5th Chapter of
Ephesians
Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
Reflect Your Sonship in Christ
All the praticals mentioned in the previous verses of chapter 4, especially towards the end of the chapter, are things that God would do. That’s why the Spirit encourages us to imitate God in these things, since we are His offspring. Whatever you identify yourself as, you will imitate. If you see yourself as a person of the world, you will imitate the world; if that is the lifestyle you identify yourself with. Or if you see yourself as a child of God, you will seek to imitate your Father in Heaven. This is why Jesus said in John 8:44 that the Pharisees were children of the devil. The Spirit here says that not only are we children of God, but we are dearly loved! Our Father truly is the model Father, the inventor of fatherhood! He loves us and always seeks the best for us; therefore we need to imitate Him. Imitate God in His kindness and show of mercy towards you (1Th 5:12-13).
“The glory of the church is seen when Christians imitate
God” – Richard
Baggett,
Ephesians 5:2
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Our lives are to be a sweet aroma to all who are good and seek to do good (2Co 2:15-17). How we show our love, in the humility and surrendering of ourselves for the good of others, shows the kind of love Jesus expressed to us, and it is pleasing to God. Showing mercy and kindness, as well as transparency and straightforwardness is the life of love, especially towards those who admonish us and are over us in the Lord (1Thes 5:12-13). This is all part of keeping the peace, as we studied in Ephesians 4. If we are hypocrites, and only show this love or live this life with certain brethren, then we are false and we are spiritual warmongers.
We need to have Jesus’ attitude. God is pleased with Christ - He is like a pleasant aroma... How do you smell to God? Impurity (sin) taints the aroma. You won’t be pleasing to God if you are selfish or cause division with your attitude.
Ephesians 5:3
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.
All these hints (impurities) (mēde: but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor: - neither, nor (yet), (no) not (once, so much as)) prevent you from being a pleasing aroma because they taint your calling and your adoption. Why not even a hint? You see, the devil knows that if you are a committed Christian, you won’t accept the obvious sins, or if you do then he knows you are a hypocrite and will love that. He works with those who don’t want to be hypocrites by trying to sell them hints of things in their lives. Hey, showing a little devotion to your favorite football team instead of going to Bible class is no big deal, right? However, it is little by little that Satan will attempt to erode your conviction and accept these things as “no big deal”. Pretty soon you will question: “why bother at all with Bible Class? Why not just enjoy yourself?” And the things of the kingdom become a chore for you as opposed to a privileged. Crafty huh? Let’s examine how some of these sins can begin as hints which you may be willing to negotiate with Satan:
1- Sexual Immorality (porneia: illicit sexual intercourse; whether adultery, fornication (consenting sex involving the unmarried), homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, with close relatives or a divorced man or woman in keeping with Mark 10:11-12; in the metaphorical sense it refers to the worshipping of idols.) Of course, the act itself is a no-no, but Satan can get you there by letting you think that as long as you don’t have intercourse it is not considered sexual immorality. So you will pet, kiss erotically, or ogle – or just indulge in pornography thinking that all is OK because you are not having sexual intercourse. Who are you fooling? All these things are hints of sexual immorality. Not of these things should even be named amongst the people of God for they are improper for saints to be thinking, much less doing. If you find your mind wandering on these things you must train yourself to be godly and abandon the practices that are getting you trapped in this mire (Job 31:1). Give yourself to prayer, reading of the word and preaching of the Gospel. Get involved in Kingdom things so that Satan may not tempt you even further. If you have already given the devil a foothold in these things, your fight will have to be long and arduous to break these chains.
2- Impurity (akatharsia: in a moral sense: the impurity
of lustful (strong feeling of sexual desire), luxurious (lavish,
comfortable, deluxe, plush, opulent, grand), profligate (extremely
extravagant or wasteful-extremely low moral standards) living; impure motives;
physical uncleanness) You look at the Hollywood actors and other stars
in the media and see how they live, and perhaps you think “If I had money, it
wouldn’t be so bad to live a bit more comfortable or drive around a BMW or a
Mercedes, would it? I mean I wouldn’t get into the nasty things they do, just
indulge a little, very modestly, and I would give the rest to the needy. They
would always be welcome in my mansion!”
