Category Archives: Ephesians

Ephesians 5:25-26

Posted on by
Reply

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”

When it comes to husbands loving their wife as Christ loved the church, what is involved? The end of verse 25 into verses 26 and 27 provide interesting and helpful insights.

Jesus gave Himself up for His church. We men often take this as being willing to lay down our physical life to protect our wife. And, it certainly does mean that, but much more.

The laying down of Jesus’ life had a purpose, and we find that purpose in verses 26 and 27. The first step in this chain is sanctification. Jesus gave Himself up for His bride in order to sanctify her. Men, we need to have a sharp focus on the sanctification of our wife. What does that mean? Sanctification is the process of becoming more holy. One of the main responsibilities we have in our marriage is to increase the holiness of our wife.

Now, that presumes that we ourselves are growing in our sanctification. We can’t help strengthen and support the sanctification of our wife if our life is in a downward spiral as far as our own holiness is concerned.

This responsibility requires intention, time, and forethought. It’s not something that will just happen. In turn, then, this requires a laying down of our life for her. Why? Because in order to help her, our own growth and planning require that we give up some of the things that we would rather do. When you look at the lives of other men around you and their interests and hobbies, you may not be able to involve yourself as deeply as they do, because you have a far greater mission in life — that of providing for the spiritual growth of your wife. This might seem like an intimidating challenge, but it is one we should accept gladly. God has made us to be strong leaders, not demanding thugs, but being a leader, especially a spiritual one, means we have to have goals and a plan to meet those goals. What are your plans for helping your wife to grow in her relationship to God?

To be continued…

Ephesians 5:25

Posted on by
Reply

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”

We’ve been discussing the role of wives in the home. Now, let’s turn our attention to the role of husbands. Paul is continuing his instruction on Christian relationships as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Husbands are to love their wives. The word for love here is the familiar word, agape, which is explained and defined for us in 1 Corinthians 13. This kind of love sacrifices for another. It does not take notice of faults against it. It is patient and kind. The descriptions could go on. Read and study 1 Corinthians 13 if you want to grasp what this kind of love is like.

The comparison that Paul is seeking to demonstrate here is the love of Jesus Christ toward His church. And what is the primary characteristic of Christ’s love for the church? He gave Himself up for her! He literally sacrificed Himself for the well-being of the church.

Now, some of us husbands will readily say that we would defend our wife from danger or take a bullet for her. But some of the more daily routine demonstrations of that same love are hard to come by. But we need to notice that our Lord’s giving Himself for the church is more than His death for her. His focus is on her spiritual growth and development. We’ll talk more about this next time.

For now focus on two things: First, our love for our wife should be agape love described for us in 1 Corinthians 13. Second, we should model our love for our wife after Christ’s example toward His church.

Ephesians 5:23-24

Posted on by
Reply

“For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.”

Ephesians

Ephesians 5:23

We began to talk about the topic of submission of one to another in the Christian community last time. Paul focuses first on the relationship of husbands and wives. And, as we saw last time, wives are to be submissive to their own husbands.

Today we continue that thought into verses 23 and 24. In giving the rationale for this statement, the Bible tells us that the husband is the head of the wife just like Christ is the head of the church, his body.

We need to ask ourselves in what way Christ is the head of the church. He is the head because the church is His body. The Bible tells us that when they marry, a husband and wife become one flesh just as Christ and the church (verses 31 -32).

Because the picture between Christ and the church and a man and his wife are pictured as a body, what or who represents the head of the body? For the church, Jesus the Messiah is the head. In the husband wife relationship, the man is given the role of the head.

Now, as I mentioned last time, being head does not mean better, smarter, wiser, more talented, etc. We know it doesn’t involve intelligence or ability because the Bible says God is the head of Christ. And we know that they are coequal. But, yes, in the home, there needs to be discussion and mutual planning in marriage, but when the decision or course of action is to be made, someone has to provide the leadership and give the final ok. That person is the husband according to the Bible.

