Ephesians 5
BSB1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God. 3 But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Test and prove what pleases the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship 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, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14 So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, 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 reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts 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. 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 sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes 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 mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Study Notes — Ephesians 5
- Chapter Summary
- Context for the Chapter
- Heart Application
- What Does This Chapter Mean?
- Voices from the Church
- Outline for Preaching
- Core Doctrines
- Lessons from Ephesians 5
- Themes from Ephesians 5
- Questions for Meditation
- Detailed Chapter Outline
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Top Cross References
- Sermons on Ephesians 5
- Matthew Henry Commentary
- What Do You Notice?
Chapter Summary
In Ephesians 5, the apostle Paul instructs believers to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us (Ephesians 5:2). He teaches that being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God (Ephesians 5:18). The chapter also emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God (Ephesians 5:22-6:4). By following these principles, believers can live a life that is worthy of their calling and experience the fullness of God's love.
Context for the Chapter
Ephesians 5 is part of a larger section in the book of Ephesians that focuses on the practical outworking of the believer's faith. The chapter follows Paul's discussion of the believer's position in Christ and the importance of living a life that is worthy of that position. In the larger biblical narrative, Ephesians 5 connects with other passages that emphasize the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God, such as Romans 12 and Colossians 3. By understanding the context of this chapter, believers can better appreciate the importance of living a life that is guided by God's love and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Heart Application
As believers, we are called to imitate God and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. By submitting to one another in the fear of Christ and being filled with the Spirit, we can experience the fullness of God's love and live a life that is pleasing to Him. This chapter encourages us to examine our relationships and actions, asking ourselves if they are guided by God's love and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
What Does This Chapter Mean?
Ephesians 5 teaches believers how to live a life that is pleasing to God by walking in love, being filled with the Spirit, and submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. As Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1, believers are called to be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. By following these principles, believers can experience the fullness of God's love and live a life that is worthy of their calling.
Voices from the Church
“The love of Christ is the greatest thing in the world, and it is the one thing that can make our lives beautiful and our hearts happy.”
— Charles Spurgeon
“The Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance, and by Him we are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
— John Calvin
“We are all called to be imitators of God, and to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.”
— Martin Luther
Outline for Preaching
- Walking in Love (Ephesians 5:1-7) — Believers are encouraged to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
- Being Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21) — Being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God.
- Submission in the Home (Ephesians 5:22-33) — The chapter emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, and children on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God.
- Children and Parents (Ephesians 6:1-4) — The chapter concludes with guidance for children and parents on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God.
- Conclusion (Ephesians 6:5-24) — The book of Ephesians concludes with a discussion of the believer's armor and the importance of prayer.
Core Doctrines
- The Doctrine of Love
- Ephesians 5 emphasizes the importance of love in the believer's life, encouraging them to walk in love and imitate God's love.
- The Doctrine of the Spirit
- The chapter teaches that being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God.
- The Doctrine of Submission
- The chapter emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God.
- The Doctrine of Imitation
- Believers are encouraged to imitate God and Christ in their daily lives, living a life that is worthy of their calling.
Lessons from Ephesians 5
- The Importance of Love — The concept of love is central to this chapter, and believers are encouraged to walk in love and imitate God's love.
- The Role of the Spirit — Being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God, and believers are encouraged to seek this experience.
- The Emphasis on Submission — The chapter emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God.
- The Call to Imitation — Believers are encouraged to imitate God and Christ in their daily lives, living a life that is worthy of their calling.
- The Importance of Relationships — The chapter emphasizes the importance of relationships in the believer's life, providing guidance on how to live out these relationships in a way that honors God.
Themes from Ephesians 5
- Love — The concept of love is central to this chapter, and believers are encouraged to walk in love and imitate God's love.
- The Spirit — Being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God, and believers are encouraged to seek this experience.
- Submission — The chapter emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God.
- Imitation — Believers are encouraged to imitate God and Christ in their daily lives, living a life that is worthy of their calling.
- Relationships — The chapter emphasizes the importance of relationships in the believer's life, providing guidance on how to live out these relationships in a way that honors God.
Questions for Meditation
- What does it mean to walk in love, and how can I apply this principle in my daily life?
- How can I be filled with the Spirit, and what are the benefits of this experience?
- What does it mean to submit to one another in the fear of Christ, and how can I apply this principle in my relationships?
