The Grace Commentary – Your free verse-by-verse Bible commentary Ephesians 5

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Ephesians 5:1

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;

(sebuah) Be imitators. Like children mimicking their father’s behavior, we follow the example of our heavenly Father. We make his thoughts our thoughts, his words our words, his choices our choices. We don’t imitate him to become his children, but as his children.

(b) Imitators. Kata benda aslinya (mimētēs) described a performer who mimicked characters on stage.

(c) Beloved. Kata aslinya (agapetos) means dearly loved, esteemed, favorite and worthy of love. It is closely related to a verb (agapao) that means to be well pleased or fond of or contented. This word captures God’s heart for you. Your heavenly Father is fond of you. You are his esteemed favorite and he is well pleased with you. He looks at you with a feeling of deep contentment knowing that you are his dearly loved child.

All the New Testament epistle writers referred to believers as the beloved or dearly loved children of God (see masuk for Rom. 1:7).

(d) Children. Although God is the Father of creation (Mal. 2:10, 1 Cor. 8:6), the phrases “beloved children” and “children of God” usually refer to believers (Rom. 9:8, 1 John 3:1).. See masuk for Children of God.

Ephesians 5:2

and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

(sebuah) Walk. Throughout his letter, Paul contrasts the new way to live or walk (in love, in a manner worthy of God’s calling, as children of light, as wise) with the old way (as unbelievers do in the futility of their minds, in darkness, as unwise).

(b) Walk in love. Live under the sunshine of your Father’s love. Live with the confidence that nothing can separate you from your Father’s love.

Walking in love does not mean “try to love others.” Do this and you will fail. Love cannot be demanded or conjured out of thin air. Walking in love means “love others as I have loved you” (John 13:34). God is the source. “Love is from God” (1 John 4:7). God loves us with a great unfailing love (Eph. 2:4). As we receive the Father’s love, it overflows and touches others, even the unlovable.

(c) As Christ also loved you. The agape-love of Christ is other-focused, and self-sacrificing (John 15:13, Eph. 5:2, 25, 1 John 3:16). Agape-love takes no account of the evil done to it (1 Cor. 13:5, AMP). Jesus knew the name of every soldier who beat him, every person who mocked him, and every Pharisee who thought he was the devil. Yet he still went to the cross so that they might be reconciled to God.

The love of Christ changes us. It turns sinners into saints, haters into lovers, church wreckers into church planters. Everything that is good about the good news—his forgiveness, acceptance, and righteousness—is good and true because Jesus loves you. He always has and he always will. God never changes.

(d) Gave himself for us. The cross proves that God loves you unconditionally.

The sacrificial love of God is the heart of the good news (John 15:13, Eph. 5:2). God did not wait for us to repent or get cleaned up before he loved us. While we were in the filth of our sin and self-righteousness, he came and hugged us. God justifies the ungodly (Rom. 4:5). Religion prostitutes the love of God by putting price tags on his affection. “You have to earn his favor.” But the gospel of grace declares that God loved you while you were a sinner, and nothing can separate you from his love (Rom. 5:8, 8:38–39).

(e) Fragrant aroma. Christ’s sacrificial love was like a sweet-smelling offering that pleased the Father (see Gen. 8:21).

When we are extravagant with our love, it pleases the God who is love. When we give ourselves or our substance to others, it honors the God who is the ultimate Giver (John 3:16, Rom. 8:32, 1 Tim. 6:17, Jas. 1:17).

Ephesians 5:3

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

(sebuah) Immorality, impurity, or greed are dehumanizing behaviors. They are parodies of the real life that God offers.

The theme is sex. Ephesus was a hotbed of sexual immorality, impurity, and lust, and the modern world is little different. God is hardly against sex—he invented it—and later in this chapter Paul will remind us of this. But sex that is contrary to God’s design leads to all kinds of death. Fornication, adultery, pornography, and other forms of immorality offer a brief thrill followed by a long crash, damage, and scars. Sexual immorality is dehumanizing and degrading. It destroys lives, marriages, families, reputations, careers, and ministries. It is the driving force behind the evils of trafficking and sexual slavery, and as children of God we are to have nothing to do with it. Like Joseph in Potiphar’s house, we are to “flee immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18).

We can lose our freedom through legalism or licentiousness. The former puts price tags on the grace of God, while the latter removes the price tags from sin. Licentiousness says do what you will, for we are under grace not law. It’s a partial truth (all things are permissible) that leads to captivity and death (not all things are beneficial). Your sinning will never affect God’s love for you, but it will surely affect you. Sin will hurt you and those you love. It is not God’s will for you to destroy yourself through sinful living, and this is why he gives us his grace—so that we may be empowered to say no to temptation, and live whole and godly lives (Tit. 2:11–12).

(b) Greed or covetousness is the insatiable desire for more. It is a form of idolatry; see masuk for Eph. 5:5.

(c) Not even be named. Don’t even talk about what people do in secret (Eph. 5:12). There is little to be gained in thinking about or discussing sexual immorality. When you think about sex, think about the beautiful gift God gave us, why he gave it to us, and how he wants us to enjoy it. Pursue love, not lust.

(d) Proper or fitting. Let your speech be pure as you are pure. God chose you to be holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4), so be holy and blameless. Have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11).

(e) The saints; the new creation family of God. See masuk for Eph. 1:1.

Ephesians 5:4

and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

(sebuah) Filthiness. Obscene, shameful, and indecent talk, such as dirty jokes and salacious gossip.

(b) Silly talk. Don’t talk like a fool (Eph. 5:17). The original word for silly (mōrologia) is related to the word for moron (moros). Moronic speech has no substance and leads to quarrels and division (2 Tim. 2:23, Tit. 3:9).

(c) Coarse jesting. The word “coarse” is italicized to show it is not in the original text but has been added for clarity. There is nothing wrong with word play and jokes. The issue is with jesting that is ill fitting. Jokes that are racist, sexist, ageist, or obscene diminish others. They are demeaning and have no place in the new humanity.

(d) Giving of thanks. Adam’s family speaks the destructive language of filth and foolishness, but the children of God speak the new language of faith and gratitude that edifies and builds up (Eph. 4:29, 5:20).

Ephesians 5:5

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

(sebuah) Know with certainty. You can be sure about this. We might wonder whether a person is acquainted with the love of God. Paul’s response is “look at the fruit.” A good tree cannot produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit (Matt. 7:18). Christians may stumble from time to time, but it is not in their nature to sin. But someone who lives without any regard for God walks in darkness.

(b) No immoral or impure person. No unbeliever has a place in the kingdom.

There are two ways this scripture is sometimes misread. First, do bad things and you won’t go to heaven. This is not true. Just as we are not qualified by our good works, we are not disqualified by our bad works. We are saved by grace and justified by faith (Gal. 3:24, Eph. 2:8). Second, do bad things and you’ll still be saved, but you will lose your inheritance. You will be an eternal pauper. This is also not true. An inheritance is a gift given to heirs, not a reward for good behavior. Your inheritance in Christ is a gift of grace.

Paul is saying the same thing here that he says in other places. Unbelievers who practice the deeds of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19–21). “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?” (1 Cor. 6:9). Immoral and impure people have no place in the kingdom for the same reason caterpillars have no business flying in the sky. But immoral and impure people who come to Christ don’t remain immoral and impure. They become new creatures, clothed with Christ and filled with his Spirit.

(c) Covetous. A greedy or covetous person is an idolater because they desire the things of this world more than they desire God (Col. 3:5). They prefer shadows to reality, illusions to the truth. They have settled for a parody of life that will ultimately rob them of their humanity.

Bacaan lebih lanjut: "No liars in heaven”

(d) Warisan. Unbelievers have no inheritance in the kingdom of God because they do not want what God is offering. But the moment they respond to God in faith, they are adopted into his family and become fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:15–17). There is no entry test, no induction process, and no probationary period. The transfer from Adam’s family into God’s is as sudden as the break of day.

(e) The kingdom of Christ and God. Since the Son is one with the Father (John 10:30), the kingdom of Christ is synonymous with the kingdom of God. There is no difference. The kingdom of Christ refers to the realm or reign of Christ (Matt. 6:10).

(f) Kingdom means king’s domain. In context, it is the superior reality of heaven in contrast with the fallen realms of this world (John 18:36). In the present age, the kingdom of heaven on earth is synonymous with the body of Christ or the church.

Ephesians 5:6

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

(sebuah) Let no one deceive you. Beware those who downplay the consequences of sin and unbelief. Beware those who encourage you to pursue the lesser gods of money, sex, and power.

(b) Empty words are devoid of truth. They are the hollow promises of a fallen world. They may titillate the flesh, but they have no life in them. They may tickle the intellect, but they leave the spirit untouched.

(d) The wrath of God refers to the erosion and ultimate destruction of our humanity that occurs when we reject the Author of Life. When we act contrary to the Creator’s design, there are destructive consequences. Sin is its own punishment.

Lihat masuk for “Wrath of God.”

(e) Comes upon. This is not the coming wrath of Judgment Day (Rom. 5:9, 9:22), but the present or abiding wrath experienced by those who walk in unbelief and ungodliness (John 3:36, Rom. 1:18). Contrary to what some have said, this has nothing to do with God disciplining his children. The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience, not the sons of God.

(f) The sons of disobedience are those who stubbornly refuse to believe or be persuaded about the goodness of God.

The original word for disobedience (apeitheia) means disbelief. It is derived from a word (peito) that means to convince, win over, or persuade. Since faith is being persuaded or convinced that God loves you (Acts 28:24), disobedience in the new covenant is refusing to be persuaded. It has nothing to do with rule-keeping and everything to do with refusing to trust Jesus. In the King James Version, this word is sometimes translated as unbelief (e.g., Heb. 4:6, KJV).

The children of disobedience are those who refuse to be persuaded that God is good and that he loves them. Like the religious Pharisees who witnessed the supernatural ministry of Jesus, they have tasted the heavenly gift and rejected it. They have embraced a lie instead of the truth. They prefer darkness to light and death to life.

Ephesians 5:7–8

Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

(sebuah) Partakers. Don’t buy into the empty and deceptive promises of this world. Don’t emulate the lifestyles of the impure and immoral. Don’t imitate those who degrade themselves by indulging the flesh.

Paul is not saying we should withdraw from the world (1 Cor. 5:9–10). He’s saying don’t be conformed to it (Rom. 12:1). Don’t follow those who walk in darkness because “he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes” (John 12:35).

(b) Formerly. Again, Paul reminds the Ephesians of their former and futile way of life (Eph. 2:2, 4:22).

(c) Darkness is a metaphor for evil, and sin, and anything untouched by the God-who-is-light (1 John 1:5). Darkness is the natural habitat of the evildoer (John 3:19). Since Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), any place where the good news of Jesus is not heard or received remains in darkness.

(d) You are Light. You are one with the Light of the world (John 8:12, 9:5), which means you are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). Formerly you were in darkness, but the same God who said, “Let there be light,” illuminated your heart (2 Cor. 4:6). He called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:9). Jesus shines on you and through you (Eph. 5:14).

(e) Light; lihat ayat berikutnya.

(f) Walk. Live as one of God’s shining lights “in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Php. 2:15). Reveal God’s goodness, righteousness, and truth (see next verse).

(g) Children of Light are those who believe in Jesus, the Light of the world (John 12:36).

Ephesians 5:9

(for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

(sebuah) Fruit. The fruit of the Light are spiritual fruit or expressions of Christ’s life in us. We are incapable of producing fruit (John 15:4). But as we rest in Christ, his beautiful character blossoms in our lives. Where there used to be badness, now there is goodness. Where there was sin and falsehood, now there is righteousness and truth. Where there was filthiness and grumbling, now there is thanksgiving and song (Eph. 5:19–20). All this is to the glory of Christ who bears his good fruit in our lives (John 15:5).

(b) Light. God is light in the sense that he is the Source of all illumination and the means by which we see (1 John 1:5). God sent his Son to be the Light of Life, the Light of the world, the Light of men, and the True Light (John 1:4, 9, 8:12, 9:5). To believe in the Light is to believe in Jesus (John 12:36), and the fruit of the Light are the spiritual fruit that Christ bears in our lives (John 15:5).

(c) Goodness. This is not a moral goodness that comes from adhering to a code of conduct, but the divine and sublime goodness that comes from the God who is good (Luke 18:19).

(d) Kebenaran. This is not a manmade righteousness based on works, but the true righteousness that comes from the Righteous One (Matt. 6:33, Eph. 4:24).

(e) Truth. This is not a fabricated truth based on fads and philosophy, but the divine and unchanging truth that is revealed in the One called Truth; see masuk for Eph. 4:21.

Ephesians 5:10

trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

(sebuah) Trying to learn. Kata kerja aslinya (dokimazō) means to test or examine. It means don’t follow the flow of this world, but be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:23). Exercise spiritual discernment and walk as children of the light (Eph. 5:8).

(b) Pleasing to the Lord. Walking in the light pleases the Lord because he wants you to be healthy and mature. Walking in darkness grieves the Lord because sin is destructive and hurts those he loves.

The context here is behavior—walking in the light—not identity. While your actions may be wise or unwise, you should have no doubt that you are always pleasing to the Lord. You are your Father’s dearly loved child and he delights in you. Jesus is the proof.

Before Jesus had done anything—before he had preached the gospel or healed the sick or raised the dead—he received the loving affirmation of his Father (Matt. 3:17). How God relates to Jesus is how he relates to you. Your good deeds don’t make him love you more, and your bad deeds don’t make him love you less. Your heavenly Father may not always take pleasure in your choices, but he always takes pleasure in you.

Bacaan lebih lanjut: "What pleases the Lord?”

Ephesians 5:11

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

(sebuah) Do not participate. Don’t invest in things that have no lasting significance. Don’t buy into the world’s empty promises; see masuk for Eph. 5:7.

(b) Unfruitful deeds. Don’t waste your life in the Matrix when reality beckons.

Many things which are highly valued in this fallen world—prestige, celebrity, material wealth—have no lasting significance. They are little more than wood, hay, and straw for the fire (1 Cor. 3:12).

We don’t expose shameful deeds by talking about them (see next verse) or denouncing sinners. We expose them by presenting a better alternative. When the world offers the counterfeit, we offer the authentic. When the world is selling lust, we offer love. When the world offers pornography, we offer marriage. When the world is pushing greed, we show generosity. Darkness cannot compete with the light.

Ephesians 5:12

for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Disgraceful. “It is shameful to discuss what some people do in private.”

The minister who thinks he can shock people into holy living by discussing sin in graphic detail is mistaken. Don’t go down that dark path (Eph. 5:3).

Ephesians 5:13

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

(sebuah) All things. All kinds of deeds. Like Paul, we do not need to go into detail when addressing the deeds of darkness. We just need to turn on the lights.

(b) Exposed by the light. We are not called to expose people and their sins, but to shine with the light of Christ. It is his light that shows people the way out of sin and darkness. By living for God and sharing his love, we offer the world an alternative to the death-dealing deeds of darkness.

(c) Becomes visible is light. Things are clearly seen when there is light. Paul might have said, “Formerly, you walked in darkness. Then the light of the gospel of Christ came to you, and now you walk in the light.”

Ephesians 5:14

For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

(sebuah) For this reason is one of Paul’s favorite sayings. See masuk for Eph. 1:15.

(b) It says. The origin of the quote is unclear. It may be a paraphrase of different scriptures (e.g., Is. 26:19, 60:1). Some scholars have suggested the line may have come from a hymn sung by the early Christians, perhaps following water baptism.

