But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Faith, hope, and love, the three pre-eminent graces (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 13:13). We must not only be awake, but also sober; not only sober, but also armed; not only watchful, but guarded. The armour here is only defensive; in Ephesians 6:13-17 also offensive. Here our means of being guarded against being surprised by the day of the Lord as a thief in the night. The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart respectively. 'With head and heart right, the whole man is right' (Edmunds). The head needs to he kept from error, the heart from sin. For "the breastplate of righteousness" (Ephesians 6:14), we have here "the breastplate of faith and love:" for the righteousness imputed to man for justification is "faith working by love" (Romans 4:3; Romans 4:22-24; Galatians 5:6). Faith, as the motive within, and love, exhibited in outward acts, constitute perfect righteousness. In Ephesians 6:17 the helmet is "salvation;" here, "the hope of salvation." In one aspect "salvation" is present (John 3:36; John 5:24; 1 John 5:13); in another, it is a matter of hope (Romans 8:24-25). Our Head primarily wore the "breastplate of righteousness" and "helmet of salvation," that we might, by union with Him, receive both (Isaiah 59:17). Hope keeps the mind from sinking under present trials.