Ephesians 5

Imitate Christ 1
Be pure; avoid foolish talk 3
You were once in darkness; now children of light; awaken 8
Avoid drunkenness; sing songs; submit to each other 15
Wives submit to husbands 22
Husbands love your wives; we are members of Christ's body 25
Text
Comments
.1 ¶ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
.2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
  Followers Or "imitators." Continued from ep0432.
  Offering and a sacrifice Probably taken from ps04006.
.3 ¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
.4  Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
 5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
 6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
 7  Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
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.8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
.9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
 11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 12  For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
 13  But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
.14  Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
.15  See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
 16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
 17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
.18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
.19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
 20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

  18 - Drunk with wine Is Paul arguing only against excessive use of alcohol? Literally, "Do not get drunk with wine in which is debauchery ("unsavableness)." The debauchery is in the wine. (From a paper by Samuele Bacchiocchi whose point is that Paul calls for abstinence). Also Paul is probably quoting from pr2331 in the Septuagint (Greek translation) which Paul was likely using and which indicates that Paul had fermented wine in mind.
.21 ¶ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
.22  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
.23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
 24  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

  21 - Submitting yourselves one to another This doesn't mean no leadership. It means cooperation. The same principle is expressed in jn1721 and ro1210. This statement introduces a discussion of relationships: Husbands and wives v25, parents and children ep0601, and masters and servants ep0605.
  22 - Wives submit It is easy for a husband to read only the first part of this verse which leaves Paul contradicting himself. Christ must have the highest place in both lives 1co0619f. Compare 1pe0301. The relationship doesn't mean superiority and inferiority.
  22 - Own husbands The idea is not a comparison with other husbands. It is to emphasize the marriage responsibility.
  22 - As unto the Lord We humbly follow the Lord's leading. However, the phrase should not be read to indicate that the wife's relationship to her husband and to Lord are, in every respect, the same. See how the thought is expressed in co0318.
  23 - Husband is the head He is to take the initiative, first in spiritual leadership then in other important decisions. This is not to mean that His decision is always final. In fact, in areas of the wife's responsibilities in the home the final decisions should be hers. If God had intended that women should submit in every aspect, He would have given them clearly inferior intelligence. That fact that his name may be on the pay check does not mean her interests and needs are any less important than his.
.25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
.26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
 27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
 28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
.29  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
 30  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
 31  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
 32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
 33  Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
  25 - Husbands love your wives I like to tell people that I figure out what my wife wants and then ask her to do it. Then I have to explain that it's really not quite that simple. Look at the verse. Are you, husband friend, ready to die protecting your wife? Or are you ready to die to self to maker her happy? In her love for you, she won't hold unreasonable expectations.
  26 - Cleanse it Many who feel that they can't give up a certain habit or situation believe that victory is impossible. No one is perfect, they say. While it's true that we can't attain the perfection of the infinite God, it is also true that He provides the power to overcome 2pe0104. The church will be purified by sinners being shaken out at the end of time is0404.
  26 - Water by the word  - jn1717.
  27 - Present it to Himself This is the work of the preadvent judgment. On the day of atonement, the committed ones searched their hearts and the Lord made them holy le1630. Those who refused were cut off le2329.
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