Well
a. Don’t think big, think humble (Rom 12:3; 1Co 10:12; Heb 13:5-6)
b. Make a living with your hands (work and don’t be a busybody) (Ecc 2:24; Eph 4:28; 1Thes 4:11; 2Thes 3:11-12)
c. Have a modest home and modest amenities-only what you need! (Mat 23:12; Eph 4:2; Col 3:12; James 1:9-10; 3:13-14; 4:6,10; 1Tim 6:6-11; 1Peter 3:8; 5:5)
d. Make sure you are blessing others with what God has given you (Rom 12:13; Eph 4:28; 1Peter 4:9-10)
e. Find pleasure and satisfaction in your wife/husband (Prov 5:15-21; Eph 5:28-33)
f. Find satisfaction in what you do in the Kingdom (Ecc 2:24; Phil 4:11-12)
3- Greed (pleonexia: fraudulency, extortion: - covetous
(-ness) practices, greediness) Greed is such a part of our daily
thinking, since this is what the world has encouraged us to do since we were
growing up. All we are trained to do is think of
ourselves first and last, which is greed. Me, me, me! I want,
I want! Mine! Mine! (Proverbs 30:15) All this leads to
the wasteful lives we try to live around our own interests. Seldom do people
learn the true meaning of sacrifice
and love of others. In Christ, we are trained from the get go to die to self.
This is the ultimate way of dealing with greed. Forgoing our own personal
desire and mortifying the flesh (our ego, thoughts and dreams) has to be the
hardest thing for anyone, especially if you have vested interest in this world.
This is why Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of
a needle than for a rich man to enter the
a. Lavish and wasteful wedding/social feasts/events/celebrations/parties
b. Huge and expensive wardrobe
c. Expensive and luxurious cars
d. Huge and expensive lodging
e. A lot of redundancy in the things you have
f. Pantries stocked up to the max
g. Always getting what you want at the expense of others
There is a way to keep all this under control if you are focused on the cross and on your new life. Remember that a life that is focused or drawn to sexual immorality, impurity or greed is a life that is pierced with many sorrows (1Tim 6:10).
Even if you are not sinning but someone else thinks you are sinning, that's a hint of sin. This is why those who are engaged need to be very careful how they behave together, and married couples need to be very careful how they behave when they are apart. We cannot hold on to man's standards of morality and political correctness. Men and women need to know how to behave with others when it comes to their sexuality (flirting, winking, prolonged acts or show of affection). It may be politically correct for a single man to have a single woman living in his basement paying rent, but this is improper for the people of God, since it can cause others to think something is going on. It is improper for a married minister or brother or sister to entertain or meet with other single or married person of the opposite sex in his house without the spouse being present. Anything that might be considered improper by the world is doubly improper for the people of God, as long as it is not something clearly against the Bible.
Ephesians 5:4
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Obscenity (aischrotēs: shamefulness, that is, obscenity: - filthiness), foolish talk (mōrologia: silly talk, that is, buffoonery: - foolish talking) and coarse joking (eutrapelia: well turned, that is, ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, that is, (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry: - jesting) are not to be present within the members of God’s Kingdom. This verse says we ought to replace such things with thanksgiving (eucharistia: gratitude; actually grateful language (to God, as an act of worship): - thankfulness, (giving of) thanks (-giving)). I think we can safely assume that when we participate in or promote obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, we are not being thankful and not recognizing the body of Christ for what or who it is, which is out of place if you call yourself a Christian.
Some examples of these are:
Obscenity: pornographic like objects or references in movies, songs or your décor. Language that is considered inappropriate or gestures (facial or manual) considered obscene or offensive. Anything that would cause you or others to feel shame or embarrassment.
Foolish Talk: Speaking inappropriately about God or what He does (Job 2:9, 10). Speaking without reason – rambling on and on; often, subjective judgments or talk; without objectivity. (Psalm 14:1; Prov 10:8; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 10:2).
Coarse joking: Clever remarks aimed at denigrating, embarrassing or belittling, someone or something. Jousting or playing with words to disguise criticism or disagreement; being flippant (glib; dismissive) about something; saying things in jest (kidding or teasing) and really meaning them.
Instead of using your wit to engage in this kind of relations with people use your wit and charm to promote thanksgiving amongst those who call themselves believers.
Being grateful is a way of worshipping and glorifying God in
your life. Giving thanks in all
situations (1Th 5:18 and
Ephesians 5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy
person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in the
Here’s the bottom line, if any of these things remain in us we are idolaters, without an inheritance in God’s Kingdom! Be sure that you purge these ways and thoughts from you! Traces of this thinking are evidenced in the things verse 4 mentions. If you catch yourself being obscene, talking foolishly or joking, then you are unclean still. Submit yourself to the cleansing action of the Holy Spirit by dying to self.
All such thinking that leads us to these actions is idolatry. Remember what idolatry means? Eidololatreia: image worship! Now if you think about it, it really makes a lot of sense, since if you worship and follow through with your fleshly desires such as these, you are worshipping an image! Not the truth! You are focused on the temporary and pinning your life on that which is already dead, even though it may seem to live.
Ephesians 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
DON’T BE INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD
It’s not just vain thinking we need to be watchful of, as we understood from verse 5, but accepting or listening to vain talk as Paul says here. After Paul describes the kind of things we need to repudiate in us, now he brings up some things that Satan may use to try to convince you that the new way you should be thinking is not possible or good for you in this life. These are things from the world that will try to hijack your faith.
