Ephesians 5:10

“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.] There are many things that are acceptable to God, as the person of Christ, his righteousness, sacrifice, sufferings, death, and mediation; the persons of his people, their services, sufferings, sacrifices of prayer, and praise to him, and of bounty and liberality to the poor; their graces, and the exercise of them; and the actions of their lives and conversations, when they are becoming the Gospel, are according to the will of God, and are done in faith, and are directed to his glory: and these things which are acceptable to God, as all the truths of the Gospel, and duties of religion are, should be proved, or tried by men; and in order to the trial…”

“Proving--construed with "walk" (Eph 5:8; Rom 12:1-2). As we prove a coin by the eye and the ear, and by using it, so by accurate and continued study, and above all by practice and experimental trial, we may prove or test "what is acceptable unto the Lord." This is the office of "light," of which believers are "children," to manifest what each thing is, whether sightly or unsightly.”

“Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord - That is,” Walk as children of light Ephesians 5:8, thus showing what is acceptable to the Lord.” Rosenmuller supposes that the participle is used here instead of the imperative. The meaning is, that by so living you will make a fair trial of what is acceptable to the Lord. The result on your happiness in this life and the next, will be such as to show that such a course is pleasing in his sight. Dr. Chandler, however, renders it as meaning that by this course they would show that they discerned and approved of what was acceptable to the Lord. See the notes on Romans 12:2, where a similar form of expression occurs. return to 'Top of Page'”

“5:10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord: The point is to obey God’s will, not simply to understand it (cp. Rom 12:2; Phil 1:10).”

“Proving: Sa1 17:39; Rom 12:1, Rom 12:2; Phi 1:10; Th1 5:21 acceptable: Psa 19:14; Pro 21:3; Isa 58:5; Jer 6:20; Rom 14:18; Phi 4:18; Ti1 2:3; Ti1 5:4; Heb 12:28; Pe1 2:5, Pe1 2:20 Ephesians 5:11”