Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; I. THE FIGURE EMPLOYED. The skins of beasts were probably the earliest material used to protect the soldier's body These were soon abandoned for the coat-of-mail, of which there were various kinds. There was the Egyptian cuirass, or coat-of-mail, made of horizontal rows of metal plates, each about one inch in breadth, and fastened together by brass pins. There was the Hebrew "Shiryon," or coat-of-mail, made of brass, fashioned with scales, or of leather covered with brazen scales. And there was the Greek and Roman cuirass, composed at first of pieces of horn, fastened like feathers upon linen shirts, but afterwards of metallic scales. Sometimes, too, the cuirass was composed of rings hooked into each other: and sometimes of two solid plates, one for the breast and the other for the back, and joined by bands over the shoulders. On the right side of the body the plates were united by hinges; and on the left they were fastened by means of buckles. Such was the ancient cuirass or coat-of-mail. It covered. and protected the entire body of the warrior, from the neck to the thigh, and sometimes even to the knees. Thus it is a fit emblem of that which protects the Christian from all the attacks of his foes, whenever and from whatever quarter they may come. II. THE THING SIGNIFIED - "Righteousness." Holy Scripture speaks of two kinds of righteousness. 1. A righteousness which is of the law. (1) The laws of God must be perfectly obeyed, both in the letter and in the spirit. (2) This obedience must be personally rendered by the man who would have the righteousness. (3) This perfect personal obedience must be constant and life-long. 2. A righteousness which is by faith in Jesus Christ. (1) Imputed. (2) Inwrought.Imputed righteousness is the basis of inwrought righteousness. Where the one is not the other cannot be. Until we have come to Christ, and are found in Him, holiness is impossible for us. Holiness of heart and life is the Christian's breastplate. III. HOW, OR IN WHAT SENSE, RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A BREASTPLATE TO THE CHRISTIAN. 1. It is an evidence of his sonship, giving the Christian soldier confidence in his fight with all his spiritual foes. 2. It is a defence against the attacks of foes. (A. C. Price, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; |
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