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<p>The apostle exhorts them in these verses to adorn their Christian profession by a suitable temper and behaviour, in several instances. 1. By a cheerful obedience to the commands of God (<a class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.14" href="/passage/?search=Phil.2.14">Phil. 2:14</a>): “<i>Do all things</i>, do your duty in every branch of it, <i>without murmurings</i>. Do it, and do not find fault with it. Mind your work, and do not quarrel with it.” God’s commands were given to be obeyed, not to be disputed. This greatly adorns our profession, and shows we serve a good Master, whose service is freedom and whose work is its own reward. 2. By peaceableness and love one to another. “Do all things <i>without disputing</i>, wrangling, and debating one another; because the light of truth and the life of religion are often lost in the heats and mists of disputation.” 3. By a blameless conversation towards all men (<a class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.15" href="/passage/?search=Phil.2.15">Phil. 2:15</a>): “<i>That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke</i>; that you be not injurious to any in word or deed, and give no just occasion of offence.” We should endeavour not only to be harmless, but to be blameless; not only not to do hurt, but not to come under the just suspicion of it. <i>Blameless and sincere</i>; so some read it. Blameless before men, sincere towards God. The <i>sons of God</i>. It becomes those to be blameless and harmless who stand in such a relation, and are favoured with such a privilege. The children of God should differ from the sons of men. <i>Without rebuke</i>—<b><i>amometa</i>.</b> Momus was a carping deity among the Greeks, mentioned by Hesiod and Lucian, who did nothing himself, and found fault with every body and every thing. From him all carpers at other men, and rigid censurers of their works, were called <i>Momi</i>. The sense of the expression is, “Walk so circumspectly that Momus himself may have no occasion to cavil at you, that the severest censurer may find no fault with you.” We should aim and endeavour, not only to get to heaven, but to get thither without a blot; and, like Demetrius, to <i>have a good report of all men, and of the truth</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="3John.1.12" href="/passage/?search=3John.1.12">3 John 1:12</a>. <i>In the midst of a crooked and perverse generation</i>; that is, among the heathens, and those who are without. Observe, Where there is no true religion, little is to be expected but crookedness and perverseness; and the more crooked and perverse others are among whom we live, and the more apt to cavil, the more careful we should be to keep ourselves blameless and harmless. Abraham and Lot must not <i>strive, because the Canaanite and Perizzite dwelt in the land</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Gen.13.7" href="/passage/?search=Gen.13.7">Gen. 13:7</a>. <i>Among whom you shine as lights in the world</i>. Christ is the light of the world, and good Christians are lights in the world. When God raises up a good man in any place, he sets up a light in that place. Or it may be read imperatively: <i>Among whom shine you as lights</i>: compare <a class="bibleref" title="Matt.5.16" href="/passage/?search=Matt.5.16">Matt. 5:16</a>; <i>Let your light so shine before men</i>. Christians should endeavour not only to approve themselves to God, but to recommend themselves to others, that they may also glorify God. They must shine as well as be sincere.—<i>Holding forth the word of life</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="Phil.2.16" href="/passage/?search=Phil.2.16">Phil. 2:16</a>. The gospel is called the word of life because it reveals and proposes to us eternal life through Jesus Christ. <i>Life and immortality are brought to light by the gospel</i>, <a class="bibleref" title="2Tim.1.10" href="/passage/?search=2Tim.1.10">2 Tim. 1:10</a>. It is our duty not only to hold fast, but to hold forth the word of life; not only to hold it fast for our own benefit, but to hold it forth for the benefit of others, to hold it forth as the candlestick hold
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