Ver. 19. Husbands, love your wives , etc.] (See Gill on Ephesians 5:25). and be not bitter against them ; turning love into hatred of their persons; ruling with rigour, and in a tyrannical manner; behaving towards them in a morose, churlish, and ill natured way; giving them either bitter words, or blows, and denying them their affection, care, provision, protection, and assistance, but using them as servants, or worse. All which is barbarous, brutish, and unchristian, and utterly unbecoming the Gospel.
Verses 18-25 - The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divinegrace and magnifying the LordJesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christianlife. We must never separate the privileges an duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her ow husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And husbands must love their wives with tender and faithful affection. Dutiful children ar the most likely to prosper. And parents must be tender, as well a childrenobedient. Servants are to do their duty, and obey their masters' commands, in all things consistent with duty to God their heavenly Master. They must be both just and diligent; without selfis designs, or hypocrisy and disguise. Those who fearGod, will be jus and faithful when from under their master's eye, because they know the are under the eye of God. And do all with diligence, not idly an slothfully; cheerfully, not discontented at the providence of God whic put them in that relation. And for servants' encouragement, let the know, that in serving their masters according to the command of Christ they serve Christ, and he will give them a glorious reward at last But, on the other hand, he who doeth wrong, shall receive for the wron which he hath done. God will punish the unjust, as well as reward the faithfulservant; and the same if masters wrong their servants. For the righteousJudge of the earth will deal justly between master an servant. Both will stand upon a level at his tribunal. How happy woul true religion make the world, if it every where prevailed, influence every state of things, and every relation of life! But the professio of those persons who are regardless of duties, and give just cause for complaint to those they are connected with, deceives themselves, a well as brings reproach on the gospel __________________________________________________________________
19. Be not bitter (mh pikrainesqe). Lit., be not embittered. Used only here by Paul. Elsewhere only in Revelation. The compounds parapikrainw to exasperate, and parapikrasmov provocation, occur only in Heb. iii. 16; iii. 8, 15. Compare Eph. iv. 31.
3:19 {Love your wives} (agapate tas gunaikas). Present active imperative, "keep on loving." That is precisely the point. {Be not bitter} (me pikrainesqe). Present middle imperative in prohibition: "Stop being bitter" or "do not have the habit of being bitter." this is the Sin of husbands. pikrainw is an old verb from pikros (bitter). In N.T. only here and #Re 8:11; 10:9f. The bitter word rankles in the soul.
