Ephesians 5 — Walk in Light and Love
Introduction: Paul encouraged the Ephesian believers to keep their daily living centered on love for each other because of how much Christ loved each one of them and had given himself as a sacrifice to God for them. He encouraged them to imitate what they had learned about the ways in which the life of Christ was pleasing to God the Father. He gave specific instructions for individuals and for married couples.
NOTE: All Bible passages are taken from the 1901 American Standard Version.
A — Walk in Love as Christ Loved You
Ephesians 5 “1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.”
Comments: Paul told the Ephesians they needed to accept the example left by Jesus and emulate the way he had walked among men. They were beloved children brought into the family of God through Christ by offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of all believers. Jesus had spoken about love and his message was passed on by his apostles: John 15:9–14 records Jesus saying “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
B — Do Not Be Deceived by Empty Words
Ephesians 5 “3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.”
Comments: Sexual immorality, lustful impurity, and greedy desire should not in any way be characteristic among believers, as this is unbecoming of saints. The talk heard from believers also should not have any crude language, obscene content, or inappropriate joking — rather giving of thanks was always appropriate for saints. Paul had written to the Thessalonians that the will of God was their sanctification, that they abstain from fornication (1 Thessalonians 4:2–5). He also addressed the appropriate place of sexual desire in 1 Corinthians 7:1–9. Paul wanted the Ephesian believers to be convinced that any immoral, impure or greedy person was actually following the way of idol worship rather than of God — and the wrath of God will come upon all who are disobedient to God.
C — Walk in the Light of Righteousness and Truth
Ephesians 5 “7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.”
Comments: Christians should not share in any interests or experiences in such things, but rather personally disapprove and reject them, for they are condemned practices which are shameful to talk about. Paul said believers are to have nothing to do with such things because they left that darkness behind when they became light in the Lord. Living as children of light is the path to follow — the marks of the Christian life will be seen in goodness, righteousness, and truth which are all pleasing to the Lord.
D — Redeem the Time Because the Days Are Evil
Ephesians 5 “14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee. 15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.”
Comments: Every Christian needs to be very careful about choosing wise conduct for the time they have as long as they live because we live in evil times. The believer needs to continually seek to know the will of the Lord. Because wine was a common beverage in Paul’s day, he cautions the believers not to become drunk by drinking in excess which can lead to uncontrolled behavior, but to be filled with the Spirit of God. They should speak to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with their heart to the Lord. Always give thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father, and remember to subject yourselves to each other in the fear of Christ. These are signs of self-control and joyful humility that Paul was advising all believers to develop in their character.
E — Wives and Husbands in Christian Marriage
Ephesians 5 “22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it; 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, 27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies… 30 because we are members of his body.”
Comments: Paul described a balance within the marriage relationship that was designed by God. Because of the fall into sin from the time of Adam and Eve, there will be wide variations as to how well this balance will be realized in each marriage. There is no doubt from this passage and others in scripture that God has assigned to the man the responsibility for leadership in marriage. The husband and wife need to display the fruit of the Spirit in humility and love as each one accepts their role in the marriage relationship as designed by God because believers are members of the body of Christ. The characteristics described for believers before Paul dealt with the marriage relationship also apply to the husband and wife as they have added responsibilities before God within their marriage.
F — Paul Wrote of Marriage and Christ with His Church
Ephesians 5 “31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church. 33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.”
Comments: Paul made reference to Genesis 2:23–24 to draw a parallel between the physical marriage relationship and the spiritual relationship between Christ and his church. When believers are sealed by the Spirit we become part of the body of believers, and we await the fulfillment of the mystery Paul spoke of. Christ is the bridegroom and all believers taken as a whole will be his bride when the time for the marriage has come. John 3:29 records John the Baptist saying “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom.” Revelation 19:7–9 declares “the marriage of the Lamb is come” and pronounces blessed those bidden to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Paul then closed by returning his attention to the physical realm as he reminded believing husbands and wives to individually follow his instructions within their marriage.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to make my life to have the depth of love that you demonstrated when you died on the cross to pay for the sins of all who will believe, and I praise your name that I have received that gift by grace. Thank you for giving the Apostle Paul by your Spirit the content of this chapter to the Ephesian believers. The instructions for living apply equally well to my life as a Christian. I want to avoid any deception that might involve me in sexual immorality, greed, obscene language, or off-color humor so my normal pattern will be to give you thanks that you have brought me into the light of truth. I want to have the fruit of goodness and righteousness in my life that I know you will produce in me when I yield my spirit to you. Lord, help me to personally disapprove and reject the practices of the ungodly for they are condemned by you and are shameful even to talk about. I want to wisely use the remainder of my life for your honor and glory as you enable me until I leave these evil times to be with you forever. Since you have blessed me with a wife, may I honor our marriage in ways that follow the relationship that you designed for a husband and wife. I look ahead to the even greater relationship your assembled church will have with you in your kingdom. Hallelujah, Amen!
Published 25 May 2015