have reminded them how just and right it was, or how advantageous. Instead of this he appeals only to their gratitude. Why?

1. Considering their spiritual state, it was the most powerful motive which he could possibly employ. Had he been writing to persons who were strangers to the grace of God, or had received that grace in vain, it might have availed but little, and the other motives might have availed much. But "the mercies of God" strike the chord of a Christian's tenderest and best affections, and touch the mainspring of all his conduct. The apostle knew this from his own experience.

2. This is the motive best suited to the character and intent of the sacrifice required. Had the apostle been exhorting us to present our bodies as a sacrifice for guilt, the motives would have been drawn from the Divine justice. As the sacrifice is a thank-offering, the apostle presses on us those considerations which may tend especially to animate our gratitude.

3. They only who have obtained mercy are capable of the sacrifice. They only can present —

(1) "A living sacrifice." The man who has not yet obtained mercy, in any sense in which he may be said to live at all, lives to himself, and not to God. Or supposing that, by formal "service," he presents a living body, yet while the soul continues "dead in trespasses and sins," it is but a dead sacrifice he offers.

(2) A holy sacrifice. The sin which reigns in that man's heart who is a stranger to grace makes his sacrifice abomination.

(3) Acceptable to God. In order to this the sacrifice must be preceded by the pardon of sin. For how can God accept an offering from His enemies with whom the purity of His own nature constrains Him to be angry every day?

(Jonathan Crowther.)

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KJV: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

WEB: Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.