(c) Awake, sleeper. These words are directed to the unbelievers who slumber and remain dead in their sins. To wake up is to come to one’s senses and repent (Rev. 3:3).

(d) Arise from the dead. Turn to Christ in faith and cross over from death to new life (John 5:24).

(e) Christ will shine on you. The Light of the world will help you see clearly.

Ephesians 5:15

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

(sebuah) Walk. We are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and from that position of rest we walk in wisdom here on earth. We can contrast the former and futile way we used to walk (Eph. 2:2, 4:17) with the new way of walking in the spirit (Eph. 2:10, 4:1). We are to “walk in love” and “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:2, 8).

(b) Wise. To walk in wisdom is to walk according to the will of the Lord; see masuk for Eph. 5:17.

Ephesians 5:16

making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

(sebuah) Making the most of your time. Kata aslinya (exagorazō) cara buy up atau ransom. The King James Version translates it as “redeeming the time.” In other words, spend your life wisely, and make the most of the opportunities that come your way. “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people” (Gal. 6:10).

Every day is a gift from God (Ps. 118:24). Every encounter with another person is a chance to shine a light and share the love of God. Our time on earth is too precious to waste on reckless living and drunkenness (Eph. 5:18).

(b) The days are evil. We live in dark times, so shine.

Ephesians 5:17

So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

(sebuah) Foolish people act as if there is no God (Ps. 14:1). By relying on their own understanding and strength, they curse themselves and bear no fruit (Jer. 17:5–6).

(b) The will of the Lord is for you to walk in his wisdom. He wants you to walk in the new way of the spirit and not the old way of the flesh (Rom. 6:4, 8:5). Once upon a time you walked in darkness, not knowing the will of the Lord (Eph. 4:17). But now you can walk in the light, keeping in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25, Eph. 5:8).

Ephesians 5:18

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

(sebuah) Drunk with wine. This is not a law with penalties, but an exhortation to make the healthy choice. To be filled with the Spirit is infinitely better than being filled with wine.

(b) Dissipation or riotous living refers to the mindless wastefulness of a corrupt and empty lifestyle. Nothing good ever came of being drunk or wasted.

(c) Filled with the Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19). It’s knowing the love of God every day in every situation and circumstance. People drink an excess of wine when they are anxious, but real peace and joy are not found in a bottle. The peace that passes all understanding and fortifies your heart is found in knowing your Father’s love in the midst of your trials and troubles.

Ephesians 5:19

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

(sebuah) Speaking to one another. We build up others through our words (see masuk for Eph. 4:29).

(b) Spiritual songs are songs with spiritual themes as opposed to worldly themes. Spiritual songs include psalms, hymns, and poetry. Spiritual songs are not for our entertainment but our edification. The good ones strengthen your faith, give you comfort, and feed your hope.

(c) Singing spiritual songs is a way of shifting your focus onto Christ’s reality. When Paul and Silas sat in a dark Philippian prison, unjustly arrested and flogged, they sang hymns to God (Acts 16:25). It’s hard to be overcome with fear when your lips are thanking and praising God for his goodness and grace.

(d) Making melody. Grace gives us a license to sing (Jas. 5:13).

(e) To the Lord. When you sing and give thanks to the Lord, your focus is in the right place. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

Ephesians 5:20

always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

(sebuah) Giving thanks. Thanksgiving is the native language of those who have received the abundant grace of God.

(b) All things. There is no circumstance or trial that cannot be improved by bringing it into the orbit of God’s grace, and for this we give thanks. When times are good, we thank God for his blessings. When times are bad, we thank him for his promises. And in every occasion, we thank him for his love and fellowship. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:18).

Ephesians 5:21

and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

(sebuah) Be subject to. Submit to one another.

“Be subject to” may not be the best translation as it conveys images of the strong dominating the weak, or kings ruling over subjects. The original verb (hypotassō) means to place under. It is submitting to rather than being subject to. To submit to one another is to prefer one another and value others more highly than yourself (Php. 2:3).

