Ephesians Chapter 5
(Ephesians 5:1)
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
- The "ye" is plural, so this is to all, as in "y'all" or "you all"
- Children follow in their fathers footsteps when obedient
- God is our Father
- We will always be children also, not adults, even when mature
- Scarce; not plentiful.
- Bearing a high price in comparison of the usual price; more costly than usual; of a higher price than the customary one. Wheat is dear at a dollar a bushel, when the usual price is seventy five cents. This is the effect of scarcity and demand.
- Of a high value in estimation; greatly valued; beloved; precious.
And the last joy was dearer than the rest. Be ye followers of God, as dear children. Ephesians 5:1
DEAR, v.t. To make dear.
DEAR, n. A darling; a word denoting tender affection or endearment; as, my dear.
(Ephesians 5:2)
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.
- Walk like Christ did, for others, sacrificially
- This is an active love, not a feeling
- This is not the kind of love that the world loves
- This is the horizontal part of the Cross, hands stretched out by Jesus to save, hands stretched out by us to help,
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
- Fornication is sex outside of the marriage bed. Period.
- The modern versions call it "sexual immorality" which has multiple meanings, depending on the reader/hearer
- "ALL" uncleanness and covetousness
- All uncleanness.......pretty hefty command
- Covetousness.....wanting what others have, wanting what other churches have
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
- This affects all of us, all of the time
- We waste God's time this way, by not speaking of the things of God
- Convenient: "Suitable, proper"
Some arts are peculiarly convenient to particular nations.
Feed me with food convenient for me. Prov 30.
(Ephesians 5:5)
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.
- As the tongue is in verse four, so is the action revealed here in verse five
- Dirty jokes, "off-color" jokes, etc., dressing half-naked
- Coveting is repeated here again, giving it more meaning, importance, significance
- Idolatry is worshiping other gods, the First Commandment
- The fact that Paul is saying this to believers is amazing and startling, but it happens
- Those who are in hell will have practiced these things throughout their life
(Ephesians 5:6)
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
- The only way to not be deceived is to know the truth correctly discerning it, rightly dividing it, without private interpreting it
- Vain words, deception, all part and parcel of unbelievers
- In other words, vain words and vanity deceive us
- unrighteous wrath revealed in every vain, idle word
- This let "no man" includes preachers, Christians, evangelists, any teacher
(Matthew 12:36)
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
VAIN, a. [L. vanus; Eng. wan, wane, want.]
- Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance. 1 Pet 1.
To your vain answer will you have recourse
Every man walketh in a vain show. Psa 39. Why do the people imagine a vain thing? Psa 2.. - Fruitless; ineffectual. All attempts, all efforts were vain.
Vain is the force of man. - Proud of petty things, or of trifling attainments; elated with a high opinion of one's own accomplishments, or with things more showy than valuable; conceited.
The minstrels play'd on every side, vain of their art - - Empty; unreal; as a vain chimers.
- Showy; ostentatious.
Load some vain church with old theatric state. - Light; inconstant; worthless. Prov 12.
- Empty; unsatisfying. The pleasures of life are vain.
- False; deceitful; not genuine; spurious. James 1.
- Not effectual; having no efficacy
Bring no more vain oblations. Isa 1.
In vain, to no purpose; without effect; ineffectual.
In vain they do worship me. Mat 15.
To take the name of God in vain, to use the name of God with levity or profaneness.
