How to Act Right
Read Ephesians 5:22-24
- These verses, just like the previous verses in chapter 5, are about being controlled by the Spirit and not by our natural inclinations.
- How do we show that we are a Christian unless we walk in the ways Paul is describing here in chapter 5. He covers the main aspects of our lives, marriage, home and work.
- In the previous verse Vs.21, Paul says to submit to one another, and it may sound like husband and wives have a mutual submission, but then if that was true Vs. 22 would be a contradiction. Paul in vs. 21 is saying each Christian in their current role is to submit and goes into what you should do starting in vs. 22. Whether you are wife, husband, child, slave.
- Vs.22 – as to the Lord. Paul is saying wives submit to your husbands as one aspect of your obedience to Christ. To honor God is to submit as Christ submitted to the Father. Nevertheless, your will be done not mine. Luke 22:42.
- Vs. 23-24 – Submit to your own husband NOT all men. Very distinctive here. For the husband is the head, just as Christ is the head of the Church.
- There appears at first, Paul is saying that the husband is the savior just as Christ is the savior of His body the church, but that is not the case because vs. 24 begins with “But” and this is where Paul is pointing out the contrast. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) pg. 384
- The ESV in vs. 24 starts with Now rather than “But”. It functions the same. Making the contrast that Christ is the savior and is superior to the husband, but the submission is the same. Wives submit to your husbands just as the church submits to Christ.
Read Ephesians 5:25-31
- Vs. 25-26 – Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. Love here, just in all the New Testament, is a verb. Husbands are to sacrifice for their wives and put them first. Just as Christ did for the church and gave Himself up for it.
- Paul is using imagery here from Ezekiel 16: 6-9. The Husband should set his wife apart. Not just another person or woman, but the woman of his life.
- Jesus has set the believers, His church bride apart from everyone else and has cleansed us, not with water in preparation for marriage, but with His word. The “Word” here is the Gospel. The only way we are saved.
- Paul is using imagery here from Ezekiel 16: 6-9. The Husband should set his wife apart. Not just another person or woman, but the woman of his life.
- Vs. 27 – That the church may be holy and righteous before Himself. Again, Paul is using Ezekiel 16:10-13 to make his point. We cannot approach nor stand before God without being 100% righteous. Look back at chapter 1:4. Jesus did this by dying on the cross, but it is not complete until His return. At His return the bride will be presented. At His Parousia the church will be presented. When is or was the Parousia is a question for another lesson.
- Vs. 28 – 33 – Love your wife as you love yourself. The two become one because they are supposed to save themselves for each other. Paul says the two becoming one is a reference to consummation of the marriage. See Hebrews 13:4, Matthew 19:6, 2 Corinthians 11:2.
- Vs. 32 – The mystery is profound because marriage is the perfect picture of Christ and His church.
- Vs. 33 – Love your wife as yourself and wives respect your husband.
Read Ephesians 6:1-4
- Vs 1-4 – Children obey your parents as the first commandment states, and it is with a promise. You will live long in the land. Obedience overall brings longevity. Not in all cases, but in more cases than not. God promises this as it will lead children in the right path for life. Fathers do not provoke your children to anger. Use Discipline and instruction based on God’s Word, and they will be pleasing to you and the Lord.
Read Ephesians 6:5-9
- Vs.5-6 – Paul is telling slaves to obey with fear and trembling is another way of saying “reverent obedience” having deep respect for the person or family. The Greek here is phobos kai tromos (fear and trembling) which can also mean great fear, but the context leads it to be about respect.
- Vs. 6 – Paul here is telling them don’t do it for false reasons. To “fake it”. Be sincere in your respect and love for your master. People -pleaser here is Paul’s way of saying don’t do it just to gain people’s approval of you, but do it for the Lord, as slaves to Christ, to please Him.
- Vs. 7-8 – By doing good you will receive good from the Lord. This applies today. Return good for evil instead of evil for evil or revenge for a wrong. This reflects our Holy Father, and He rewards us with blessings. 1 Peter 3:9 and Romans 12:17-21
- Vs. 9 – The master as well treat your slaves with respect knowing that the slave and master are equal in the Kingdom of God. Knowing that the true Master is in Heaven.
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