Ephesians 5:
- v.1-20 Walking in the light
- v.21-33 Instructions for Christian Households
[Chapter Synopsis: Because of all that has happened to us that we’ve just been considering, let it be reflected in the way you live, following Christ. Let this be especially true in family life with his sacrificial love showing us the way to live out our marriage relationships.]
v.1-20 Walking in the light
[Passage Synopsis: Yes, follow Christ’s example, especially in respect of love, avoiding any form of immorality or wrong talking, for such isn’t the way of the kingdom, so don’t let the world lead you astray because you’re in the light now and they are darkness, don’t be filled with wrong human desires but with the Spirit.]
v.1-4 Walking in the way of love and purity
v.1,2 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
v.3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
v.4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
[Note: As God loved you through Christ, follow His example of love. Don’t let there be any sexual wrong or bad attitudes towards others, nothing bad in your speech, only what is good and thankful.]
v.5-7 Behavior of those who are NOT part of the kingdom
v.5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
v.6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
v.7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
[Note: No such people as these will inherit the kingdom, so let no one lead you into disobedience; don’t side with such people.]
v.8-11 We have left darkness and now live in the light
v.8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
v.11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
[Note: You’re in the light now, which expresses goodness, righteousness and truth, doing God’s will so steer clear of those works of darkness.]
v.12-16 Works of darkness will be revealed so steer clear of them
v.12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
v.13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
v.14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
v.15,16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
[Note: Don’t even speak of what they do, for light reveals everything, and as you received it, you became light. Hence the saying about waking up and letting Christ shine on you, so be alert, wise and taking every opportunity to do good.]
v.17-20 Two very different lives and outworkings
v.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
v.18-20 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Note: So understand God’s will in all these things, and don’t let wine lead you astray but instead let the Spirit fill you with joy and songs of praise and worship.]
v.21-33 Instructions for Christian Households
[Passage Synopsis: Be open to one another in humility whether husbands or wives with the husband leading the way in sacrificial love that makes it easy for the wife to follow. It’s the pattern of the church and Christ and he has certainly led the way in sacrificial love.]
v.21-24 The role of the wife
v.21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
v.22,23 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
v.24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
[Note: Give way to one another for Christ’s sake, so wives do it with your husbands according to God’s order; let the church and Christ be your example.]
v.25-28 The role of the husband
v.25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
v.28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
[Note: Husbands you’ve got to go much further, following the example of Christ, giving up your life for your wife. Love your wife as you do yourself – putting her first!]
v.29,30 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
v.31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
v.32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
v.33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
[Note: Isn’t that how we think about ourselves? At the beginning, the order was they would become one [Gen. 2:24] and yes that is marriage partners but also the church and Christ, so this is the order to aim for and follow.]
For those who may wish to make a study of this chapter, to perhaps think some more about what you have been reading, use the link below: