Ephesians, Chapter 5
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights
reserved
Ephesians 5:1-2
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.
We are followers of God. As such, we
reflect our status as the children of God. A child imitates his/her parents.
God is our Father. We are to imitate Him. In fact, the Greek word translated
"followers" means be an imitator.
The phrase "dear children"
would better be understood and translated as "loving children."
Loving children follow the Father with joy and thankful obedience. As the
children of God we are to conduct ourselves in a manner pleasing to Him.
We are called and appointed to serve
His purposes. Christianity is not a self-serving life-style. Instead, it is a
God-serving life-style. We are to pattern our lives after Christ Jesus' life.
Even Jesus Christ did not come to
lead a self-serving life- style. Christ said, "For even the Son of man
came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom
for many" (Mark 10:45).
Ephesians 5:3-4
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.
Christians are not supposed to be
party to certain actions and discussions. We are admonished to become selective
in our thoughts, and deeds. Our speech reveals what is in our hearts. Jesus
said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings
forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth
speaks" (Luke 6:45).
Paul wrote to the Philippians telling
them to think about things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and well
respected (Philippians 4:8). That is very good advice.
Ephesians 5:5 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.
Ephesians 5:5 is emphatic. No
whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is actually an idolater,
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Those found guilty
before God of engaging in; pornography, including male prostitution, and
fornication, uncleanliness (immoral, lewd, and/or demonic acts), covetous
(greedy defrauder), which idolatry (idol-worship) shall also do something else.
Even they shall proclaim, "Jesus
is Lord!"
Philippians 2:10-11
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
God's grace does not
"excuse" sin in any person at any time. The Father did not even
condone Christ Jesus when he took upon Himself the sins of the world. On the
cross, Jesus saw the plight of sinful man first-hand. It was at that time that
he cried out, "My God, my God, why have You
forsaken me?"
Christ Jesus is our example. He is
our example of God's plan for the ages.
Was His earthly life pure before the
Law and pure before God until He took upon Himself the sins of humanity?
Yes!
Did He take upon Himself the sin of
the world?
Yes.
Having taken the sin of world, did He
die on the cross?
Yes.
The Bible says, "The wages of
sin is death" (Romans 6:23). It also says that the soul that sins shall
die (Ezekiel 18:20). Jesus took our sin and died!
Did He pay the full and complete
price for sin that we should have paid?
Yes!
According to Thayer's Lexicon, those
sins can never be punished again because that would violate God's justice. Sins
may be paid for in full only once. According to the Old and New Testaments, the
punishment for sin may be received either by the one committing the sin or by a
substitute. On the cross Jesus became our substitute. Having taken the sins of
humanity upon Himself and paid the full and compete price for those sins!
Where is Christ?
He has been reconciled to God the
Father, restored to His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. That is
incontestable, and obvious to the ones to whom His glory has been revealed.
Christ suffered for us. He died for us. And yet, He was reconciled to the
Father to demonstrate and fulfill all righteousness.
Ephesians 5:6-7
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.
Those who preach and teach that grace
covers sin are correct. However, some, in their contempt for God's loving
grace, teach that you can follow Christ and do what you want, when you want,
where you want. They are deceivers!
Grace leads to freedom. Again,
lawlessness is anarchy. Lawlessness is an attempt to turn the loving grace of our
God into lasciviousness (Jude 4). Grace is not license!
Ephesians 5:8-10
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.
Before we met Christ Jesus we lived
in darkness. We were spiritually blind. Now, we live in the light of our Lord
Jesus Christ. That being the situation, we should conduct our lives as children
of light.
We are to exhibit the fruit of the
Spirit. Our daily lives should reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians
5:22-23) in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. The fruit of the Spirit
must be real. There is no waxed fruit in the Kingdom. "Fake it till you
make it" is not a Kingdom principle. In living lives filled with the fruit
of the Spirit, we demonstrate the graciousness of Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:11 And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove
them.
"Have no fellowship" does
not mean that we are to set ourselves off in a monastery in the hills, and live
cut off from society. The translation here is faulty. It simply means,
"Don't take part in unfruitful works of darkness."
What are "unfruitful works of
darkness?"
They are listed in the Bible as
being; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, witchcraft (drug
addiction), hatred, discord, contention, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies,
jealousy, murders drunkenness, revelry, and such like. Paul goes on to say that
those doing such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God (Galatians
5:19-21).
We are admonished to
"reprove" them. The word "reprove" may mean to find fault
with or condemn, but it may also mean to correct by word or deed.
How will the world know what is
correct if we don't show them by our words and deeds?
Be careful in doing this. Every drug
dealer in the world knows two biblical words, "Judge not" (Matthew
7:1).
If I say that you are reading this
commentary that statement is not judgment. It is a fact. To say that sin is
wrong is not a personal judgment. It is a fact.
Ephesians 5:12 For
it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
In past times most crimes were
committed at night People were ashamed things to do certain things in broad
daylight. Even criminals knew they were shameful. Now there are more crimes
committed in daylight because men have become so spiritually bankrupt.