Submission, as Christ models it, is loving others and giving yourself up for them (Eph. 5:2, 25). It’s God the Son submitting in all things to God the Father, and God the Father giving the Son a Name above all names. It’s the Son bragging about the Spirit, and the Spirit testifying of the Son. Submission is the essence of other-focused love, and a vital ingredient in any healthy relationship.

Lihat masuk for Submission.

(b) One another. The context is marriage (see following verses), so we can read it as, “Husbands submit to wives and wives submit to husbands.” Genuine submission is not forced on us by our spouses; it is something we offer to each other. It’s choosing to surrender because we want to, not because we have to. We yield to the other because we love and respect them. It is saying, “Because I love you, I choose to put you first.” In a marriage, both the husband and wife submit to each other in the Lord.

Paul is a practical preacher. Having called out the emptiness of sexual immorality (Eph. 5:3–5), he highlights the full-flavored intimacy found in God’s blueprint for marriage. He exposes the counterfeit, then gives us the authentic. It’s a compelling comparison that makes us wonder how we could ever be tempted to settle for anything less than what God has in mind for us.

Bacaan lebih lanjut: "Submission doesn’t mean what you think it means.”

This is not about fear because there is no fear in love. You have nothing to fear from the One who loves you with a love that surpasses knowledge (Eph. 3:19). The fear of the Lord in the New Testament can be interpreted as reverence or worship. (When Jesus quoted the old command to “Fear the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Deu. 6:13), he changed the word fear to worship (see Matt. 4:10). To fear the Lord in a new covenant sense is to worship him.) We submit to one another in love as an act of worship to the One who loved us first (Eph. 5:2).

Husbands and wives who freely submit to each other—who are tolerant, tender-hearted, kind, and caring, always seeking to edify and serve the other—infuse their marriage with the sweet fragrance of Jesus. In their union, they experience heaven on earth.

Ephesians 5:22

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

(sebuah) Be subject. Submit yourselves.

Be subject is italicized to show that the phrase is not in the original text. A literal translation of this passage is, “Wives, with your husbands.” In context with the preceding verse, it can be read as, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:24, Col. 3:18). Women don’t submit to men in general, but to their own husbands, and they do this as an act of love.

Read this verse without reading the one before it and you might conclude that only wives submit. Yet Paul has far more to say to husbands on the subject of love and submission. Wives get three verses (Eph. 5:22–24); husbands get nine (Eph. 5:25–33).

Bacaan lebih lanjut: "Who submits in marriage?”

(b) As to the Lord. Submitting to your husband in love honors the One who gave himself for us.

Ephesians 5:23

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.

(sebuah) The head of the wife. Headship reflects origin, not authority. The husband is the head because Eve was taken out of Adam. Adam’s headship reflects the order of creation. If Eve had been made first, she would have been the head. Without Adam, there would have been no Eve, but without Eve, there would have been no more Adams. Since Adam was first on the dance floor, he takes the lead, and he does that by following the sacrificial example of Christ (see Eph. 5:25).

To say “the husband is the head as Christ is the head” does not mean the husband is the lord and savior of his wife. It means “husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28). Just as a head supports the body, the body supports the head. In a marriage husbands and wives are mutually dependent. Contrary to popular belief, Paul never says the husband is the head of the home or the head of the family. In fact, he encourages women to rule their homes like presidents (see entry for 1 Tim. 5:14).

(b) Head of the church. When it comes to the church, Jesus is the only head. The Apostle Paul is not the head. Nor is the pope or your pastor. Christ alone is head of his church, the only Husband of his bride.

(c) Savior or deliverer. Jesus is the Savior of the world who died for all (John 4:42). But only those who put their faith in him are saved (Eph. 2:8). For this reason, Jesus is called the “Savior of the body” and the Savior “especially of those who believe” (1 Tim. 4:10).

(d) The body of Christ or the church; see masuk for Eph. 3:6.

(e) The church; Lihat masuk for Eph. 1:22.