Empty words (vain words kenos logos: empty or worthless thoughts, teachings or accounts; endeavors without purpose) promoted by others can lead you down the wrong road.
The warning to be careful about the emptiness (worthlessness) of the world is repetitive throughout the Scriptures: Isaiah 59:4; Jer 51:34; Micah 6:12-16; 1Pe 1:18; 2Pe 2:17-18. As you can see from these passages, only the disobedient, those who despise the truth (who do not consider it worthy to retain the knowledge of God – Romans 1:18-28) and who want to fill themselves with worldly ways will receive the full brunt of the wrath of God: John 3:36; Romans 2:5; 12:19. Some receive that wrath in this time, through God’s agents: Romans 13:4; we however, who are in Christ, are not destined for this wrath (1Co 11:32; 1Thes 5:9; Heb 2:17; 1John 2:2) in this age nor in the one to come. Jesus took the wrath of God on the cross that we may not have to take it.
We are privileged to be judged by God in His church, that we may not be condemned with the world later:
1Co 11:32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.
The things that cause people to sin and that which necessitated the coming of Jesus and His suffering is the emptiness (vanity) of the mind and idleness of the flesh.
In contrast, the Scriptures are the opposite of empty (Isaiah 55:11)!
What is “empty”? 1John 2:16-17
1- Cravings of sin – what your flesh wants, what your appetite craves (Eccl 6:7). The sin in you wants contrary to what the Spirit in you desires. It is empty because your flesh is temporary. All this will pass away (Psalm 90:10; James 1:10).
2- Lust of the eyes – Most of what you can think of has something visual attached to it. The eyes are never satisfied (Eccl 5:10), wanting everything they see and lust for. Anything you can sense with your 5 senses will pass away (Mark 13:31).
3- Boasting of what you have and do – If you need to make yourself bigger than what you are by boasting, then you surely are vain (Rom 12:13; Gal 6:3-5)! Vain = worthless! (2Co 10:12-18)
These will pass away, hence, they are empty (vain).
Ephesians 5:7
Therefore do not be partners with them.
Here is another moral warning/command: Don’t partner (summetochos: joint partaker; co-participant) yourself with such people who are worldly. We already know about the emptiness of the world, how much more should we keep ourselves from being stained by it through people who are slaves to worldly thinking? If we join worldly people in the way they do things or think about things, how are we to distinguish ourselves from the way of the world? What kind of hope do we promote if we join the ways of people who’s hope is in the world? John and James chime in with Paul here in 1John 2:15-17 and James 1:27 respectively. Paul also speaks about a kind of joining that’s even more harmful in the spiritual sense in 2Co 6:14-18.
The terminology Paul uses in Corinthians for yoked together is heterozugeō: (yoke up differently, that is, (figuratively) to associate discordantly) which is more correctly translated as “unequally yoked together with…” (ESV; KJV). This is translated in “God’s Word” as “Stop forming inappropriate relationships with unbelievers.” This is much more specific than what we see here in Ephesians and warrants our attention.
The Holy Spirit is concerned that we not only join people in what they do and in ways they think about things, but more importantly and specifically in Corinthians, that we do not become joined together or be co-participants with people of the world in more intimate ways, specifically those people who are qualified by the statements in verses 3 – 6 of Ephesians 5. In Corinthians he provides the reasoning behind this command which resembles somewhat the reasoning described in verses 8-10 in Ephesians 5.
So, if we live in the world and must associate with people in the world (1Co 5:9-11), what kind of co-participation, or joining (yoking) must we avoid? Obviously from 1Co 5:9-11 we must not even eat with anyone who calls himself a brother and is qualified by the verses here. What kinds of things are classified by the world as co-participating or joining in the more intimate sense?
1- Joint accounts of any kind
a. Joint financial accounts like mortgages or money-markets or IRA’s
b. Joint memberships
2- Binding (legal) contracts of any kind
a. Business partnerships
b. Marriage
c. Legal representations
3- Partnerships of any legal or binding nature
All these you would describe as yokes, wouldn’t you? And which of all these would be more yoking? Wouldn’t you think marriage? So there is a biblical command to stay away from dating or even worse yet, marrying someone who fulfills the qualifiers in these verses. But this is not only specifically talking about marriage as the only yoking, as the Greek words in both Corinthians and Ephesians can be interpreted as any kind of co-participation, or joining (association) or yoking. If marriage was the only classification, then the Holy Sprit would have used the specific words for marriage: gameo; haptomai.
It is also important to understand that this yoking is not to be done with unbelievers (apistos: disbelieving, that is, without Christian faith (specifically a heathen); (passively) untrustworthy (person), or incredible (thing): - that believeth not, faithless, incredible thing, infidel, unbeliever).
