Ephesians 5:17-33

September 26, 2012 Chapter five summarizes all the great truths weve already seen regarding our relationship to God and each other. Were described all throughout as being the children of Godof the same family and having the same Father. Or, if you prefer, were described as being one body with each part contributing to the whole. The main idea is that theres a real and inseparable unity not only between one believer and another but between God and all believers. This is the whole reason for good workswere named after Him; we are His body. Its not our bodies which control our heads, but the other way around. If He is love and light and righteousness then His body (being controlled by Him) will show His characteristics. The principle laid down to the Pharisees: Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do applies to us in regard to God! Therefore,
15See

then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. There are so many heresies and so many vain-minded men in our days; weve got to make wise use of our timepaying attention to the will and instruction of the Lord. Weve got to be wise!
18And

be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

This word for excess is (asotia). Its related to the word for save and so it could literally mean not safe. Its actual definition speaks of an abandoned life. You can see how this is an immediate contradiction to the command in verses 15-17. Walk circumspectly and not in drunkenness which leads to abandonment of wisdom. Rather were to be filled with the Spirit. Now, being filled doesnt mean speaking in tongues or being slain or rolling around the floor. First of all, the verb tense of the Greek word is called Present Imperative which means this is a command which were to habitually and continually obey. If being filled means speaking in tongues, then the command here would never let us stop speaking that way. If it means to roll around on the floor, then wed never be able to get up. But thats not what it meansits a present tense command.

The definition of the word is to make something full; when Mary opened the spikenard the room filled with its scent. It means to bring something to completion; the soldiers cast lots for Jesuss clothing that the Scripture might be fulfilled. It means to complete something; Jesus ended all His sayings. Liddell and Scott also include the meaning of manning a ship. I get the idea of a full crew carrying out their responsibilities to navigate. I think, based on the context of chapter 5, that we can say be filled means to always be so influenced and controlled by the Spirit that we yield ourselves to Him. The Gentiles submit to the power of alcohol, but we submit to the power of the Spirit.
19Speaking

to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Compare this to Colossians 3:16-17Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Ephesians tells us to be filled with the Spirit, and Colossians tells us to be filled with the word of Christ. Ephesians tells us to speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and Colossians tells us to teach each other with them. Keep the context in mind: the Gentiles get drunk and abandon wisdom, but were under the influence of the Spiritfilled with the word of Christand in that we build each other up in wisdom and we praise God in everything. Were not at all like the covetous, filthy, and foolish.
21Submitting

yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Now, this might seem like a change in thought, but its building on the unity described all through the book. We are one body, and submission is a huge part of the gospel. Jesus washed His disciples feet and then said that He was setting an example for us to follow (Jn. 13:15). The issue isnt just about humility; its about something far greater: He loved His disciples, and so He met their needs.
22Wives,

submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

This is one of those verses which get labeled as cultural and it gets, sort of, thrown into the back of our minds; we keep it in about the same place as we keep the Old Testament command to refrain from eating bats. You know, weve progressed, and this verse doesnt really fit into what we know and value about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord is as much a command as do not murder. We cant just shrug it off and call it cultural. And the reason is because God has assigned it a symbolic meaning; actually it would be better to say that God created it for the purpose of revealing a greater truth:
23For

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. Why are wives commanded to submit to their husbands? Because the husband is her head! Hows that for logic? That might be offensive to some people, but think about it this waythe church submits to Christ because He is our Head!
24Therefore

as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Its important to note that the wife is only subject to one man. Despite what the critics say, this is not about being of lesser value or inferior to men. This is about women, controlled by the Spirit, demonstrating our hope in Christ through their union with their husbands. Submission doesnt mean that women stare at the floor awaiting orders while the men drink ale and go fishing. Submission means that the wife recognizes her symbolic role and she submits herself to her husbands leadership the same as we would expect the church to submit to Christs. The husband is called the head just as Christ is called the head. This has to do with leadership, and in it the wife is to submit in everything. Lets look at a verse that follows this same line of thought: 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; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4But 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. 5For after this manner

in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement (I Peter 3:1-6). Notice that the call to submit stands even when the husbands are disobedient to the word. Notice that the submission is practiced in silence and not in nagging. Just as Paul appeals to Abraham in Romans 4 to show who are really his children, Peter appeals to Abrahams wife, Sarah, to show the women whether they are really hers. Submission is a matter of faith, and God has commanded that wives submit to their husbands in everything regardless of his abilities or spirituality, because the church, by faith, follows Christ!
25Husbands,

love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; The husband is the head and the wife submits to his leadership; the wife is the body and the husband submits to her through his love. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered (I Peter 3:7). Husbands are commanded to love their wives, giving themselves up, just as Christ did for the church. Were to be patient, understanding, considerate, and selfless. This is how Christ loved the church, and He did it
26That 27That

he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. Now remember, Ephesians contrasts the chosen people of God against the Gentiles. Christ has sanctified us and cleansed us so that we are a fitting Bride: spotless and holy and blameless. And so we walk in a manner worthy of our calling in righteousness and truth and thanksgiving.
28So

ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.

This is a hard command to follow. Its easy to look out for myself, but Im supposed to provide and care for my wife as I would my own body. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

If a man loves his wife, then he loves himselfthey are one. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the churchHe nourishes and cherishes her! This is all because there is one body in Christhe is the head and we are the body. See Genesis 2:23-24!
31For

this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Because we are one body (for this cause), God uses marriage as a symbol of our oneness. Paul realizes that were thinking the quote from Genesis is purely about the mystery of marriage, so he emphasizes that hes talking about Christ and the church. Nevertheless he also speaks of marriage: husbands, love your wives; wives, reverence your husbands. http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/