Read or listen The Epistle to the Ephesians Chapter 5 online (ESV, YouVersion)

Christ’s Example – Eph 5:1-2

This is the only passage in the New Testament that speaks of imitating Christ (mimeetes in Greek, imitator in Latin). It means striving to follow the example he set. So we do not necessarily have to do exactly the same deeds, but deeds that are in accordance with Christ’s will.

One example of this is forgiveness. Our forgiveness is always imperfect, but we must still practice it in accordance with the example Christ set.

One common feature of heresies is the demand for unconditional obedience to a leader. Whenever obedience is demanded to people or human rules rather than to Christ, it is a sign of heresy.

Just as faith gives rise to a certain way of life and lifestyle (verse 2: “Let love be your guide”), so too does unbelief give rise to its own:

"But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."
(Ephesians 5:3-5)

Christ offered a single, definitive sacrifice through which he atoned for the sins of the whole world (Heb 7:26–28).

"For by a single offering
he has perfected for all time
those who are being sanctified."
(Hebrews 10:14)

That is why we no longer need—nor should we—try to earn our salvation. All that remains are the sacrifices of thanksgiving.

Tempting Sins – Eph 5:3–7

We humans tend to rank sins: there are major and minor sins. Before God, however, every sin is the same rebellion against God: turning one’s back on God. Jesus took away the sin of the world (John 1:29) — not sins (=plural). Jesus restored the broken connection between humanity and God.

Paul—and the Christian church throughout the ages—has recognized that some sins are more tempting than others. That is why Paul warns against them in particular. Often, only the sins related to sexuality are remembered from Paul’s “lists of sins,” but even here he warns against sins in three areas of life:

1. sexuality
2. speech
3. wealth

In the Middle Ages, people spoke of the seven deadly sins, which were:

1. pride
2. greed
3. lust
4. envy
5. drunkenness
6. anger
7. spiritual laziness

Paul and the early church clearly saw how tempting wealth and possessions in their various forms can be. And that temptation has not disappeared; on the contrary.

To understand verse 5, it is important to remember that even Christians fall into sin. But a Christian does not live in sin. He does not practice sin.
Jesus forgives all sins if forgiveness is asked of Him.

The warning in verse 6 about false teachers is particularly relevant today as well. During the early church, Gnostic movements taught that the soul is merely a prisoner of the body. They believed that it was therefore permissible to sin, since it affected only the body and not the soul. The fate of such false teachers is condemnation.

There are various antinomian teachers (= teachers who deny the significance of God’s law) even today. They proclaim that everyone will be saved or that one can certainly sin, since God is not so strict about these things. But God has not changed!

From Darkness to Light – Eph 5:8–14

Paul does not say that the Ephesians used to live in darkness; rather, he says that they were darkness. Light and darkness are two kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of his adversary. There is no third, neutral realm. Jesus spoke of the same thing in the Sermon on the Mount:

"If then the light in you is darkness,
how great is the darkness!"
(Matthew 6:23)

Christ is the true light:

"The true light,
which gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world."
(John 1:9)

Only in him is there true light (verse 14).

"But when anything is exposed by the light,
it becomes visible,
for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
(Ephesians 5:13-14)

In verse 12, Paul is apparently referring to a sect that taught that it was acceptable to sin (cf. verse 6).

The quotation in verse 14 is not from the Old Testament but apparently from a baptismal hymn or baptismal liturgy. The pagan was dead; Christ raised him up and gave him light.

The Guidance of the Spirit – Eph 5:15-20

Paul emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the Christian walk. A Christian walks under His guidance, not by his own wisdom. This is evident in verse 18, where the verb is in the passive voice. Being filled with the Spirit is God’s work. It is also worth noting that Paul uses the Greek present tense when speaking of being filled with the Spirit. It is therefore a continuous action, not just a one-time event.

The fact that Paul contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit may seem strange. However, on the first Pentecost, the apostles were accused of drunkenness (Acts 2:13: “But some mocked them, saying, ‘They are full of sweet wine’”).

Alcohol and the Holy Spirit share one common trait: both seek to bring a person under their influence. One must align with the good, not the evil.

A parallel passage in the Epistle to the Colossians speaks of the abundance of God’s Word dwelling in Christians:

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
(Colossians 3:16)

The work of the Holy Spirit can never be separated from the Bible. The Spirit specifically clarifies the Word. Note also that Paul’s exhortation to be filled with the Spirit is without restriction. It is intended for all Christians, not just for some spiritual elite.

Verse 19 reminds us of the value and significance of hymns. Revivals have always given rise to new hymns.

Instructions for Human Relationships – Eph 5:21-23

In both the Epistle to the Ephesians and the Epistle to the Colossians (Col 3:18–4:1), Paul discusses three relationships:

1. The relationship between husband and wife (Eph 5:22–33)

2. The relationship between children and parents (Eph 6:1-4)

3. The relationship between slaves/servants and masters (Eph 6:5-9)

It has often been understood that these instructions from Paul are obligatory for all people. Of course, this is true to a certain extent, for the world was created by God and is governed by a certain order established by Him. But if we fail to see that Paul ties his commands to the work of Christ, we will be led astray. Thus, only Christians can understand the commandments in their proper context, because only they know the love of Christ. This is clearly evident in verse 21:

..."submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."
(Ephesians 5:21)

Submission does not mean submitting to another person. Submission means submitting to the order established by God. If we believe that God loves us, we also believe that He has established His commandments for our own good. Therefore, there is no reason to fight against them.

One can only submit to these commands of Paul voluntarily. If they are enforced by force, they lose their meaning. The issue, then, is not one of submission or humiliation, but of taking one’s place in accordance with God’s will. The Old Testament described this with the phrase “the fear of the Lord” (Prov. 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"; cf. v. 21: “out of reverence for Christ”).

I think it’s difficult to understand these instructions today because we have a distorted view of leadership and authority. The correct view of leadership is this: the leader goes ahead and takes the attacks of the enemy, etc. (cf. verse 25). Authority does not mean unlimited power. The leader is accountable to God for the use of the authority He has given.

It is worth noting that Paul commands men three times to love their wives (verses 25, 28, 33; cf. John 21:15–17). Likewise, Christ is presented three times as a model and example for men (verses 25, 29, 32). One might say that the task given to men is more difficult, even impossible: after all, none of us can be like Christ in our love.

The relationship between a husband and wife should be like that between Christ and the church: no longer two wills, two goals, etc., but a union (verse 31). Verse 31 quotes Genesis 2:24:

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."
(Genesis 2:24)

It is a passage Jesus also used in his teaching on marriage:

"Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?"
(Matthew 19:4-5)

It is quite surprising that Paul speaks of baptism in this context as well (verse 26).

..."that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
(Ephesians 5:26-27)

Those who do not value baptism are not very familiar with the New Testament, especially Paul’s letters. One might even say, “Paul may bring up baptism in any context.” Why? Because baptism makes one a child of God. The entire Christian life is a life “after baptism.”