Why not? Examine the reasons in the verses referenced above and in the following:
Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
When you were in darkness, you partook in activities that would benefit you directly, without much regard for the people who partook in them with you, whether as co-participators or associates. You were looking out for yourself but in a worldly way, thinking proudly about yourself, not necessarily because you wanted to be holy in the righteous sense – pleasing to God. Now as children of light, we don’t want to be joined in worldly things because of who our Father is, and that makes us His children. We are children of light! Your light needs to shine so others can see the way to the Father (Mat 5:13-16).
You are now light, and light exposes darkness, light cannot join darkness (verse 11)!
Ephesians 5:9
(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)
This verse describes the fruit of light. All things that are good (agathōsunē: virtue or beneficence, uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness), righteous (dikaiosunē: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God; integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting) and true (alētheia: objectively: what is true in any matter under consideration; morally: what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth; subjectively: that candor of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit).
Anything outside of these parameters belongs to darkness, as anything that may be seemingly or suspiciously belonging to darkness (hints of sin).
Ephesians 5:10
and find out what pleases the Lord.
When you are dedicated to the fruit of light, knowing and convinced of your spiritual heritage, you naturally want to find out what pleases your Heavenly Father. If pleasing the Father seems a chore to you or something you have to do under compulsion, then you may be convinced of your illegitimacy through your father the devil, as Jesus told the Pharisees in John 8:39-47.
A true child of God finds out (dokimazō: to test, discern, examine, prove, scrutinize; to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy) what pleases (agrees with) his Father. We need to do our homework and be active in finding out what pleases our Lord. We can’t sit on the sidelines and be identified with light.
Ephesians 5:11
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
A true child of God will avoid and reject anything that had to do with his former life, since he wants to please the Lord and be made new in attitude, and life. Even the “good” things you may have done in your former walk of life are tainted by the kind of mind you had. I examine the things I used to do and why I did them, and I recognize that my mind was thoroughly selfish and my motives were completely dark, even though I was not a so called thief, or murderer or drug user or fornicator. I tried to please my parents and was respectful of authorities, since that is how my parents raised me. However, like Paul says in Phil 3:3-21, I have count everything as a loss for the sake of Christ. I don’t want to have a righteousness of my own, nor one imputed by my parents, but righteousness in Christ that comes by faith that I may be raised from the dead on the last day. Therefore, I do not want to have any fellowship with anything that may remotely be associated with the unfruitful works of darkness. The word “darkness” pretty much classifies what kind of works these things are. Whatever you may want to keep a secret, or hide or misrepresent is probably a work of darkness. Whatever may seem dishonest or shameful or wrong or insulting or offensive comes from a dark mind that rejects the truthful light of walking in Christ.
As a child of God now, I, like light, expose (elegchō: convict, convince, tell a fault, rebuke, reprove) the unfruitful deeds in myself and others. I need to continually examine my mind and search my heart and pray that all my motives be exposed and judged rightly. If my mind is in the light, I will reject any desire that may arise in me to fellowship or engage in dark works. If I witness dark works from others I also need to be a light and expose and condemn those works for what they are. We need to pray that we may be bold like the light is bold, for that is what we are, lights in Christ! If you are going to be a light, make sure that you are illuminating yourself from the inside as well (Luke 11:33-36)!
Ephesians 5:12
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Even to talk about what you used to do is shameful. Some of you perhaps think about your previous life, and maybe even reminisce about the good old days. You may think back to when you were a child and hope that your mind and your circumstances were the same as today, if you had a good childhood. Solomon has some good advice concerning your nostalgia in Ecclesiastes 7:8-12. You know the devil always makes the past look better to you, more comfortable and safe; if you tend to live in the past. The devil will make the future always look better to you, more hopeful and safer; if you are a dreamer. But in both instances the person who reminisces about the past and the one who dreams about what he could be let the present and all the godly opportunities pass him by because of laziness and procrastination (Phil 3:13-14).
Perhaps you may think that there are some things that are
not shameful in what you did and that you only like to remember the good ‘ol times. Well, there is a danger in that, as real as the
danger in remembering the “thrill” of your past sinful life. Especially since
the media and
Forget about your past for there is no wisdom in thinking there were better days there and forget about what may be in the future for you, for only demons are concerned in trying to sell this knowledge to the ignorant. God is the God of the present, I AM, not the God of the past (I WAS) or the God of the future (I WILL BE). In Jesus our past is gone, our present is joy, and our future is hope. Our past is forgiven, our present is laboring in the Lord, and our future is the crown of life. Time is irrelevant and what you did or thought or aspired to in your former life should be put away and redefined in Jesus. Anything outside of this is shameful for it belongs to worldly aspirations and passions.
