Ephesians 5:9

9 For the fruit of light is in all goodness, and rightwiseness, and truth.

Ephesians 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 5:9

For the fruit of the Spirit
Either of the spirit of man, as renewed, or rather of the Spirit of God; the allusion is to fruits of trees: the believer is a tree of righteousness; Christ is his root; the Spirit is the sap, which supports and nourishes; and good works, under the influence of his grace, are the fruit: the Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read "the fruit of light"; which agrees with the preceding words: and the genuine fruit of internal grace, or light,

[is] in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth;
the fruit of "goodness", lies in sympathizing with persons in distress; in assisting such according to the abilities men have in a readiness to forgive offences and injuries; and in using meekness and candour in admonishing others: "righteousness" lies in living in obedience to the law of God; in attending the worship and service of him; and in discharging our duty to our fellow creatures; and this as goodness, is very imperfect, and not to be boasted of, or trusted to, nor is salvation to be expected from it: "truth" is opposed to lying, to hypocrisy, to error and falsehood; and where the Spirit of God, and the work of grace are, there will be more or less an appearance of these fruits.

Ephesians 5:9 In-Context

7 Therefore do not ye be made partners of them.

8 For ye were sometime darknesses, but now ye be light in the Lord. Walk ye as the sons of light [Walk as the sons of light].

9 For the fruit of light is in all goodness, and rightwiseness, and truth.

10 And prove ye what thing is well pleasing to God. [Proving what is well pleasing to God.]

11 And do not ye commune to unfruitous works of darknesses; but more rather reprove ye [them].