Introduction

Ephesians 5 continues Paul's practical instruction, calling believers to imitate God by walking in love as Christ loved us. The chapter draws a sharp contrast between the darkness of the old life and the light believers now live in, culminating in instructions for Spirit-filled worship and the foundational relationship of marriage as a picture of Christ and the church.

Imitating God in Love

(v. 1-2) Paul calls believers to the highest standard of imitation—God Himself.

• Beloved children (v. 1): As beloved children, believers are to be imitators of God—children naturally imitate their parents
• Walk in love (v. 2): This imitation means walking in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

Avoiding Darkness

(v. 3-7) Paul lists behaviors that have no place among God's people.

• Not even named among you (v. 3): Sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness must not even be named among the saints—these things should be so foreign that they're not associated with believers
• No filthiness or foolish talk (v. 4): Filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking are out of place; instead, there should be thanksgiving
• No inheritance (v. 5): Those who practice sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness (which is idolatry) have no inheritance in Christ's kingdom
• Don't be deceived (v. 6): Empty words may try to justify these behaviors, but God's wrath comes on the sons of disobedience
• Don't be partners (v. 7): Believers must not become partners with those who persist in such things

Children of Light

(v. 8-14) Paul develops the light/darkness contrast to describe Christian transformation.

• Once darkness, now light (v. 8): Believers were once darkness, but now they are light in the Lord—not just in the light, but actually light
• Fruit of light (v. 9): The fruit of light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth
• Discern what pleases (v. 10): Believers must discern what is pleasing to the Lord in each situation
• Expose darkness (v. 11): Rather than participating in unfruitful works of darkness, believers should expose them
• Light makes visible (v. 13): When anything is exposed by light, it becomes visible—light reveals truth
• Awake, sleeper (v. 14): Paul quotes what may be an early Christian hymn: "Awake, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you"

Living Wisely

(v. 15-21) Paul gives instructions for wise, Spirit-filled living.

• Walk carefully (v. 15): Believers must look carefully how they walk—not as unwise but as wise
• Making the best use of time (v. 16): Wise living means making the best use of time because the days are evil
• Understand God's will (v. 17): Don't be foolish but understand what the Lord's will is
• Don't get drunk (v. 18): Being drunk with wine leads to debauchery; instead, be filled with the Spirit
• Spirit-filled expression (v. 19): Spirit-filled living expresses itself in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord
• Giving thanks always (v. 20): This includes giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
• Submitting to one another (v. 21): Spirit-filled believers submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

Marriage as a Picture of Christ and the Church

(v. 22-33) Paul uses Christian marriage to illustrate Christ's relationship with the church.

• Wives submit (v. 22-24): Wives are called to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, as the church submits to Christ
• Husbands love (v. 25): Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
• Christ's sanctifying love (v. 26-27): Christ loved the church to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word, to present her to Himself in splendor
• Love as your own body (v. 28-29): Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies—nourishing and cherishing them as Christ does the church
• One flesh (v. 31): Paul quotes Genesis: "A man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh"
• Profound mystery (v. 32): This mystery is profound, referring to Christ and the church—marriage is a living parable of the gospel
• Love and respect (v. 33): The summary: each husband should love his wife as himself, and the wife should respect her husband

Key Takeaways

• Imitate God's love (v. 1-2): Christ's sacrificial love is the pattern for all Christian love
• Identity shapes behavior (v. 8): Because believers ARE light, they should walk as children of light
• Be filled with the Spirit (v. 18): Spirit-filled living replaces destructive behaviors with joyful worship and mutual submission
• Marriage reflects the gospel (v. 32): Christian marriage is meant to display Christ's love for the church to a watching world

Reflection Questions

• What would it look like for you to "walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us" in your daily relationships?
• How does being "filled with the Spirit" change the way you approach worship, thanksgiving, and submission to others?
• Whether married or single, how can you live in a way that reflects Christ's love for His church?