Let us have a mind solely for Jesus and for the work in His Kingdom!
Ephesians 5:13
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
As you are made light all the darkness is exposed (reproved, convicted). God is able to make you see now and any veil is lifted through the spiritual maturity that comes through the Holy Spirit. Whatever character flaw you had in your former life is exposed to you personally so that you can wake up, as the next verse will say. We will now be able to see and walk forward!
Ephesians 5:14
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
Wake Up! I like that! I had to wake up from several character flaws that kept me oppressed through Satan’s trickery:
1- Emotional Unavailability: I had no handle on how to mature a relationship with a person, since I was not able to adequately manage my emotions. I was an angry person, and anger my only outlet. People who have this character flaw usually have failed to learn how to mature emotionally. In Christ you can overcome this!
2- Pride: Pride didn’t let me see beyond my nose. I thought I was more important, better and deserving of everything I wanted. Pride prevented me from considering others and devoting myself to help and edify others. Pride is a trap that will keep you from maturing and growing spiritually. In Christ you can overcome this!
3- Given to anger: Since I was unable to manage my emotions, at times my anger exploded and got the best of me. Although I was an adult, I had tantrums and fought like a child. Thank God in Christ I have overcome!
4- Lying: Since I was oppressed by my character flaws and didn’t amount to much, I had to misrepresent myself to others to actually like myself as a person. I hyperbolized and deceived, all as a feeble attempt to manipulate how others may have felt about me. In Jesus I have overcome!
5- Shyness: Shyness was my excuse for not involving myself socially. In part, I believe that was because I was so unavailable emotionally. I did not take chances with new relationships, did not go out of my way to make friends and much less try to please or serve others. In Christ this translated to not wanting to preach the Gospel to people or convict or teach others the truth in a loving way. I did not like to confront so I shied away. In Christ I have overcome!
6- Brashness: Once I overcame my shyness another problem popped up! I was too strong with people at first and blew them away! This was partly because of my pride. I knew the truth and I knew others were wrong so that made me feel powerful. I quickly confronted and convicted without much consideration for how others may have felt. Thanks be to God who has taught me to be firm, yet gentle, bold, yet meek. Before no one wanted to listen to my counsel, now God is able to use me since I have died and Jesus lives in me!
When you are in the light the first order of business is to let that light burn away all your character flaws. Many of these I was not able to see. I needed the help of my mentors in Christ to sharpen me. God used them to help me conform to Jesus as is still happening today. You need discipleship to help you wake up! You need your mentors in the Lord to help you not fall asleep at the wheel of your new life in Jesus!
Let the desires of the Spirit live and be fully awake in you as you put to death the passions of the flesh! Jesus will sine more and more on you, to the point where others will see this obvious light without you even being aware of it!
How are
we imitators of God?
1- Walk in love
2- Guard your tongue
3- Be thankful!
4- Don’t complain
5- Walk in the light
6- Be children of light
a. Produce good fruit
b. Judge rightly between good and evil
c. Expose evil
Ephesians 5:15
Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise (fools) but as wise,
Using Our Lives For Worship and
Service
Because we are lights and work for the light, we need to
live carefully (akribōs: circumspectly, diligently,
perfect; accurately, diligently), not carefree. Fools live carefree,
without consideration for others, nor their own
inheritance. This is not true liberty.
If we live without being careful and mindful, which would be to live according to the desires of our heart, then God considers us fools. Our wisdom will be shown if we are doing what the next couple of verses instruct:
Ephesians 5:16
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Since most of the people are using their days for worldly, selfish purposes, you can make a difference by making the most of every circumstances God brings into your life to contact and influence other people. It doesn’t have to be anything big either; for example: a simple good natured salute, or “Good morning”, or handshake, hug or pat on the back can do much good for your relationship with your coworkers. Flashing a real and honest smile to them and your boss on a daily basis can do much for your ministry. You don’t have to really go out of your way, just take your old self out of the way!
But where making the most of every opportunity (exagorazō kairos: to buy up, that is, ransom the right time or opportunity; figuratively to rescue from loss the right season or time (improve opportunity): - redeem the time) matters is right under your nose, where many people never figure to look first: your own home and family. If you are trying to make a difference out there in the world or in the church, but your family relations remain in ruins, the evil powers that be have you right where they want you. Paul is going to specify exactly how we make the most of every opportunity presented. I can’t tell you about the opportunities, since they will be different for everybody, according to your faith and talents in Christ Jesus. However, you must use your time wisely.
Look at the reasoning the Spirit gives us to make use of the right timing: because the days are evil. In other words, because times are never good, and everyone is looking out for themselves, you will shine like starts and make an impact. This is why we get such strong encouragement to conduct ourselves properly, like the sons of God that we are in Christ (Phil 1:27; 1Tim 3:15)!