Verse 24 clarifies this even more. Paul writes, “As the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” Notice the word, everything. The church is to submit to Christ. Wives are supposed to submit to their husband.

In this current culture, that is a radical statement. There is an anti-patriarchal sentiment in our culture. As individual Christians we are going to have to decide where we stand on the authority of Scripture as it relates to all aspects of our lives, not just the areas that we choose.

Now, in case you are reading these ideas for the first time, be advised that this passage goes on to explain and command the responsibility of the husband. We will get into that next time, but note that God expects the husband to love his wife like Christ loves the church, and as He has given Himself for her, and as He has served her to increase her beauty and holiness. I would suggest to you that a wife who is treated this way by her husband will have no problem fitting into the role God has for her within that relationship.

Ephesians 5:22-23

Posted on by
Reply

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.”

This morning we begin to look at a passage that to some people is very controversial, and which is rejected by many. It involves the topic of submission.

From verse 21 we learned that Spirit-filled believers ought to submit to one another in the fear of God. Paul then goes on to give some examples of how submission should work in various contexts — husbands and wives, parents and children, employers and employees.

Verse 22 says, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” The word submit means to subject myself to or subordinate myself to someone. In this case, the wife is to submit herself to her husband. It’s interesting to note here that it’s her own husband that it’s referring to, not someone else’s husband. That raises some interesting questions that we are not going to discuss much here. But here is one question: What if the wife’s employer has a different dress code from the husband? Something to think about.

Paul strengthens his teaching in this verse by saying that the wife should submit to her husband as she would to the Lord. How submissive should she be to the Lord? To that degree she should be subject to her own husband.

We’ll just take a step into the next verse to point out the grounding of this instruction. It is grounded in the fact that the husband is head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church. Notice the strength of this statement. To what degree do we believe that Christ is the head of the church? To that same degree, the husband is the head of the wife.

Colossians 3:18 says the same thing about wives being subject to their husbands. In 1 Timothy 2:11, the apostle says that in the church, the women should learn in silence in all subjection, and he does not allow that a woman should teach or have authority over the man.

In 1 Corinthians 14 we have the same teaching. In fact, in this passage we are told that if women have a question about the teaching in the church, they should ask their husband at home.

Now, we Bible-believing Christians have a decision to make. Do we believe that the Bible is the authoritative word of God, and that it is the rule of our conduct in the home and in the church? Or do we believe that the Bible contains general guidance on living a good life, but we don’t have to get too carried away with the details? If we believe that it is authoritative, then we need to apply it to this arena as much as in any other.

One thing to remember is that submission has nothing to do with worth, intelligence, or talent. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul writes that the head of Christ is God? Does this imply any less ability or knowledge or talent in Christ than there is in God? No. Christ is co-equal with God the Father. But, there is a hierarchy, for want of a better word, that exists even in the God-head. There is no conflict or jealousy or rebellion in the relationship between and among the members of the Trinity. It should be the same way in the home and in the church when it comes to husband and wife. In fact, in this same verse in 1 Corinthians 11 where it is said that the head of Christ is God, it says that the head of the woman is man. In the home there is the same co-equal value, worth, and importance in the wife as in the husband. But the roles and responsibilities are different. Even in normal secular organizations there has to be a hierarchy of responsibility and direction so that the organization can operate smoothly and orderly. Someone has to be able to make the final decision as to the direction of the organization, in this case, the home and family. And God has given that responsibility to the man.

Next time we will finish commenting on verses 23 and 24.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:03 AM September 29, 2021.

Ephesians 5:21

Posted on by
Reply

“Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”

Ephesians

Ephesians 5:21

Verse 21 is a continuation of the same sentence that began in verse 18, and follows after the filling of the Spirit, making melody in our hearts, and giving thanks always. This verse is going to lead us into a discussion of relationships between husband and wife beginning in verse 22.

Verse 21 says, “submitting to one another in reverence for Christ.” The Greek word for reverence is phobos from which we get our word “phobia,” fear.

