Ephesians 5
In chapters 5 we continue with the behavioral and practical instruction in the letter from Paul. He has given us a doctrinal and theological base upon which he now builds with practical instruction for our lives in the world.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Ephesians 5:1 KJV
We are to imitate the characteristics of God, and God is love. It is by His grace that we can imitate Him. It is the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us that enables us to walk in love.
Followers: imitators 3402 mimétés
Strong’s Concordance
mimétés: an imitator
Original Word: μιμητής, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: mimétés
Phonetic Spelling: (mim-ay-tace’)
Definition: an imitator
Usage: an imitator, follower.
HELPS Word-studies
3402 mimētḗs (the root of the English term, mimic, “one who imitates, emulates”) – properly, the positive imitation that arises by admiring the pattern set by someone worthy of emulation, i.e. a mentor setting a proper example. 3402 /mimētḗs (“emulator, imitator”) is always used positively in the NT (seven times) – of followers of Christ emulating a God-approved example. The supreme model is God Himself (see Eph 5:1).
Copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
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.
Ephesians 5:2 KJV
The key is to walk in love, by the grace of God and by the power of Holy Spirit, as if giving off a fragrant aroma, that is, doing nothing that is offensive to someone. We are to take on His righteousness. This love is far beyond a romantic feeling of love. God loved us at our worst and continues to love us as we come to Him.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient:
but rather giving of thanks.
Ephesians 5:3-4 KJV
Here is a short list of things that Paul says the saints ought not be known for. We are not to fall for the counterfeit things of the enemy. The counterfeit love does not satisfy and does not honor God. Improper actions and attitudes do not glorify God. Careless conversation does not build up the body. True love for, and thanksgiving to, God is the proper attitude and action in our relationship with Him. Thanksgiving is always better than the loose use of the tongue and improper behavior.
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. Let no man deceive you with vain
words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Ephesians 5:5-7 KJV
Paul says we know that a lifestyle of sin does not provide an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. There are those who are deceivers and end up bringing the wrath of God upon those whom they deceived into living a way that is not honoring to God. We are warned not to have any part with them lest we walk in their deception as well.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8-10 KJV
Before coming to our walk with God, we too were part of that darker lifestyle in sin. Having come to the Lord, in His forgiveness, we are now having the fruit of the Spirit developed in us. Walking in that light, goodness and truth, is what is pleasing to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Ephesians 5:11-12 KJV
We are called to separate ourselves from the activities that do not honor God, that are not pleasing to the Lord. It is shameful, Paul says, to even talk about the acts of sinfulness hidden in the dark.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ
shall give thee light.”
Ephesians 5:13-14 KJV
We are being called out of the darkness and into the light. The light exposes the shameful sinfulness and as we see it we are to turn away from it. We are told to wake up and quit participating in these things that bring death. Choose life. In Christ we arise from the death, into the life.
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17 KJV
We are to be careful how we live and walk in wisdom, not in foolishness. We are to make the most of our time, loving and doing good, for the days are evil. So, we are not to be foolish, but we are to understand what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Ephesians 5:18 KJV
Drunkenness is a sinful behavior in the eyes of the Lord. Being in a mind altering state removes us from a position of recognizing the things of God and we enter into the deception of evil, easily manipulated by the evil one. The contrast offered to us is to be filled with the Spirit.
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:19-21 KJV
A lifestyle of praise to God with thanksgiving is where we are called to live within ourselves and among one another. Speaking of godly things, giving thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In love, in sacrificial love, we are to submit to one another, putting one another before ourselves. In love meeting the needs of one another and supporting one another in all godly things.
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the [church Ekklesia]: and he is the saviour of the
body. Therefore as the [church Ekklesia] is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Ephesians 5:22-24 KJV
The Ekklesia is the bride of Christ and is to be submitted to Him. The marriage is a model of the Ekklesia and Christ Jesus. Paul draws a couple of parallels, the first of which is the wife willingly submitting to the husband. We are to be willingly submitted to our groom, Christ Jesus.
This idea in the body of Christ makes sense to us, however, to think about it in our marriage attacks our pride.