Of course, something else implied here is the reinforcement of how careful we must be and watchful. In order to identify the right time (opportunity), we must be watchful and keep our ears and eyes open. God may use your brothers, sisters or even unbelievers to present opportunity for you. This is why we need to be awake! If you find yourself in an unplanned situation or something happens that forces you to remake your schedule, perhaps God is bringing in an opportunity for you and/or someone else. For you to grow and change your life and for someone else to come to know Jesus.
Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
This is why we cannot be swayed by our emotions when something does not go as you planned, or when you are forced to not be able to keep up with your schedule, or when some emergency situation happens. Remember God is at work! Don’t be foolish (aphrōn: properly mindless, that is, stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specifically) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving: - fool (-ish), unwise)!
Understand (put together) the will of the Lord! You know what God wants, right? He wants people to go to Heaven, like you and those around you. He wants to bless you and take care of you. Don’t go on acting ignorantly because you want something else to happen, like you are in control. That is not right for us to do or say! We are not ignorant of God’s will for us, right?!
If you do not consider God’s knowledge worthy of retaining in your mind, therefore thinking of yourself as a child of the devil, then you are a fool, like the people of the world. As a child of God your desire should be to understand God’s will for you (Rom 12:2) and wait on the Lord (Psalm 37:7; Prov 20:22; Lam 324-26; Micah 7:7; 1Co 1:7; 4:5; Jude 1:21), knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).
Ephesians 5:18
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Don't sell yourself to please the flesh, but see to it to fill yourself up with the Spirit. Don’t buy the wine of the world (literally or figuratively), which is intoxicating and leads to more revelry (carousing), but allow the Spirit to renew you that you may be filled with hope and all things good, true and righteous.
Some, wanting to escape reality or responsibility, would rather fill themselves with something that will intoxicate them (make them feel or think beside themselves; make them forget about the present circumstances). That’s no way to deal with reality! It is through the sobriety of the mind that comes from the Sprit that we are able to deal effectively with the lot given to us from God.
What is most intoxicating? What are things of the world that will lead you to debauchery (depravity, corruption)? Remember what we read in 1John 2:16:
“For everything in the world-- the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-- comes not from the Father but from the world.”
This kind of matches what Paul said earlier in verse 3 concerning the three things that are improper for God’s people: sexual immorality, impurity and greed. All these will lead to debauchery and oppose the Spirit in us.
Making money can be intoxicating also: 1Tim
6:10 (The love of money is the root of all evil)
Making money has certainly been a blessing to some people. However, we need to carefully approach this topic and surrender to the general encouragement given in the Scriptures and the warning against involvement in this kind of activity. To some this comes easily since they have the skills and talents to do it for the glory of God. Others, wanting to become rich, dedicate a whole lot of time and effort to studying how to do it, and for what purpose? To me it seems that someone who would invest that much time and effort just to be able to manipulate some numbers on the stock exchange to cash in the chips, may be somebody who is too close to wanting to pursue riches in this world, don’t you think? I mean, why do it? To make more money? Isn’t that what the Bible is warning us about?
If you are able to glorify God with your wages and your ability in a decent and honest way that benefits many then you are a blessing. However, some just want to get rich in this world (only thinking about themselves) and may pursue ways that are not completely honest, or that take advantage of other people’s resources and time. Be careful of your motives! You can certainly get drunk on the hope of money making! I have seen it!
What kind of advice would you give a brother or sister, a new Christian, if all of the sudden they wants to become interested in making a whole lot of money on the stock market (day trading)? What about the command to pursue simple living that we see in the New Testament? What about the warnings given against the desire to make a lot of money (be rich)?
So you see, I do have a problem
condoning this activity. I think it is different when you invest in money
markets and CD’s and things like that (real estate, etc). I believe that is the
kind of investing the Bible uses as analogy to explain spiritual principles. I
have had my trip down the stock market lane as guided and as careful as
possible, and yet under those conditions it was akin to throwing my money away.
Money that could have been used for nobler purposes. Money that was wasted,
like time that is wasted when one procrastinates, never to return. Yes, money
can be made again, but there is danger in just being involved with making a lot
of money. That is as plain as day in the Scriptures: You will pierce yourself
with many sorrows. I don’t think that can be explained away or justified by
anything else we say. Some even use the
This same concept of intoxicating oneself with wine, or pursuing the opposite of being filled with the Spirit, applies also to anything that may become an idol to you: Career, Education, your spouse, family, things, etc.
Ephesians 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
Paul now explains some ways we can be filled with the Spirit, or rather, when we do these things we show we are filled with the Spirit.
By singing and letting the music we make lift us up we encourage and teach others, fulfilling the role of the Spirit! [Proverbs 25:20; 29:6] Singing encourages the weak to be filled with spiritual thoughts.
