And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling fragrance.
All Commentaries on Ephesians 5:2 Go To Ephesians 5
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Walk in love.
Behold, here, the groundwork of all! So then where this is, there is no wrath, no anger, no clamor, no railing, but all are done away. Accordingly he puts the chief point last. Whence were you made a child? Because you were forgiven. On the same ground on which you have had so vast a privilege vouch-safed you, on that selfsame ground forgive your neighbor. Tell me, I say, if you were in prison, and had ten thousand misdeeds to answer for, and some one were to bring you into the palace; or rather to pass over this argument, suppose thou were in a fever and in the agonies of death, and some one were to benefit you by some medicine, would you not value him more than all, yea and the very name of the medicine? For if we thus regard occasions and places by which we are benefited, even as our own souls, much more shall we the things themselves. Be a lover then of love; for by this are you saved, by this have you been made a son. And if you shall have it in your power to save another, will you not use the same remedy, and give the advice to all, Forgive, that you may be forgiven? Thus to incite one another, were the part of grateful, of generous, and noble spirits.
Even as Christ also, he adds, loved you.
You are only sparing friends, He enemies. So then far greater is that boon which comes from our Master. For how in our case is the even as preserved. Surely it is clear that it will be, by our doing good to our enemies.
And gave Himself up for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
Do you see that to suffer for one's enemies is a sweet-smelling savor, and an acceptable sacrifice? And if you shall die, then will you be indeed a sacrifice. This it is to imitate God.