(Ephesians 5:7)
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
- The deceivers are not to be part of us, no matter how subtle
- We are not under wrath, but discipline can be expected
- If we fellowship, it will rub off and we will partake. If we partake, we are no better than them (in the realm of mankind)
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
- That whole world of deception is darkness, and light shines in darkness to disclose its inhabitants and behavior
- Light does not go out in darkness
- Again the word "ye" is a plural one, to all believers
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
- We cannot bear good fruit in bad soil, attached to a bad tree
- We can always bear bad fruit
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
- We are to prove ALL things
Acceptable
(Leviticus 22:20)
But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
(Deuteronomy 33:24)
¶ And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
(Psalms 19:14)
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(Psalms 69:13)
But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
(Proverbs 10:32)
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
(Proverbs 21:3)
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
(Ecclesiastes 12:10)
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
(Isaiah 49:8)
Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
(Isaiah 58:5)
Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
(Isaiah 61:2)
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
(Jeremiah 6:20)
To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
(Daniel 4:27)
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
(Luke 4:19)
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(Romans 12:1)
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(Romans 12:2)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 14:18)
For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
(Romans 15:16)
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(Ephesians 5:10)
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
(Philippians 4:18)
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
(1 Timothy 2:3)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(1 Timothy 5:4)
But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
(1 Peter 2:5)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
(1 Peter 2:20)
For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
(1 Timothy 2:3)
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
(Ephesians 5:11)
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
- We can be friends, but not hang out
- We can be friends, but must at least tell them their ways are wrong
- This would be believers or non-believers
- On the meaning of "fellowship", take your pick
FEL'LOWSHIP, n.
- Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. Eph 5. Men are made for society and mutual fellowship. - Association; confederacy; combination.
Most of the other christian princes were drawn into the fellowship of that war. [Unusual.] - Partnership; joint interest; as fellowship in pain.
- Company; a state of being together.
The great contention of the sea and skies parted our fellowship. - Frequency of intercourse. In a great town friends are scattered, so that there is not that fellowship which is in less neighborhoods.
- Fitness and fondness for festive entertainments; with good prefixed.
He had by his good fellowship - made himself popular, with all the officers of the army. - Communion; intimate familiarity. 1 John 1.
- In arithmetic, the rule of proportions, by which the accounts of partners in business are adjusted, so that each partner may have a share of gain or sustain a share of loss, in proportion to his part of the stock.
- An establishment in colleges, for the maintenance of a fellow.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
- It is degrading, saddening, embarrassing, makes us blush red
- We must speak of them when reproving, but nonetheless, shameful
- Sad to say, those who practice them are shameless
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
- The secrecy dissolves when things secret are made manifest by exposure to light, like cockroaches and rats
- Even an unbeliever with good sense can act as light to reveal, manifest evil doings
- This light always works, as in "all things" that are reproved
Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
- When our spirit is dead, or quenched, it is literally as though we are dead
- At that point, we are in total spiritual darkness, willfully unseeing, unhearing, numb, with no conscious
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
- Wisdom is looking in every direction(circumspectly) as one walks, because life has obstacles, cliffs to fall over, low places to bump one's head, etc.
- Wisdom is knowing what is going on around you in the world at all times
- Foolishness is ignoring what is going on, or not looking to even notice it, caught up in worldly nonsense
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
- We have 2,000 years of days, as in a lot less time, and the times are not only a lot more evil, but a lot shorter now as well
- Redeeming means being a good steward of them, understanding that there is not much time left
- To purchase back; to ransom; to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying an equivalent; as, to redeem prisoners or captured goods; to redeem a pledge.
- To repurchase what has been sold; to regain possession of a thing alienated, by repaying the value of it to the possessor. If a man [shall] sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold. Lev 25.
- To rescue; to recover; to deliver from.
Th' Almighty from the grave hath me redeem'd.
Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Psa 25. Deu 7.
The mass of earth not yet redeemed from chaos. - To compensate; to make amends for.
It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows.
By lesser ills the greater to redeem. - To free by making atonement.
Thou hast one daughter who redeems nature from the general curse. - To pay the penalty of.
Which of you will be mortal to redeem man's mortal crime? - To save.
He could not have redeemed a portion of his time for contemplating the powers of nature. - To perform what has been promised; to make good by performance.
He has redeemed his pledge or promise. - In law, to recall an estate, or to obtain the right to re-enter upon a mortgaged estate by paying to the mortgagee his principal, interest, and expenses or costs.
- In theology, to rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law, by obedience and suffering in the place of the sinner, or by doing and suffering that which is accepted in lieu of the sinner's obedience.
