And whatsoever ye do in word or deed
Whether in preaching the word of Christ, in hearing the Gospel,
in singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and in conference
and conversation with each other; or in whatsoever action, civil
or religious throughout the whole life and conversation, in the
performance of things natural, moral, and evangelical, relating
to God or man, or one another, in the world or church:
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus;
both in the strength of Christ, without whom nothing can be well
said or done; and according to the mind and will of Christ
declared in the Gospel, which is his name; and calling upon his
name for assistance in the ministration of his word,
administration of his ordinances, and in the performance of every
duty, directing all to, and having solely in view his honour and
glory:
giving thanks to God, and the Father by him;
this shows, that singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
is a distinct thing from giving of thanks, mentioned in the
preceding verse. The things for which thanks are to be given, are
"all things"; and the time when, always, as in (See Gill on
Ephesians 5:20). The person to whom they are to be given
is God the Father, the Father of our spirits, and of our mercies,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of us in him; and the
person by whom they are to be given, is Christ, which is just and
proper, since all mercies come from, and through him; nor is
there any other way of bringing and offering the sacrifices of
praise and thanksgiving to God; nor are they, nor can they be
acceptable to God by, and through any other, but by him alone.