- How can I imitate God and Christ in my daily life, and what are the benefits of this imitation?
- What are some practical ways I can live out my role in the home and in the church in a way that honors God?
Detailed Chapter Outline
1. Walking in Love (Ephesians 5:1-7)
| Ephesians 5:1 | Believers are encouraged to be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, and to walk in love. |
| Ephesians 5:2 | Christ's love is presented as the ultimate example of love, and believers are encouraged to imitate this love. |
| Ephesians 5:3 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of avoiding immorality and greed, and instead living a life that is pleasing to God. |
| Ephesians 5:4 | Believers are encouraged to avoid coarse joking and foolish talk, and instead to live a life that is characterized by thankfulness. |
| Ephesians 5:5 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of avoiding idolatry and immoral behavior, and instead living a life that is pleasing to God. |
| Ephesians 5:6 | Believers are warned against being deceived by empty words, and instead encouraged to live a life that is characterized by obedience to God's commands. |
| Ephesians 5:7 | The chapter concludes with a warning against participating in the unfruitful works of darkness, and instead encourages believers to live a life that is characterized by obedience to God's commands. |
2. Being Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21)
| Ephesians 5:18 | Believers are encouraged to be filled with the Spirit, rather than being controlled by wine or other substances. |
| Ephesians 5:19 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing and making music in your heart to the Lord. |
| Ephesians 5:20 | Believers are encouraged to always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
| Ephesians 5:21 | The chapter concludes with an emphasis on submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. |
3. Submission in the Home (Ephesians 5:22-33)
| Ephesians 5:22 | Wives are encouraged to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. |
| Ephesians 5:23 | Husbands are encouraged to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her. |
| Ephesians 5:24 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of wives submitting to their husbands in everything, just as the church submits to Christ. |
| Ephesians 5:25 | Husbands are encouraged to love their wives as their own bodies, and to nourish and cherish them. |
| Ephesians 5:26 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of husbands loving their wives in order to sanctify and cleanse them. |
| Ephesians 5:27 | The church is presented as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. |
| Ephesians 5:28 | Husbands are encouraged to love their wives as they love their own bodies, and to nourish and cherish them. |
| Ephesians 5:29 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of husbands loving their wives in order to nourish and cherish them. |
| Ephesians 5:30 | Believers are reminded that they are members of Christ's body, and that they are to love and care for one another. |
| Ephesians 5:31 | The chapter quotes Genesis 2:24, emphasizing the importance of husbands and wives becoming one flesh. |
| Ephesians 5:32 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of husbands and wives loving and caring for one another, just as Christ loves and cares for the church. |
| Ephesians 5:33 | The chapter concludes with an emphasis on husbands loving their wives and wives respecting their husbands. |
4. Children and Parents (Ephesians 6:1-4)
| Ephesians 6:1 | Children are encouraged to obey their parents in the Lord, for this is right. |
| Ephesians 6:2 | The chapter quotes the fifth commandment, emphasizing the importance of honoring one's father and mother. |
| Ephesians 6:3 | The chapter emphasizes the importance of honoring one's father and mother, in order to live a long and happy life. |
| Ephesians 6:4 | Fathers are encouraged to bring up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to walk in love?
To walk in love means to live a life that is characterized by obedience to God's commands and a desire to please Him, as outlined in Ephesians 5:1-7. This involves imitating God's love and living a life that is pleasing to Him.
How can I be filled with the Spirit?
To be filled with the Spirit, believers are encouraged to seek this experience and to live a life that is characterized by obedience to God's commands, as outlined in Ephesians 5:18-21. This involves speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing and making music in your heart to the Lord.
What does it mean to submit to one another in the fear of Christ?
To submit to one another in the fear of Christ means to live a life that is characterized by humility and a desire to serve one another, as outlined in Ephesians 5:21. This involves recognizing the importance of relationships in the believer's life and seeking to live out these relationships in a way that honors God.