The word used for singing is "aido",
which simply means to sing -- not including musical instruments. In this passage "psallo",
which denotes using some musical instrument to make a melody, is specifically
used by Paul to teach the Ephesians that the melody or music is to be done with
the heart, not with the musical instruments traditionally used to accompany
some psalms (1Chr. 15:16). See
Lit. "singing psalms and making the music in the heart."
Some advocate using musical instruments because the word “psallo” is used, which means to pluck, as in plucking the strings of the harp or lyre which was traditionally used to accompany Psalms.
These two activities, speaking and singing, are things that come from you, from within; whatever you are storing up inside (Luke 6:45). These activities are not passive either, they require activity, alertness and willing transformation! Not only are we to sing with our mouths, and our heart, but singing is to be done with our understanding (mind) (1Co 14:15).
Ephesians 5:20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Singing shows a joyful and thankful heart, eager to share hope! Singing puts you in the right frame of mind. You can add this verse to Paul’s favorite phrases concerning “giving thanks”.
Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
THE SUBMISSIVE SPIRIT
The way to avoid the strongest of disciplines here on earth is to be submissive. A joyful, thankful, peaceful heart is one that submits. A disciple is a person who is submissive, not proud. God tests your humility and discipleship by how you submit to one another. If you don’t then you have no reverence for Christ! That means you don’t fear God!
Of course the greatest attitude of submission we must imitate is that of Jesus (Phil 2:5-16). He feared God, which is why he always prayed and God heard Him because of His reverence (Heb 5:7).
If you are not submitting to one another then you are not submitting to Christ and you have no respect for Christ. When we sing together we are also submitting to each other and acting as one. I think how you sing with the church says a lot about your attitude as a disciple.
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
Now Paul discusses submission as it pertains to each of us in the church. The first encouragement was a general one, to be submissive in general. Our submissiveness will be tested by the roles we have in the church. Each role in the church requires a different aspect of carrying out the submission.
In this verse this type of submission is specifically for the wives. A very specific way of how you need to submit is laid our here. Have you ever wondered why the women are the first to be addressed in all of Paul’s letters and Peter’s? There is a reason why you are given this directive first, as opposed to starting out with the husbands. Paul gives that reasoning in 1Tim 2:13-14.
Your subjection to your husband must be as onto Christ. In other words, you should be subjecting yourselves to your husbands as you would be doing if he himself was Jesus. Notice how Paul will not make an exception here, for the submission is not to be done as if it depending upon your husband’s behavior or attitude towards you. The submission is dependent upon your attitude towards Christ!
Ephesians 5:23
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.
Here’s the reasoning for the submission you must show your husbands ladies: because he is your head! Jesus, as head of the church became her Savior. Jesus only saves those who have submitted to Him. A head is someone you submit to. You don’t elect a head or choose who you want to submit to; submission is done out of reverence for our Head, Jesus, because He is our Savior. There are no political, cultural or ideological reasons mentioned here, only spiritual ones that transcend culture, values and societies. If it is not “in vogue” or “PC” (Politically Correct) to submit, to be a housewife, or to be a stay-at-home mom, it is because our society is not “in vogue” with God’s spiritual timeless standards. Our society does not want to recognize that wives are the “helper” in the marriage.
Ephesians 5:24
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
So if your husband would rather have you stay at home and train your children, then submit in everything! Notice the emphasis! Remember you are the helper. Also notice there’s no buts to but. This is also teaching us the right way to submit as a Church to the direction Christ gives us. How do we know the direction? Remember He will work through the servants established by His authority to prepare the church for works of service. So we need to submit to this direction in everything! Someone that cannot do that in the church is someone who is not submitting to Christ just as a wife who does not submit to her husband in everything is not submitting to Christ.
“Submit to your husband in everything” does not mean:
1- Being forced (obliged) to do something you don’t want to do
2- Picking up the slack of your husband’s irresponsibility or lack of conviction
3- Enabling any of your husband’s sins or character flaws by covering for him
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Now the husbands are given the directive as to how they must submit: by loving their wives as Jesus loved the church! That’s a tall order! We submit to Jesus by giving up ourselves for our wives. This is what Jesus did, didn’t He? To give yourself up is to give away what is most valuable to you, or what you considered worthy in the absence of your wife; what you think defines you and makes you who you are. It is difficult, but let’s explore that idea and measure it up to what Jesus did. How did Jesus give Himself up for the church?
Consider what Christ gave up (Phil 2:5-7). He gave up His divinity. Not only that, but His relationship with the Godhead changed forever after that. You see, if you give yourself away only temporarily and then you’re right back to where you started before, is it truly giving yourself away; if there is no permanent change? Is there really a sacrifice? Consider 1Co 15:24-28; Heb 2:11-18. These verses teach that after Jesus became flesh, having been part of the godhead (John 1:1, 14), He continued his role as a God-man, permanently identifying with us as His brothers. Even so after the end of all things He will subject Himself to God. Prior to Him being the Son, He did not have this identification with man, so it shows He truly gave Himself up for the church.