Ephesians 5:24

But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

(sebuah) Subject. Again, this is a poor choice of words (see masuk for Eph. 5:21). The church is not subject to Christ as though he was a pagan god imposing his will upon us. A better translation of the original verb is submit. We freely submit to Christ because we know how much he loves us. Love is given, not taken.

(b) So also the wives; Lihat masuk for Eph. 5:22.

(c) In everything. Being a one-flesh team is a 24-hour proposition. You don’t have part of your life that is married and another part that is not. Just as we submit our whole lives to the Lord, wives freely submit in all things to their husbands. In the same way, husbands lay down their lives for their wives (see next verse), which is to say they lay down everything.

The exhortation to submit to one another in love is not a law that must be obeyed, for love cannot be coerced. Nor is Paul saying husbands or wives should tolerate abuse. He is describing marriage as God intended. A strong, healthy marriage is built on mutual submission and respect for one another (Eph. 5:21).

Ephesians 5:25

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,

(sebuah) Love your wives. Just as the love of God is revealed in a death, biblical headship is revealed in sacrifice. In the same way that Christ gave himself up for the church, the husband gives himself up for his wife. He crawls through traffic, fights grizzly bears, and catches bullets for her. He puts her needs, desires, and interests ahead of his own because he values her more highly than his own life.

Bacaan lebih lanjut: "The Silent Queen.”

(b) Just as. To fully love our wives, we need to know the love of Christ (Eph. 3:19). We need to receive (love from God) before we can give (to others).

(c) Christ also loved the church. The union between the Lord and his church is sometimes described as a betrothal or marriage (2 Cor. 11:2, Rev. 19:7, 21:9, 22:17).

The gospel of grace is the thrilling announcement that the Lover of your soul desires to share his life with you forever. For those who receive it, the gospel is the joyful declaration that right now and forevermore, you are in perfect union with him. Your days of restless wandering are over, for in Christ you have already found your eternal rest. In Christ, you are already home.

Lihat masuk for Union.

(d) Gave himself up for her. The agape-love of God is unconditional and self-sacrificing (1 John 3:16). God will never make you jump through hoops to earn his love. He won’t love you any more if you succeed, and he won’t love you any less if you fail. There is nothing you can do to make him love you more, and nothing you can do to make him love you less.

See the masuk for The Love of God.

Ephesians 5:26

so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

(sebuah) Sanctify her. The love of Christ sanctifies the church, making us whole, beautiful, and holy. For good reason, the church is known as the holy bride, the holy temple, a holy nation, and the holy city of the Lord (Eph. 2:21, 1 Pet. 2:9, Rev. 21:2).

(b) Cleansed. The church is cleansed from all sin and unrighteousness (Heb. 10:2, 1 John 1:7, 9).

(c) Washing of water. Just as a bride is washed in preparation for her wedding, we were washed when we were joined to the Lord.

(d) Word. We are not washed with physical water but with the spoken word of the Lord. (The original noun (rhema) cara utterance atau spoken word; Lihat masuk for Eph. 6:17.) It is the life-giving word of Christ that makes us clean and holy. “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).

Ephesians 5:27

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.

(sebuah) Present to himself. Christ is not waiting in heaven for his bride to make herself ready. If it were up to us, we would never be ready. Christ is preparing his church, and she is becoming more glorious every day.

(b) The church; Lihat masuk for Eph. 1:22.

We may think the modern church is weak, fragmented, and dying, but the Lord is building a church that shines like the sun. The evidence is telling. A church that began with just 120 people in one room is now found in every nation and language group. The original Christians who were driven from Jerusalem (Acts 8:1) planted seeds that continue to bear fruit all over the world.

(d) Kejayaan; radiant majesty, awesome splendor, and transcendent beauty.

We do not become a glorious church by examining ourselves in the mirror or by policing the doctrine of others. We become glorious by beholding the Lord of glory (2 Cor. 3:18).

(e) Holy. Whole and beautiful in every way. Lacking nothing. See masuk for Eph. 2:21.