The phrase "in secret"
would perhaps be better understood if we said "privately." That
upsets many who believe that what they do in private is nobody's business. Let
me make this perfectly clear, you will be judged (rewarded or condemned)
according to what you do in private. Jesus said, "There is nothing hidden
that shall not be visible. Neither was anything kept secret, but that it should
become openly known" (Mark 4:22).
There are those that verbally abuse
others. They may claim to be Christians. Anger may lead to verbal abuse, but it
is not in itself verbal abuse. As we read in Ephesians 4:26 if we become angry,
we are not to let anger lead to sin. Some may contend that if God wants them to
stop using abusive language He will stop them. People who take that attitude
ignore our spiritual responsibility.
Paul asked. "Shall we sin,
because we are not under the law, but under grace?"
Then Paul answered, "God
forbid" (Romans 6:15)!
Ephesians 5:13 But
all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever
doth make manifest is light. (KJV)
Let's look at this verse in the New
American Standard Version.
Ephesians 5:13 But all things become
visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible
is light. (NASB)
Let me ask, "Do you want all
that you have done to come to light?"
Not many, if any, would say,
"Yes." And yet, that is exactly what will happen at the judgment of
mankind. All the deeds of those who have rejected Christ shall come to light.
The deepest, darkest secrets of man shall become visible. The light of Christ
condemns or justifies every individual.
What about all those misdeeds done by
Christians?
Those have been confessed and
cleansed. They no longer exist. Many Christians don't understand that the
concept of forgiveness. Others just don't like it.
Ephesians 5:14 Wherefore
he saith, Awake thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Here is an admonishment from Paul to
those who have not accepted
Christ. It has been mistaken for a call to the faithful, but we are spiritually
alive, awake to Christ.
Consider Lazarus: When they sent for Christ, He told His
Apostles that Lazarus slept. They said,
“Okay, we will go and wake him up.” Finally, Jesus told them bluntly, “Lazarus is
dead.”
Before we acknowledged Jesus as Lord,
we were dead (spiritually asleep) in trespasses and sins, but now we too have
been awakened to the truth about the Truth. Christ has given us light.
Ephesians was written to all who have ears to hear. This verse represents God's
call to those that are at this time unresponsive.
However, let me assure you that god
does not speak without a corresponding action taking place. God's word does not
return void without accomplishing what it was sent to do (Isaiah 55:11).
Let me re-type that: His Word does not return void
without accomplishing what He was sent to do.
Ephesians 5:15-17
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.
In verse 15, we are told to walk
circumspectly. The Greek text speaks of a diligence in our lives that is
available through the Holy Spirit. Those who are foolish allow public opinion
to sway their manner of life. The godly are led the will Spirit of God.
Verse 16 refers to redeeming time:
Redeeming speaks of ransoming or buying up the time. "Time" does not
refer to the sweep second hand. The Greek text shows a proper time, not a
specific time. Today we would say, "Use your allotted time wisely."
"The days are evil"
indicates a time of harassing, hardship, and perils. These are evil days filled
with opportunity for Christian ministry. We are in a time period when the term
"normal" is applied to that which is dysfunctional. Good relationships
are now abnormal.
According to many TV talk shows
"normal" in America is now voyeurism. It has replaced well-grounded
relationship as the basis for American society.
If we are to believe the comedians of
today, they all were victims of abusive, drunken fathers and overbearing, drug
addicted mothers. Today’s comedians who speak well of their parents may be
counted on the fingers of one hand.
I grew up in an abnormal household.
My mother and father loved my sisters, brother, and me. They were strict without
being abusive. My siblings and I cherish each other and our parents. I thank
God that we are not "normal."
According to verse 17, we are to
understand the will of the Lord. In this case, understanding means to have a
clear perception. Several times Paul
says that he does not want us to be ignorant. That is just another way of
saying that we walk in the light. Christians live in the light. Unbelievers
live in darkness.
Ephesians 5:18-21
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;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Do you understand that Christians are
called upon to live lives of joyful moderation?
This section has been abused by many
that say they understand spiritual things, but do not. Don't be drunk with
wine, which results in excess. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
That admonishment is not an excuse to
laugh through the sermon, or fall down as if "dead." It is not, in any way, a license to act
silly.
Many have abused it as a sign that we
should act in outlandish ways. Such is not the case. This section is a simple
contrast of life-styles.
One is a life-style filled with
excess. The other is a life-style filled with Christ. The results of excessive
behavior are similar to drunkenness. We are not to participate or imitate that
life-style. That type of behavior, or
imitation of it, is unacceptable.
God did not save you so you could go
around imitating stupidity. The Christian life-style is the result of being
filled with the Spirit. That life-style results in behavior that is consistent
with the fruit of the Spirit.
The one word in Galatians 5 that is
abused by spiritual predators is "joy." It does not indicate excessive behavior. It simply means a cheerful, calm delight.
As Christians, we are to Speak to each other in uplifting ways. Psalms,
hymns and spiritual songs should fill our hearts.
