Ephesians
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Ephesians 5
Ephesians 5
1Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2And 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.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Commentary · verses 3-4
Paul listed the actions that would bring God's wrath and then contrasted it by exhorting the Ephesians to give thanks, which was the same as a sweet smelling savour.
5For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
5For 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.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Commentary · verses 5-6
Deception is a right WHAT with a wrong or no HOW/WHY. "Empty words" have a wrong or no HOW/WHY, they are words that either have a wrong definition or have not been defined. Paul blatantly stated these actions that prevented people from attaining Salvation brought the wrath of God.
Doctrines on this passage
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; 12for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8For 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;)
10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Commentary · verses 7-12
Our actions ("walk") prove whether or not we are believers, whether we are "children of the light." Verse 11 was the example Jesus set for us: having no fellowship with unprofitable works, but exposing them with light.
Doctrines on this passage
13But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Commentary · verse 13
Believers are light and go towards the light.
14Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
15Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Commentary · verses 14-16
Verse 15 could be summarized in this way: Walk with a careful awareness and focus on making profitable decisions. In order to do this, the believer must be "awake." The word "awake" (from verse 14) meant "collect faculties and senses, gather in marketplace to fulfill a purpose, learn cause and effect in public square." The word sleep (from verse 14) meant "disengage your focus, halt your abilities in relation to time and place, yield trust to various sources." Clearly, being awake was wise and remaining asleep was unwise.
17Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Commentary · verse 17
We ought to understand the Will of God. Actually, those who do not understand God's Will were considered "foolish." The rest of this chapter gave the specific explanation for the other half of the Meaning of Life: The Church is married to Jesus.
18And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Commentary · verse 18
Be filled with the Spirit, not with drunkenness.
19speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Every believer ought to be humble enough to willingly subject (KJV "submitting") themselves to other believers. We saw that the Bride will be made up of all the believers speaking the truth to each other in love. Verse 19 began with speaking and verse 21 ended in humility and love.
22Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For 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.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Doctrine: Christ is the Head of the Church, the husband is the head of the wife, the "head" being the leader. Leadership is "facilitating the purpose and progress of another person."
24But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Commentary · verse 24
Marriage Doctrine: Wives, be to your husbands in everything. Simple instructions from Paul. Could this be because women naturally are about sharing? Women are destructive when they supply their own causes and then make effects from them. Verse 24 pointed women to get causes from their husband.
Commentary · verses 25-31
Verses 25-31: the exhaustive instructions for a husband to his wife.
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Commentary · verse 25
Marriage Doctrine: The husband gives himself up for the wife. Masculinity is putting the interest of others (including your wife and kids) above your own interest. This is really tough to do, which is why it takes a tough person to do it. Many husbands focus their wives on submitting, but ignore the fact that everything the husband does ought to be in the best interest of the wife. After all, everything Christ did was for the benefit of the Church. Jesus did not personally benefit from anything He did.
26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Commentary · verse 26
Marriage Doctrine: Husbands are to sanctify and cleanse their wives with the Word of God. In Israel, every boy was meant to memorize the Torah. In 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, Paul would not suffer a woman to speak in church that could go home and ask her husband. God's design for Marriage involved the husband knowing the Word of God well enough he could teach it to his wife. Paul was trying to help spouses have a better Marriage. In eternity, the Groom will sanctify and cleanse the Bride by the Word of God, and since the Groom (Jesus) is the Word, this Marriage will be paradisiacal.
27that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
27That 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.
Commentary · verse 27
Jesus (Groom) will present the Church (Bride) to Himself. Notice, the benefit the husband ought to get from being about the wife's best interest is that he can present his wife to himself, and the wife ought to be towards the husband in everything.
28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself: 29for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Commentary · verse 29
Marriage Doctrine: Husbands are to nourish and cherish their wives:
- "Nourisheth" meant "growing and maturing." This was a husband teaching and confronting his wife, for her benefit.
- "Cherisheth" meant "gently." This was a husband providing a safe place for the wife, so that he could "nourish" her in a way that would be for her benefit.
30because we are members of his body.
30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Commentary · verse 30
Throughout this explanation of the second half of the Meaning of Life, Paul switched between earthly Marriage (between husband and wife) and Eternal Marriage (between Jesus and the Church). For example, the previous sentence began with earthly Marriage and concluded with Eternal Marriage, blatantly stating that believers were members of Jesus' Body. Paul was more clear that this meant Jesus' Bride...
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Commentary · verse 31
Paul referenced Genesis 2:24. Here is what we wrote for that verse:
"Cleave in this verse was the same cleave as used in Deuteronomy 10:20: '"Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; him shalt thou serve; and to him shalt thou cleave, and by his name shalt thou swear."' God is superior to us and we cleave to Him. Likewise, women are a superior help to males; women are perfect for males, unless you believe we are equal or greater than God."
Doctrines on this passage
32This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Commentary · verse 32
Paul stated this mystery was great and then stated it: Christ and the Church will become one flesh in Marriage. This was the mystery Paul said was now known because of the New Testament Church!
Doctrines on this passage
33Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Commentary · verse 33
Theme of Chapter 5: Paul presented the other half of the Meaning of Life, which was the great mystery. The first half of the Meaning of Life concerned The Bride/Church, which was the new Jerusalem. The Bride will be made up of all of us who will be in the part of the Body we were designed for, so that we speak the truth in love to the other parts we are joined to, with the overall result being the building up of the Body for eternity. The other half of the Meaning of Life was that Jesus will be married to the Church in an Eternal Marriage.
Walk in love. Walking in love implied it was an action that we ought to progress in. This is possible since love is "giving a value without expecting anything in return from the person you gave to." Christ gave Himself for us in love. Throughout the Bible, "an odor of a sweet smell," or as it was translated in the KJV "a sweet smelling savour," was burnt in order to appease God's anger/wrath. Christ's death appeased God's wrath against us which allowed us to attain Salvation.