30. grieve not--A condescension to human modes of thought most
touching. Compare "vexed His Holy Spirit"
(Isa 63:10;
Ps 78:40);
"fretted me"
(Eze 16:43:
implying His tender love to us); and of hardened unbelievers, "resist
the Holy Ghost"
(Ac 7:51).
This verse refers to believers, who grieve the Spirit by
inconsistencies such as in the context are spoken of, corrupt or
worthless conversation, &c.
whereby ye are sealed--rather, "wherein (or 'in whom') ye
were sealed." As in
Eph 1:13,
believers are said to be sealed "in" Christ, so here "in
the Holy Spirit," who is one with Christ, and who reveals Christ
in the soul: the Greek implies that the sealing was done already
once for all. It is the Father "BY" whom
believers, as well as the Son Himself, were sealed
(Joh 6:27).
The Spirit is represented as itself the seal
(Eph 1:13,
for the image employed, see on
Eph 1:13).
Here the Spirit is the element IN
which the believer is sealed, His gracious influences being the
seal itself.
unto--kept safely against the day of redemption, namely, of the
completion of redemption in the deliverance of the body as well as
the soul from all sin and sorrow
(Eph 1:14;
Lu 21:28;
Ro 8:23).
JFB.
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