A spirit-filled life results in a reverential fear of Christ the Messiah. We respect and love Christ because He is God, and because He gave Himself for us on the cross in order to redeem us.

So, in this passage, what does that fear of Christ produce in our lives? It causes us to submit to one another.

Submitting is not an easy thing for us. Human pride and our me-first attitude drive much of what we do and say. We want to do what we want. We want others to do what we want them to do, and we don’t like to take orders from anyone, especially someone who we perceive as not really having any authority over us.

As Christians, we are to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). This is extremely difficult, and then, when you bring it into the family, and especially husband-wife relationships, it can be a tough thing. However, this is exactly the kind of godly characteristic that the Spirit of God is desiring to work into our lives as we yield to Him and are controlled by Him in our daily walk.

Next time we’ll tackle verse 22 which begins to explain how submission should work in more particular ways.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:53 AM September 24, 2021.

Ephesians 5:20

Posted on by
Reply

“Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Having told us to be filled with the Spirit and speak to one another in psalms and hymns, Paul adds an admonition about giving thanks.

A person who is filled with the Spirit will not only have a melody in his heart, but will have a thankful spirit. Notice in this verse that we should give thanks always and for everything.

We should be thankful people always. Now that is a difficult assignment! Not only are we to give thanks always, but we are to be thankful for everything.

We know we should be giving thanks in every circumstance, but for everything?

In Romans 8:28, God tells us that He is working all things together for our good. This tells me that no matter how difficult the circumstances, God is going to use it for good in my life. This, in turn, means that I should be able to give thanks for that situation since I know that it will produce a good result in me.

Now, I’m not saying this is easy. Of course it isn’t! But it is the kind of response that godliness requires.

I think the fact that we fail so often at this should remind us once again of the grace of God toward us in that God has forgiven all the sins of His people.

Our thanksgiving should be directed toward God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we are thankful to God, we are thankful in Jesus name. In other words we come to God with thanksgiving just as Jesus would. Our identity with Jesus is so complete that as we come to God, we come in the rights and authority that Jesus has. This is good news indeed because we know our thanksgiving will be received with joy by the Father.

Ephesians 5:19

Posted on by
Reply

“…addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”

Last time we talked about what it means to be filled with the Spirit. But Paul’s sentence doesn’t end at the end of verse 18.

Beginning in verse 19 he begins to explain some of the natural results of being filled with the Spirit. First, he addresses speaking. He says we will be speaking to one another. How will we speak to one another? In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.

So, I have a question. Is he saying that since we have been filled with the Spirit, as a result we will sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to one another during the 20 minute song time in one of our worship gatherings? I don’t think so.

In the first place, he says speaking, not singing. Second, the speaking is a continuous sort of action used as an adjective. So people who have been filled with the Spirit will be speaking-to-one-another-in-psalms kind of people. I need to ask myself if I’m that kind of person.

Recently I was teaching on the book of Malachi, which in 3:16 says,   “Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.”

When people speak to one another about the things of God, He listens, and, according to Malachi, he makes a note of it in His book.

Would that we could be the kind of people that would have psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs on our minds so that we could and would share these with one another often as we speak to each other.

Also in verse 19, he writes that we should be singing and making melody to the Lord with or in our hearts. As the Spirit fills us moment by moment, there will be a resulting song that arises in our hearts. Words from the Psalms will come to mind as will the lyrics of other godly hymns and spiritual songs that form the basis of much of our Christian meditation. Let me emphasize that this is a result of the filling of the Spirit, not a stand-alone command. The Spirit’s presence in our lives produces fruit, and this kind of speaking and singing is one of those fruits.

Ephesians 5:18

Posted on by
Reply

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”

We are now into Chapter 5, verse 18. Just as in some of the previous passages, Paul writes and tells us to avoid something. But it never stops there. When there are things to avoid, there are things to replace it with.

So, in verse 18 we are told not to get drunk with wine, but …. Although the drinking of wine is not prohibited in Scripture, being drunk is prohibited. God never permits our losing our self control, turning that control over to the influence of some substance.