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Gal 3. Titus 2. - In commerce, to purchase or pay the value in specie, of any promissory note, bill or other evidence of debt, given by the state, by a company or corporation, or by an individual. The credit of a state, a banking company or individuals, is good when they can redeem all their stock, notes or bills, at par. To redeem time, is to use more diligence in the improvement of it; to be diligent and active in duty and preparation. Eph 5.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
- The will of the LORD is in Scripture, not some personal experience, personal revelation to us as to "what job", "where to live now", "what to buy", etc.
- This is not to say that we do not make plans; just that God is in charge of them when we give them over to Him, to change according to His will
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
(Ephesians 5:18)
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
- Avoiding alcoholic beverages, as it lowers our resistance to sin, dulls our senses
- Our joy is to come from God the Holy Spirit, not from a bottle
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
- The joy will express itself in our worship, and our worship will lead to our joy
- This is not corporate worship
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Being thankful helps us in every way
- "for all things" means the trials, hardships, good times and bad times.....all things
- We ask "In Jesus Name", but God said to be thankful In Jesus Name
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
- That means just what it says; on equal turf, one to another
- The fear of God is what is common to all believers
- Some will have it more, some less, but this fear leads to humility for all who practice fear and levels the field
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
- Submit.......take a position of not being the head, but the helper
- When that word is used elsewhere in Scripture, people understand the meaning as it clearly is. Here? They freak out, because it is ingrained into them that marriage is "slavery"!
- This is part one of the "one to another" submission
- To let down; to cause to sink or lower.
Sometimes the hill submits itself a while.
[This use of the word is nearly or wholly obsolete.] - To yield, resign or surrender to the power, will or authority of another; with the reciprocal pronoun.
Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hand. Gen 16.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands. Eph 5.
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man. 1 Pet 2. - To refer; to leave or commit to the discretion of judgment of another; as, to submit a controversy to arbitrators; to submit a question to the court.
- To yield one's opinion to the opinion or authority of another. On hearing the opinion of the court, the counsel submitted without further argument.
- To be subject; to acquiesce in the authority of another.
To thy husband's will
Thine shall submit-- - To be submissive; to yield without murmuring.
Our religion requires us--to submit to pain, disgrace and even death.
(Ephesians 5:23-24)
For 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
- Teaching correctly and without private interpretation on this one verse is anathema in most American churches, and why divorce rate is so high
- There is never a mention of doing this only if the husband is being a Scriptural husband at all, so this is effective as a command regardless
- Submitting is an active verb, simple as that. A decision, then an action to follow. It takes a mind change, moment by moment
- This can only be done by walking in the spirit, but even unbelievers can often be biblical here, in culture and tradition, especially in third world countries
- "As Christ is...as in, "in the same exact manner"
- Jesus calls Himself our friend, but also our LORD, Master, Covering, Head, etc...
- This is how marriage actually does work, but the world and the church today hate it, hate even discussing it, hate teaching on it, hate even hearing it, even calling this idea, doctrine "evil".
- Because of the feminist lie, the verse and others like it are re-interpreted as "this means a wife is of lesser value", but they ignore the context because of sin. Very simply put, this is a role, not a value judgment
- The Scriptures need to just be allowed to speak for themselves
- To repair the marriage bed, we must do what God says, not what man says, in all things, not just marriage
- The Woman (Eve) was the one deceived; Adam just followed her willingly, knowingly into the Fall because he loved her
- To subject oneself as an action is to place oneself voluntarily under, as a person would as the boss on a job working for the employees
- Those wives who want to change their husbands can assist God the Holy Ghost t odo so by being a wife, as Peter stated (1 Peter 3:1-6)
- One would guess and could say that the reverse is true, that husbands can only help God change their wives by being husbands to them
- Placed or situate under.
--The eastern tower whose height commands, as subject, all the vale, to see the fight. - Being under the power and dominion of another; as, Jamaica is subject to Great Britain.
Esau was never subject to Jacob. - Exposed; liable from extraneous causes; as a country subject to extreme heat or cold.
- Liable from inherent causes; prone; disposed.
All human things are subject to decay. - Being that on which nay thing operates, whether intellectual or material; as the subject-matter of a discourse.
- Obedient. Titus 3. Col 2.
