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I. THE PERSONS FOR WHOM WE MUST PRAY. "For us," Paul, Timothy, etc.

1. Observe in general(1)That we ought to pray not for ourselves alone, but for others.

(2) That roger a large heart in prayer, and perseverance in its practice, we must endeavour to help others by prayer.

(3) That Christians should desire the prayers of others, as carnal men make use of their friends to get wealth, offices, etc.

2. Learn in particular(1) That the greatest in the Church need the prayers of the meanest.

(2) That in hearing prayer God is no acceptor of persons. He is as willing to hear the Colossians' prayers for Paul as Paul's for the Colossians.

(3) That Churches should pray for their own ministers.

(4) That Christians should pray for all ministers. Paul does not desire their prayers for himself alone. Such a desire in some might evidence spiritual pride and envy.

II. THE THINGS TO BE PRAYED FOR.

1. That a door of utterance may be opened.

(1) This comprehends —

(a)  Liberty to preach the gospel.

(b)  Opportunity.

(c)  Preaching power.

(d)  Courage to rebuke sin, and declare all God's counsel without fear of any man.

(e)  Success: such utterance as will open the door into the heart.

(2) Whence learn what makes a happy pastor: not wealth, popularity, etc., but liberty, etc. This taxes —

(a)  Dumb ministers that utter nothing.

(b)  Fantastical ministers who preach their own vanities, speaking only pleasing things.

(c)  Idle ministers who preach not all God's counsels in season and out.

(d)  Cold ministers.

(3) Note the fact that Paul was in prison, yet he sought not liberty for himself, but for the gospel. Be thankful then for freedom in both senses, and labour to prevent those things which stop the mouths of God's ministers. These are —

(a) Ignorance and sin in ministers themselves. Polluted lips are no lips for utterance. The lips of preachers should be touched with knowledge, zeal, and mortification.

(b) The sins of the people (Ezekiel 3:24-27).

(c) The violence of persecution (1 Corinthians 16:9; 1 Thessalonians 3:2).

(d) Discouragement and fear (1 Corinthians 16:9, 12; Hebrews 13:17).

(e) Human wisdom which destroys the profit of the hearer and the power of the preacher.

2. That God may open it.

(1) The hearts of the best ministers are shut until God opens them and dispenses the gift.

(2) 'Tis God only that opens to men the door of utterance. He "creates the fruit of the lips to be peace": "He opens and no man shuts." If He gives liberty who can restrain!

III. THE END FOR WHICH THE THINGS ARE ASKED. That the mystery of Christ may be manifested.

1. The mystery.

(1) To whom is the gospel a mystery?

(a)  To the Gentiles: that there should be a Saviour.

(b)  To the Jews: that salvation should be in a carpenter's son.

(c)  To the Papists: that He should be the only Saviour.

(d)  To heretics: that He should be a Divine human Saviour.

(e)  To the carnal man: that He should be a Saviour in particular to him.

(f)  To the godly man: that He should be such a Saviour.

(2) How is it a mystery? Because of the hiding of it —

(a)  In the breast of God from all eternity.

(b)  In the shadows and types of the ceremonial law.

(c)  In the treasury of the Scriptures.

(d)  In the person, obedience, and passion of Christ.

(e)  In the hearts of Christians.

(3) Why is it a mystery to wicked men? Through —

(a)  The veil of their ignorance.

(b)  Custom in sin and pleasure, etc.

(c)  Judicial blindness.

(4) Is it a mystery? Then it should teach us —

(a) To esteem God's ministers as its dispensers (1 Corinthians 4:2).

(b) To strive by all means to gain the open knowledge of this secret (Ephesians 1:8-9); but because every vessel is not meet to bear this measure we should get a pure conscience to carry this mystery of faith in (1 Timothy 3:9).

(c) To account this the highest blessedness (Matthew 13:11).

2. Its manifestation: clear sound preaching.

(1) It is not enough to preach, we must preach as becometh this mystery.

(a)  With power (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

(b)  With instance and all watchfulness (2 Timothy 4:2-5),

(c)  With patience and constancy (1 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Corinthians 6:4).

(d)  With assurance (2 Corinthians 4:13).

(e)  With all willingness (1 Corinthians 9:16-17).

(f)  With all faithfulness (1 Corinthians 4:2).

(g)  With all zeal, knowing the terror of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

(h)  With all holy behaviour (1 Thessalonians 2:11).

(2) The people must also hear, as becometh the mystery of Christ, with attention, patience, reverence, sincerity, hunger, and fruitfulness.

(N. Byfield.)

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KJV: Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

WEB: praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;