To submit is to yield to governance or authority. Christ is the head of the body with all authority. The husband should be walking so close with Christ that the position of governance is seen on Him.
The wife is called here to acknowledge that position of governance or authority and yield to it. There are no conditions attached and this will confront one’s pride as this can only be done in humility and trust in God.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the [church Ekklesia], and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might
present it to himself a glorious [church Ekklesia], not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV
Likewise, the pride of the husband is challenged as he is to lay down his life for the sake of his wife. This is how Christ loves the Ekklesia. Jesus laid down His life in the living of it as well as in the dying. As He gave Himself, the husband is to give himself, give up his life, for the sake of his wife. This is an ultimate showing of love that can do nothing but generate a like response.
The water of the word cleanses and sanctifies the spouse and the relationship so it may be without spot or blemish, being wrinkle free.
Spot 4696 spilos
Strong’s Concordance
spilos: a spot, stain
Original Word: σπῖλος, ου, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: spilos
Phonetic Spelling: (spee’-los)
Definition: a spot, stain
Usage: a spot, fault, stain, blemish.
HELPS Word-studies
4696 spílos – properly, a stain (spot); (figuratively) a moral (spiritual) fault or blemish. Moral and spiritual stains (spots) come from living outside God’s preferred-will (desire, 2307 /thélēma, compare Eph 5:15-17,27) and are removed with heartfelt confession (1 Jn 1:9).
Copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
Blemish 299b amómos
Strong’s Concordance
amómos: without blemish
Transliteration: amómos
Definition: without blemish
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and mómos
Definition
without blemish
NASB Translation
above reproach (1), blameless (5), unblemished (1), without blemish (1).
Wrinkle 4512 rhutis
Strong’s Concordance
rhutis: a wrinkle
Original Word: ῥυτίς, ίδος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhutis
Phonetic Spelling: (hroo-tece’)
Definition: a wrinkle
Usage: a wrinkle; fig: a spiritual defect, flaw.
HELPS Word-studies
4512 rhytís – properly, bunched up, contracted; (figuratively) “a wrinkle, from aging” (Souter).
Copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
Our iniquities, transgressions, and stains of sin are being removed that we may be without shame before God Almighty. Just as a groom desires a pure bride, without blemish or shame, Christ Jesus wants a pure Ekklesia, His bride.
We need not walk in shame and stressing as we attempt to make ourselves right in His eyes, we need to humble ourselves in love and allow Him to purify us and cleanse us of every spot, wrinkle, and blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the
[church Ekklesia]: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Ephesians 5:28-30 KJV
Christ loving the Ekklesia is the example for husbands to love their wives. Even as a man loves himself, he needs to love his wife. Husband and wife becoming one flesh is how we need to treat one another. We need to truly see it. Likewise, we need to truly see ourselves as the body of Christ. Both need to be real to us, in the flesh with our spouses and in the spirit with our Lord. We are to love and care for ourselves, our spouses, and our Lord.
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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the [church
Ekklesia].
Ephesians 5:31-32 KJV
We must detach ourselves from the things of this realm. A husband is to leave his parents and be joined to his wife. Likewise, a woman who accepts a proposal of marriage will need to leave her single life behind and be joined to her husband. The two, once married, need to operate as one. So it is with a person who surrenders to Christ, leaving the world behind to follow Him.
For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
Acts 17:28a KJV
Counting all other things as loss in order to join oneself to Christ Jesus and operate as one, the Ekklesia being the bride and the body of Christ, who is the head of the body.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5:33 KJV
The husband is commanded to love his wife. The wife has an innate need to be loved. When the husband properly loves his wife, that love is reciprocated.
The wife is commanded to respect her husband because of the position of governance and authority. The husband has an innate need for honor or respect. To do so will draw out the love of the husband.
The husband and wife have a mutual respect and love for one another when acting in a right relationship. This is the relationship of Christ Jesus with His bride, the Ekklesia. He always does His part. How ought we live our lives? We are to go with Him and our desire is to be with Him and to live like Him.