- To bring under the power or dominion of. Alexander subjected a great part of the civilized world to his dominion. Firmness of mind that subjects every gratification of sense to the rule of right reason--
- To put under or within the power of.
In one short view subjected to our eye, gods, emperors, heroes, sages, beauties lie. - To enslave; to make obnoxious.
He is the most subjected, the most enslaved, who is so in his understanding. - To expose; to make liable. Credulity subjects a person to impositions.
- To submit; to make accountable.
God is not bound to subject his ways of operation to the scrutiny of our thoughts-- - To make subservient.
--Subjected to his service angel wings. - To cause to undergo; as, to subject a substance to a white heat; to subject it to a rigid test.
Wives, Scripture and Submission
(Genesis 2:18)
¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(Genesis 2:23-24)
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Genesis 3:16)
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
(1 Timothy 2:14)
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
Peter's Contribution:
(1 Peter 3:1-6)Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
_____________________________________________________________
(Ephesians 5:25)
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
- While the wife does this, it is the husband's job to do the husband's job, as in emulating Christ's love for His Bride (US)
- This love is unconditional, completely sacrificial, eternal, unbroken
- This is part two of the "one to another" submission
- Since the days of the Fall of Adam and Eve, it is not always easy to love one's wife like this, especially in America, especially since the 1960s "feminist movement" on
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
- This is the purpose of our love to our wives
- this is the outcome of God's love towards us
- The living water by the word is what cleanses us from sin
- To be sanctified, we must read the Word, obey the Word, pray, fellowship
That 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.
- After the above is done, we go to Heaven, so the salvation is then complete in Glory
- This is God's holiness imputed to us, not our own, which is merely "self-righteousness"
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
- This is the "Raison d'être" (reason) we need to do this, because we are one unit, one body ("bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh"-Genesis 2)
- Regardless if we love our wives or not, we do always still love ourselves
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
- We are to treat them as part of our own body-because they are
- Jesus does that to us, loves us no matter what, nourishes us, cherishes us,
- This is even if and when we do not appreciate it, want it, or love back
For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
- Members, as in arms, legs, eyes, ears, chest, belly, etc.
- Each member has only that role, husband, wife, child, single person, pastor, teacher, evangelist, etc.
- to complete a body whole and entire, all members are necessary
- So it is in a marriage, both parts together working together to Glorify God, none better than the other, just each with different roles, one head, one the Bride
The Members of the Body of Christ
(1 Corinthians 12:12-27)For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
(Ephesians 5:31)
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.
- Because of the institution of marriage, the two bond, excluding all else that gets between, no matter what or whom, including parents, kids, jobs, trials, money, etc.
- The marriage vows say, "Forsaking all others".......is what God means
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
- It is a simplicity, and yet a mystery, because it is a spiritual thing, not a natural, material thing
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
- The conclusion of the matter is to function correctly, as instructed of the marriage, the two roles, equal but different
- Fear mingled with respect and esteem; veneration. When quarrels and factions are carried openly, it is a sign that the reverence of government is lost. The fear acceptable to God, is a filial fear, an awful reverence of the divine nature, proceeding from a just esteem of his perfections, which produces in us an inclination to his service and an unwillingness to offend him. Reverence is nearly equivalent to veneration, but expresses something less of the same emotion. It differs from awe, which is an emotion compounded of fear, dread or terror, with admiration of something great, but not necessarily implying love or affection. We feel reverence for a parent, and for an upright magistrate, but we stand in awe of a tyrant. This distinction may not always be observed.
- An act of respect or obeisance; a bow or courtesy. 2 Sam 9.
- A title of the clergy.
- A poetical title of a father.
- REV'ERENCE, v.t. To regard with reverence; to regard with fear mingled with respect and affection. We reverence superiors for their age, their authority and their virtues. We ought to reverence parents and upright judges and magistrates. We ought to reverence the Supreme Being, his word and his ordinances.
Those that I reverence, those I fear, the wise.
They will reverence my son. Mat 21.
Let the wife see that she reverence her husband. Eph 5.
Duis mi elit, aliquet id euismod egestas, venenatis sit amet lectus.