1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children, 2and walk in love, just as Christloved us†and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
ⓘGod's people, also called the saints or holy...
God's people, also called the saints orholy ones, should live a holy life. They must avoid the immoral behavior common among unbelievers (compare 4:19; Colossians 3:5).
3But 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. 4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving. 5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdomof Christ and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Children of Light
8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10Test and prove what pleases the Lord.
11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
ⓘ"Wake up, O sleeper": This could be words...
"Wake up, O sleeper": This could be words from an unknown Christian song. It might be inspired by texts in Isaiah (compare Isaiah 26:19; 52:1; 60:1). It urges God's people to leave their sinful ways and live in the full light of Christ.
13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,†for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. 14So it is said:
“Wake up, O sleeper,rise up from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.”
15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
ⓘwith psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: Lives filled...
with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs: Lives filled with the Holy Spirit will show themselves through singing and making music (Colossians 3:16–17). Joyful praise, worship, and giving thanks are good responses to God's saving grace.
Speak to one another: Singing together strengthens the body of Christ.
The Lord hears the music in our hearts. The Lord knows and values our sincere worship, even when it is not expressed out loud but comes from deep inside us.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is our mediator and representative as we approach God (compare John 14:13–14; 16:23–27; Revelation 22:4).
19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to Godthe Father for everything in the name of our LordJesusChrist.
ⓘPaul provides clear guidance on how believers should...
Paul provides clear guidance on how believers should interact in a Christian home (see also Colossians 3:18–4:1; 1 Peter 2:18–3:7). Love and respect should define all relationships among believers as a way to show their commitment to the Lord.
21Submit to one another out of reverencefor Christ.†
ⓘChristian wives should respect and submit to their...
Christian wives should respect and submit to their husbands. Equally important, Christian husbands should love their wives (see Colossians 3:18–19). Christian marriages reflect the union and relationship between the Lord and the church.
22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
ⓘFor the husband is the head of the...
For the husband is the head of the wife: To be the head is to have authority (see 1 Corinthians 11:3).
23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. 24Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
ⓘChristian husbands should love their wives just as...
Christian husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the church. This means loving sacrificially, for Christ gave up his life for the church (5:2; compare Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7).
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christloved the church and gave Himself up for her 26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27and to present her to Himself as a gloriouschurch, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.
ⓘHusbands should value and care for their wives...
Husbands should value and care for their wives as they do themselves. In marriage, the two become one (see 5:31). This means that caring for one’s wife is like caring for one’s own body.
28In the same way, husbands oughtto love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29Indeed, no one ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church. 30For 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.”†32This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Commentary
Ephesians 5:1
Be imitators of God: We imitate God mainly by showing love (5:2; see Matthew 5:44–45, 48).
as beloved children: Just as children follow their parents' example, believers should follow God's example (1 Corinthians 4:14–17).
Christ's love is shown especially in his sacrifice for us (compare 5:25; John 15:13; Romans 5:8). Christian love follows Christ's example of sacrificial love (see Philippians 2:5–8).
Paul uses Old Testament imagery, where the smell of a burning fragrant sacrificial offering was pleasing to God (see Leviticus 1:9; 2:2; compare Romans 12:1).
but rather expose them: This does not mean to accuse or condemn people with words (see 1 Corinthians 5:9–13). Instead, it means to show what is wrong by living in a way that reflects God’s light (see John 3:20–21; Romans 13:12; 1 Peter 2:9),
The Holy Spirit, not wine, should have the most influence in the lives of believers (see Proverbs 23:29–35; compare Acts 2:15–18).
be filled: The grammar here suggests a repeated, ongoing process of letting the Holy Spirit guide and influence the lives of believers, not a single event.
Submit to one another: The verb form connects it with the command to be filled (5:18). This general instruction (compare Philippians 2:3) applies to all three relationships Paul discusses:
A wife’s Christian commitment includes choosing to submit to her husband as part of living out her faith (see 1 Corinthians 11:3–10; 14:34–35; Colossians 3:18; 1 Timothy 2:11–12; Titus 2:5; 1 Peter 3:1–6). At the same time, all Christians (including husbands and wives) are called to submit to one another out of respect for Christ (Ephesians 5:21). At the same time, husbands are called to love their wives and care for them sacrificially, following the example of Christ (see Ephesians 5:21–23). This mutual submission, respect, and love build a healthy, God-honoring marriage.
by the washing with water through the word: The church has been purified by the message of good news. God has forgiven the sins of his people through Christ's sacrificial death (John 15:3; compare Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21).
a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish: The church's sins are forgiven through Christ's sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit purifies her life. As a result, the church stands holy and without fault before God. Compare 1:4; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Colossians 1:22; Revelation 19:7–8; 21:2.