Ephesians
Chapter 5
Overview
This chapter turns big claims about God’s love into the ordinary business of choices, conversation, worship, and marriage. It addresses a community of Jesus-followers learning how their new identity should shape daily life. The movement is from imitation and self-giving love, through a sharp contrast between darkness and light, to wise use of time and Spirit-filled gratitude. It then enters the household, where mutual submission frames instructions to wives and husbands. The language reflects an ancient society, yet its central demand is searchingly personal: love is measured less by what it claims than by what it gives.
1Therefore, imitate God as dearly loved children do.
2Live a life of love, just as the Messiah loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice to God, like a pleasing fragrance.
3Sexual immorality, every kind of moral impurity, and greed must not even be associated with you. Such things are not fitting for people who belong to God.
4There must also be no obscene behavior, foolish talk, or crude joking, since these are not appropriate. Instead, let there be gratitude.
5Be certain of this: no sexually immoral or morally impure person, and no greedy person—who is really an idol worshiper—will receive an inheritance in the kingdom of the Messiah and of God.
6Do not let anyone deceive you with empty arguments. God’s anger comes upon people who refuse to obey because of these very things.
7So do not become their partners.
8You were once darkness, but now you are light because you belong to the Lord. Live as children of light,
9because the fruit produced by light consists of every kind of goodness, right conduct, and truth.
10As you live this way, discover what pleases the Lord.
11Take no part in the fruitless deeds done in darkness. Instead, expose them for what they are.
12It is shameful even to speak about what such people do in secret.
13But everything exposed by the light is made visible,
14because everything made visible becomes light. That is why it says, “Wake up, sleeper! Rise from among the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.”
15Pay close attention, then, to how you live. Do not live as unwise people, but as wise ones.
16Make the most of every opportunity, because these are evil days.
17Therefore, do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord wants.
18Do not get drunk on wine, because that leads to reckless living. Instead, be filled with God’s Spirit.
19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs inspired by the Spirit. Sing and make music to the Lord from your hearts.
20Always give thanks for everything to God the Father under the authority of our Lord Jesus the Messiah.
21Submit to one another out of reverence for the Messiah.
22Wives, submit to your own husbands as you submit to the Lord.
23A husband is the head of his wife, just as the Messiah is the head of the community of believers. The Messiah is himself the Savior of that body.
24Just as the community of believers submits to the Messiah, wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
25Husbands, love your wives, just as the Messiah loved the community of believers and gave himself for it.
26He did this to make the community fully devoted to God, cleansing it through washing with water together with the spoken word.
27He did this so that he could present the community to himself in glory, with no stain, wrinkle, or anything like that. Instead, it would be fully devoted to God and without fault.
28In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.
29After all, no one ever hated his own body. He feeds it and cares for it, just as the Messiah cares for the community of believers,
30because we are parts of his body.
31“For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh—one united body.”
32This is a profound hidden truth, and I am speaking about the Messiah and the community of believers.
33In any case, each husband among you must love his wife as he loves himself, and each wife must respect her husband.