We experience true joy through
singing and making melody to the Lord, in our hearts. Notice that this verse
says that we are "speak" psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. At the
time of Paul, and before, songs were spoken, and yet they called it singing.
Let me explain biblical songs:
Musical instruments do not accompany hymns. The word Psalm indicates a
twanging. Therefore, songs with instrumental accompaniment are psalms not
hymns.
Those who teach that musical
instruments are not found in the New Testament are just plain wrong. Paul
seemed to think it was okay to play instruments as part of the worship of God.
We are to give thanks to God and the
Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the things He has done to
benefit us. Giving thanks brings joy at the most unlikely moments. You may be
in the midst of a crisis. And yet, you are to give thanks to God at that moment
of need.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves
unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
This verse should be noted for what
is does not say as much as for what it does say. It does not say husbands are
to force their wives into submission. Such a notion is anti-biblical. A good
wife is a helpmate, a co-laborer in life. She is not a subject to be ordered
around as a pre-Civil War southern slave.
I am embarrassed to say that until
recently, and perhaps even today, in some states of these United States wives
are considered to be legal chattel property. The men that wrote those laws were
well respected and just as ignorant as they could be. I don't care what Church
they attended or how loudly they shouted, they were ignorant.
No verse in the entirety of the Bible
teaches that women are inferior. The
virtuous woman used as a model for all Christian women conducts business
outside the home. Study this section and see how much a godly woman adds to a
marriage.
Proverbs 31:10-31
(10) Who can find a virtuous woman? for
her price is far above rubies.
(11) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have
no need of spoil.
(12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
(13) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
(14) She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth
her food from afar.
(15) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and
a portion to her maidens.
(16) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
(17) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
(18) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her
candle goeth not out by night.
(19) She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her
hands hold the distaff.
(20) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea,
she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
(21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are
clothed with scarlet.
(22) She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her
clothing is silk and purple.
(23) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth
among the elders of the land.
(24) She maketh fine linen, and selleth
it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
(25) Strength and honour are her clothing; and
she shall rejoice in time to come.
(26) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her
tongue is the law of kindness.
(27) She looketh well to the ways of her household,
and eateth not the bread of idleness.
(28) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
(29) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest
them all.
(30) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a
woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
(31) Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in
the gates.
Ephesians 5:23 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.
A husband is head of the house in the
same manner the Christ is the head of the Church. Christian marriage is
considered in the same light as the relationship of Christ and the Church.
Christ is at this very moment interceding for the Church.
Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the
church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Just as the Church is to be faithful
to Christ, wives are to be faithful to their husbands. As Christ is faithful to
the Church, husbands are to give the same respect to their wives
Have you ever noticed that instructions
to wives are much shorter than instructions to husbands?
Instruction to wives took one verse(v 23). But, instruction to husbands begins in verse
25, and goes through 28.
Ephesians 5:25-28
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.
Husbands are to love your wives as
Christ loves the Church, and gave His life for it. Our love for our wives is to
be as complete as Christ's love for the Church. The spiritual responsibility
placed on husbands is tremendous. As Christ is interceding for us every day,
husbands are to intercede on behalf of their wives every day.
Nothing is more important in your
relationship to Christ and to your wife. A man that is out of fellowship with
his wife is also out of fellowship with God (1 Peter 3:7).
Husbands are to use prayer to
protect, and benefit their wives and children. That is not a suggestion! It is
a commandment.
Christ is performing His wonderful
work in us so that He may present it to Himself as a glorious church, not
having a blemish, defect, or wrinkle, or any such thing. The true Church is now
holy and unblemished.
Men ought to love their wives as
their own bodies. Major conflicts within the home may often be laid at the feet
of husbands with low self-esteem. Husbands, God has given you a wonderful
opportunity for service to your family.
He has placed His confidence in you
as a husband in the same manner that He has placed confidence in your wife to
be a wife. If you are a Christian husband or wife, act like it.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
The wife is an extension of her husband. The husband is an extension of his
wife. Love is the bonding agent between husband and wife, and between Christ
and the Church.
The most important "work"
any man can do is the covering prayers for his family. As a husband nourishes
and cherishes his family, he shows unity with Christ.
Ephesians 5:31 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.
Because of his personal family
obligations to his wife, a man shall leave his father and mother. That leaving
may or may not be a physical departure. It definitely is a psychological
departure.
I had the best mother-in-law a man
could want. She was my friend. My wife and my mother were good friends.
However, my wife is my wife. A man's desire is to be for his wife.
Ephesians 5:32 This
is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
In case you thought that I was just
giving my opinion as to relationships, Paul makes it plain. His description of
marriage is actually a discussion of what Christ's relationship with the Church
is.
Is Paul speaking of the Church with
marriage as an example, or speaking of marriage with the Church as an example?
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every
one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see
that she reverence her husband.
The loving respect between husband
and wife is a two-way street. Words such as reverence and cherish belong in a
marriage. God blesses us with and through our spouses. Husbands and wives
should cherish each other.