(f) Blameless. Flawless and faultless.

Ephesians 5:28-29

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,

(sebuah) Husbands are to love their wives in the manner in which Christ loves the church—sacrificially. God’s original plan was for men and women to rule together, but they will never rule unless one of them takes the lead in laying down their life for the other. That someone is the husband.

(b) As their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

(c) His own flesh. Christ nourishes and cherishes his church. He cares for it and helps it grow. In the same way, a godly husband cares for his wife as he cares for his own body.

(d) Nourishes. Christ nurtures and brings his church to maturity. In the same way, a godly husband attends to his wife’s well-being as much as his own.

(e) Cherishes. Christ tenderly cares for his church. In the same way, a godly husband tenderly cares for his wife. He does not look down on her as inferior or impure, but he regards her as equal in grace and co-heirs of the gracious gift of life (1 Pet. 3:7).

(f) The church; Lihat masuk for Eph. 1:22.

Ephesians 5:30

because we are members of His body.

(sebuah) Members of the body of Christ are connected in spiritual union with the Lord and each other. See masuk for Eph. 3:6.

(b) His body. Christ nurtures and cherishes the church as his own body (Eph. 5:25–29).

Ephesians 5:31

FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.

(sebuah) For this reason. The quote comes from Genesis 2:24.

(b) Leave… joined. When a man and a woman become husband and wife, they make something new—a sacred and mystical union called a marriage. They are no longer two individuals going about their lives independently. They have become a partnership or team.

Children obey their parents, but when a marriage is formed, everything changes. The daughter no longer submits to her parents, for she has become joined to her husband. Her husband is now her head (Eph. 5:23). Similarly, the husband is no longer beholden to his parents, but he submits to his wife (Eph. 5:21). They have become a one-flesh team ready to take on the world.

Just as wives need to be liberated from patriarchal bondage, husbands need to be liberated from the unholy burden that they alone are responsible for all that happens in the home. You and your spouse are a one-flesh team created to lead together. This was always God’s plan (Gen. 1:27–28).

(c) The two shall become one flesh. When a man and a woman come together in marriage, they create something new—a marital union (Gen. 2:24). This union symbolizes the unity believers have with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:16–17, 12:13).

Ephesians 5:32

This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

(sebuah) This mystery. The willing submission of two people to each other is a wondrous thing. But the greater mystery is how marriage reveals God’s larger purposes for humanity.

Paul mentions four mysteries in his letter. In chapter one, he refers to “the mystery of his will” which is the restoration or summing up of all things in Christ (Eph. 1:10). In chapter three, he discusses the mystery of Christ, which is that God desires to bring Jews and Gentiles into spiritual union with himself through his Son (Eph. 3:4–6). Here in chapter five, he refers to the “great mystery” of Christ and his church (Eph. 5:32), which is that Christ exercises his headship over all things through the church (Eph. 3:10). In the final chapter he alludes to the mystery of the gospel, which is that God is with us and for us and desires to be in spiritual union in us (Eph. 6:19).

(b) Christ and the church. The union of a man and a woman in marriage symbolizes the intimate, blessed, and unbreakable union between Christ and his church (Rev. 19:7).

Why is the institution of marriage under attack from so many quarters? Perhaps it is because the enemy understands how a godly marriage is a prophetic picture of God’s plan to restore humanity to himself. Every good and loving marriage reminds the enemy that his time is running out.

Ephesians 5:33

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.

(sebuah) Each individual who is married. Paul concludes his discourse on marriage by giving two guidelines for a happy, healthy marriage.

(b) Love his own wife. Husbands, love your wives. That’s it. Love is not just a feeling, but a choice. So choose to love her no matter what. Love her if she respects you, and love her if she doesn’t. Don’t treat her as the junior partner in the team, but love her as yourself.

(c) She respects her husband. Wives, respect your husbands. They need your respect just as you need their love. Your man will do just about anything to win respect from the woman he loves. Don’t make him do anything, but freely give him your respect as an act of love.

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Ephesians 5