Ephesians

5.1-33

You might be tempted to think that Paul is pivoting hard here in the middle of this chapter to how wives submit to husbands in verse 22, (yes, we've finally reached that part of the Bible). But you'd be mistaken. He starts and finishes this section in the same place - Eph 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children," This is the key verse. We are to do all things according to the knowledge and examples we have of God, and all that we know of Him we must imitate. So when Paul wants us to understand purity, he first tells us to walk in love, contrasted with the evil that must have light shown onto it. We "are light in the Lord walk(ing) as children of light." (v.8) *imitators of what we know of God. Please follow me here - that's what Paul is saying as well in verse 17 "On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." So he transitions in verse 21 saying we are to be subject to one another. But now we get to the passage that modern preachers want to skip over or scrub from the Bible: "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord." (v.22) The beauty of this through the end of the chapter, is that Paul - Spirit-led, is telling us - LOOK at the relationship of Christ and the church! The church is the bride of Christ, and Christ is the husband. We do not struggle with how much Christ loved us that He laid down His life for us - and correspondingly, we do not struggle with the concept of a husband's call to love his wife sacrificially (imitating Christ). We do not mistake the concept of an earthly father's love ideally being representative of our heavenly Father's love (imitating God). Each of those understandings enhances and deepens our concept of who we should be, how we should respond, and how we are blessed. So when we consider what the church should look like, waiting, prepared for Christ's return, subject to Him as the head of the church, knowing that Christ left His Father in heaven to come to His bride the church (look at v 31) - How do you think God plans for wives to be most blessed in an earthly relationship with their husbands, except that the same imitation of Christ's example be followed? "so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless." Eph 5:26–27. Paul is not so much directing a constraint for wives, as he is demonstrating a waiting blessing in the right relationship, imitating the example Christ set before us.

CHAPTER 5

Be Imitators of God

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;
4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.
12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Wives and Husbands

22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless.
28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30 because we are members of His body.
31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.
32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.