Top Cross References
| Reference | Connection | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ephesians 5:1 → Matthew 5:48 | The concept of imitating God is also emphasized in Matthew 5:48, where believers are encouraged to be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect. |
| 2 | Ephesians 5:2 → John 13:34 | The concept of loving one another is also emphasized in John 13:34, where Jesus commands believers to love one another as He has loved them. |
| 3 | Ephesians 5:18 → 1 Corinthians 12:13 | The concept of being filled with the Spirit is also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 12:13, where believers are encouraged to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. |
| 4 | Ephesians 5:22 → Colossians 3:18 | The concept of wives submitting to their husbands is also emphasized in Colossians 3:18, where wives are encouraged to submit to their husbands as is fitting in the Lord. |
| 5 | Ephesians 5:25 → 1 Peter 3:7 | The concept of husbands loving their wives is also emphasized in 1 Peter 3:7, where husbands are encouraged to live with their wives in an understanding way and to show them honor. |
| 6 | Ephesians 5:31 → Genesis 2:24 | The concept of husbands and wives becoming one flesh is also emphasized in Genesis 2:24, where Adam and Eve become one flesh. |
| 7 | Ephesians 5:33 → 1 Corinthians 11:3 | The concept of husbands loving their wives and wives respecting their husbands is also emphasized in 1 Corinthians 11:3, where the importance of headship and submission is emphasized. |
| 8 | Ephesians 6:1 → Exodus 20:12 | The concept of children obeying their parents is also emphasized in Exodus 20:12, where the fifth commandment is given. |
| 9 | Ephesians 6:4 → Proverbs 22:6 | The concept of training children in the way they should go is also emphasized in Proverbs 22:6, where the importance of training children is emphasized. |
| 10 | Ephesians 6:4 → Deuteronomy 6:7 | The concept of teaching children the ways of the Lord is also emphasized in Deuteronomy 6:7, where the importance of teaching children is emphasized. |
Sermons on Ephesians 5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Revival Hymn by Compilations | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of the mission to spread the word of God. He shares a story about the Moravian missions and how their purpose was for the land |
|
(The Glory of God) in Marriage by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not conforming to the ways of the world but instead being transformed by renewing the mind. He highlights that God's will |
|
Chosen to Be Holy by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of holiness and the responsibility that believers have to strive for it. He highlights that this convention is of utmost impor |
|
How to Forgive by Corrie Ten Boom | In this sermon, the pastor encourages the audience to find joy and strength in the knowledge that Jesus will come again and make everything new. He emphasizes that despite the diff |
|
"Where Are the Praying People?" by David Wilkerson | This sermon emphasizes the speaker's strong desire to remain separate from the sinful influences of the world, committing to prayer, Bible reading, and standing against immorality. |
|
Ten Shekels and a Shirt (High Quality) by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Micah in Judges Chapter 17. He discusses two groups of people: the liberals who embrace humanism and the believers who serve the |
|
A Life Changing Prayer by Charles Stanley | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of ceaseless prayer and provides a six-fold request for believers to pray for one another. He encourages fathers and mothers t |
|
|
Be Ye Holy by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the demand for perfect holiness from God. He explains that there are three ways people respond to this call to be holy. The first response is |
|
An Hour With Kathryn Kuhlman - Part 1 by Kathryn Kuhlman | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story of their upbringing in a small Methodist church and the tragic loss of their father at a young age. They emphasize the importanc |
|
Concerning Spiritual Gifts by Smith Wigglesworth | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the secret of power, which is the unveiling of Christ within us. He uses the story of Peter and John encountering a crippled man at the beau |
Summary of Matthew Henry Commentary on Ephesians 5
In his commentary on Ephesians 5, Matthew Henry emphasizes the importance of living a life that is pleasing to God. He notes that believers are called to be imitators of God, and to walk in love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Henry also emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit, and of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. He provides guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God, and encourages believers to seek to live a life that is characterized by obedience to God's commands. As Henry writes, 'The love of Christ is the greatest thing in the world, and it is the one thing that can make our lives beautiful and our hearts happy.' Read the full unabridged Matthew Henry Commentary →
What Do You Notice?
The Importance of Love
The concept of love is central to this chapter, with believers being encouraged to walk in love and imitate God's love. This emphasis on love is a reminder that our actions and relationships should be guided by God's love.
The Role of the Spirit
Being filled with the Spirit is essential for living a life that is pleasing to God, as outlined in Ephesians 5:18. This highlights the importance of relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance and empowerment in our daily lives.
The Emphasis on Submission
The chapter emphasizes the importance of submitting to one another in the fear of Christ, providing guidance for husbands, wives, children, and fathers on how to live out their roles in a way that honors God. This emphasis on submission is a reminder that our relationships should be guided by humility and a desire to serve one another.