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COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS CHAPTER FIVE

COMMENTARY ON EPHESIANS Chapter FIVE

Ephesians 5:1-33

 

PURITY IN LIVING

 

“1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 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. 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. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 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 kingdom of Christ and of God.”

 

  1. Be imitators of God, as dearly loved children (Parents who dearly love their children raise “copies” of themselves.)
  2. Live a life of LOVE (Just as Christ loves us by giving Himself as a sacrifice) 

3.      Not even a HINT of sexual immorality

  1. Not even a HINT of ANY KIND of impurity
  2. Not even a HINT of ANY KIND of greed. 

BECAUSE

 

  1. This is improper for God’s HOLY People

 

THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY

 

 Obscenity

  1. Foolish talk
  2. Coarse joking

BUT INSTEAD

  1. Words of Thanksgiving

 

A GUARANTEE!

  1. NO Immoral person will inherit in the Kingdom of Christ and of God
  2. NO Impure person will inherit in the Kingdom of Christ and of God
  3. NO Greedy person will inherit in the Kingdom of Christ and of God
  4. NO Idolater (which the above describes) person will inherit in the Kingdom of Christ and of God

 

AVOID DECEPTION

 

“6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 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.”

AVOID DECEPTION

  1. Let no one deceive you with empty words (Because God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.)
  2. DO NOT be partners with them.

BECAUSE

  1. You were also once in darkness NOW you are in the light
  2. LIVE as children of LIGHT
  3. Fruit of LIGHT consists in:
    1. Goodness
    2. Righteousness
    3. Truth 

A MANDATE

  1. Find out what pleases the Lord
  2. Have NOTHING to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness
  3. Expose the deeds of darkness
    1. Because it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
    2. Everything exposed by the light becomes visible.
    3. Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

           

Isaiah 60:1-2 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.”

   

Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.”

   

Proverbs 4:18-19 – “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.  19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

 

HOW TO LIVE AS INDIVIDUALS IN THE BODY AND IN FAMILIES AND AT WORK

“15 Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

 

HOW TO LIVE

  1. Carefully
  2. In Wisdom
  3. Make the most of every opportunity (because of the evil days you live in)
  4. Do not be foolish
  5. Understand what the Lord’s will is (implied holy living – general behavior and thought)
  6. Do not get drunk with wine because of what it leads to.
  7. Instead be filled with the Spirit
  8. Speak to one another with:
    1. Psalms
    2. Hymns
    3. Spiritual Songs
  9. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord
  10. Always give thanks to God the Father for EVERYTHING, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
  11. Submit to one another BECAUSE -> out of reverence for Christ. 

FAMILY BEHAVIOR AND ACTIONS

“22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 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. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 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.”  32 This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”

 

MARRIAGE

 

 Wives submit to their husbands (with a similar attitude they have of the Lord Jesus Christ)

    1. The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, He is the Savior
    2. As the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands in EVERYTHING?!?!  Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for Her,
      1. To make Her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word
      2. To present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, holy and blameless (Can this mean that the husband, by His love and lifestyle, can have a dramatic impact on the spiritual life and condition of his wife? Very likely  Husbands love their wives as their own bodies.
        1. He who loves his wife, loves himself
        2. He feeds and cares for his own body and does the same for his wife, just as Christ does for the church A man leaves his father and mother to be united to his wife and the two become one flesh
          1. This is a mystery (Jesus and His Bride the Church)
          2. Husbands love your wives as you love yourself

 

  1. Wives respect your husband