Ephesians 5:26
to make her holy, cleansing {26 Or <having cleansed>} her by the washing with water through the word,
Christ makes the church holy by cleansing her with water (baptism) through the word. It is His word that provides the cleansing the church needs. Jesus’ words are truth and life (John 5:24; 8:51; 17:17). His words clean us and through His words come the initial cleansing needed through baptism.
Ephesians 5:27
and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Jesus does all this cleaning because He wants to restore our radiance as a church. Jesus persevered to maintain us without stain wrinkle or blemish. This is accomplished through trials and suffering which purifies us (James 1:2-4; 1Pe 1:6-7), and through the discipleship we receive in the body of Jesus, the church (Hebrews 12:10-16; Rev 3:19).
Ephesians 5:28
In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Now in the same way husbands need to love their wives. Here the Spirit explicitly explains how that is done. Since men tend to be very selfish, thinking of themselves mostly, the Spirit helps you by saying you ought to love your wives as your own bodies! If you love your wife, you love yourself! If you neglect your wife and don’t provide what she needs then you do not love yourself, which doesn’t qualify you to love anyone else either! To practice the love of God and your neighbors which is the Golden Rule, husbands out to love their wives as they love themselves! As you look out for your own needs and your own things, with that much enthusiasm and care you take care of your wife. That’s how you give yourself up for her and love her.
Loving your wife and giving yourself up for her does not mean:
1- Giving in to her every whim or desire – you need to teach her self-control and accountability and not let her have her way in everything. You are the head!
2- Pampering her materialistically – i.e. trying to make her happy by buying her all kinds of things. Buying her way to happiness does not make a relationship!
3- Enabling her character flaws or sins by keeping quiet when she wants to argue or discuss something with you; or covering for her when she has wronged someone or sinned.
Ephesians 5:29
After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--
As you feed your body and take care of it, so you care for your wife. This applies physically and spiritually. As you feed yourself the Word of God and take of yourself spiritually, so you must teach your wife. This is how you clean her as Jesus cleanses the church with His Word. Some practical aspects of this:
1- Do you regularly get together with your wife for Quiet Times and Prayer Times?
2- Do you get together with your wife to discuss what you expect of her as your helper and how you want her to be a part of your ministry?
Don’t expect to run a household where you are the head if you are not preemptive in leading. Your children will suffer lack of leadership if your wife suffers it now. It is not the wives place to be preempting the husbands in this.
Ephesians 5:30
for we are members of his body.
Jesus takes care of the members of His body. That’s the first order of business: As a husbands’ place should be to take care of his household – those who are members of it. Husbands are responsible for their households. They are heads of their wives. The wives are to submit their husbands as we in the church submit, as servants.
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." {31 Gen. 2:24}
Since the man becomes the head of the house, and there cannot be two heads, he leaves his father and mother. There is a time when the man becomes the head of a house, and that time is when he is married. Until then, if the man lives with his parents, then he needs to submit to his father as the head of the house.
Ephesians 5:32
This is a profound mystery-- but I am talking about Christ and the church.
The mystery that is being talked about here is marriage, but the mystery is revealed – marriage is a copy of Jesus relationship with the church! It is profound indeed! Marriage is an earthly workshop on Christ’s relationship with the church. Marriage is continual discipleship for both men and women, as they need to exercise daily the submission necessary to be children of God. If you are married, you participate in the most intimate way you can scrutinize the relationship between Jesus and the church.
Ephesians 5:33
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Husbands need to love their wives as they love themselves and wives need to respect their husbands. Of course we are talking about this in an objective way since there are no justifications when not to obey these commands. If you are a wife, then you MUST respect your husband, whether or not he fulfills his role as head of the house in a godly way. In the same way, husbands need to love their wives irregardless of how they carry out their duty as a helper. Herein lies the challenge and the purification of marriage, since we learn to tolerate and be patient with the imperfections we have as people. However, husbands can be perfect in how they love their wives if they do it as described in these verses, and wives can be perfect in being helpers and respecting their husbands if they carry out these commands as well.
We can glean from this chapter how to be identified as God’s children:
1- Walking in love (verse 2)
2- Living without hints of sin (verse 3)
3- Being thankful in our speech (verse 4)
4- Having wisdom enough to not be deceived by the vanity of the world and the empty words of idolaters (verses 6-8)
5- Finding out what pleases your Father in Heaven (verse 10)
6- Singing and speaking the Words of God (verse 19)
7- Submitting to one another out of reverence to our Lord Jesus (verse 21)