Rather, we are to be filled with the Spirit. We are to be under the influence and control of the Spirit, instead of wine or any other substance.

There are several characteristics of this word ‘filled’ that we need to think about. First, it is an imperative. That means it is a command. We are told to do something. Paul is the one writing, but because he is writing under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, we must respond as though it were God speaking directly to us personally.

Second, it is a passive verb. That means we are not the actor. Something or someone else is the actor and we are on the receiving end of that action. The action here is the filling of the Spirit. “Be filled with the Spirit.”

If we are not the actor, how can this be a command? I assume it means that we are to allow or to be open in some way for the action to take place. So what I think is that God is telling us that we need to allow, or open ourselves up to being filled or controlled by the Spirit of God, rather than being controlled by wine.

Suppose when you were a kid, your dad would have told you that your brother needs to practice his football passing skills. He asks you to go out and be the receiver for him for awhile.

While this is kind of a simple example, it shows that you can be directed to go and be on the receiving end of some action over and over for a period of time. To be a good receiver for your brother you have to be alert and prepared to receive the football.

Third, the word is in the present tense. Present tense means now, today. Also, in Greek, the present tense is a continuing action. Therefore, we could think of the command this way: Continually allow yourself, or open yourself up to, being filled with the Spirit, moment by moment, and day by day.

When you go out to be a receiver for your brother, you know that the intention is that you receive the pass more than just one time.

How can we do this? We have busy lives and our minds are in hundreds of different places thinking about things and making decisions all day long.

I think we need to be sure we are having regular times of prayer each day, as well as memorizing and meditating on the Scriptures. If we do this on a regular basis, we will then have the foundational and fundamental mindset that is directed toward God and spiritual things.

If this is our pattern, then, I think, we will be better equipped to yield moment by moment to the Spirit’s filling and control.

Ephesians 5:15-17

Posted on by
1

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Paul begins verse 15 telling us to be careful therefore. Therefore what? We are not to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them to the light. Let Christ shine on us. Walk in the light as He is in the light.

Therefore..

Therefore do not be unwise. He doesn’t use the word ‘moronic’ here, but unwise. Being unwise is foolish, but it has a different aspect to it. It emphasizes that there is a wise way to live life, and the warning here is to choose that wise way rather than avoiding it.

So, we are to live as wise people, making the best use of time. Literally it means to buy back the time, to ransom it back to freedom, to noble and godly purposes. We live in evil days. The days have always been evil. But we are to be alert and wise about the way we live. We are to be deliberate about how we use our time. Don’t just fritter it away. Make the best use of it.

Therefore. Because of that admonition to be careful, God tells us not to be foolish or unthinking. Instead, we need to understand what the will of the Lord is. That means we need to spend time learning more about the Lord Jesus, and we need to spend time getting to know Him, i.e., reading His word, meditating on it, and praying. As we spend significant blocks of time in this way, we will understand more and more about what the will of the Lord is. In turn, we will grow in our ability to buy back our time to make it an important tool in living for God.

Ephesians 5:12-13

Posted on by
Reply

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

It’s been more than a month since I’ve written in this commentary. Life gets busy and attempts to bring order and discipline in the midst of busy-ness is difficult.

In verse 11, Paul told us that we should not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness. But instead, we are to expose them, to let the light shine in. That is what expose means. He makes his point clear in verse 13. “When anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.

It’s interesting to me that just as in the discussion about putting off certain things, Paul had added that not only should we put off, but we must put something on. Here in this passage, we should not partake in or even speak of the things they do in secret. But it’s not just a matter of avoiding. There is something to do. The unfruitful works of darkness should be exposed.

Verse 13 tells us that anything exposed by the light becomes visible. Rather than being done in secret, these things must be made visible. But it is a puzzle to me how to shed light on secret, unfruitful behaviors, without speaking about them. It seems as though speaking would be the only way to expose. But perhaps he is saying that speaking is necessary, but it is shameful at the same time. For me at least, this passage is going to take more meditation.

More on this passage next time.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:25 AM July 17, 2021.