Philippians 4:18 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

He further testifies his thankfulness from the effect their gratuity had upon him, by three words here which declare the same thing, viz. that he was abundantly satisfied, having all that he could wish, even enough and more; so that he did not expect any thing more than what he had already received by their faithful messenger Epaphroditus; which he further commends from its great acceptableness to God, in allusion to the sweet odours in the sacrifices that God himself took pleasure in, Leviticus 2:1,2 Leviticus 3:16 Hebrews 13:16; so that that present God himself would accept through Christ, as if it had been offered to himself, 1 Peter 2:5. It is true, the Socinians, to lessen the meritoriousness of Christ's sacrifice of himself, which the apostle mentions, Ephesians 5:2, with respect to Genesis 8:21, would by this text corrupt that: but the truth is, it hath nothing like with that, for the benevolence and gratuity of the Philippians is said by Paul to be an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, & c.; but it is not said that the Philippians themselves did give themselves and dour of a sweet smell, as it is said Christ gave himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour; which being once offered for all, was sufficient to take away sin, Hebrews 10:10,12. And therefore their reasoning is fallacious from that parity they suggest. It is true, believers and their good works are as sweet odours, Romans 12:1, acceptable, but in Christ, 1 Peter 2:5, because they please God only for him, for his sake and merit. But Christ, because he doth appease God himself, who smells a savour of rest in his sacrifice, which all others under the law did but shadow, receiving their efficacy from his: Christ did it by himself, believers and their services are only acceptable in him.