by Gary L. Evans
(revised 7/30/23)
Ephesians — Part 9
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
The word “fellowship” is from the Greek “soong-koy-no-neh’-o” which means “to share in company with, that is, co-participate in.”
The word “reprove” is from “el-eng’-kho” which means “to confute, admonish.”
Psa 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
We must not keep company with wicked, ungodly people, but instead we should rebuke them for being lawless.
Eph 5:12-13 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
God’s Word is The Light of Truth, so as we study The Scripture, not only are our shortcomings made apparent, but also the lawlessness of habitual sinners becomes clearly perceived.
Mic 7:9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
Only God is Righteous.
Psa 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The Word of God is The Light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Where is this written?
Isa 60:1-2 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Paul paraphrased these verses in Isaiah. Note that Paul equates “The Lord” with Christ Jesus, because there is only one Lord. So The Lord of The Old Testament is also The Lord of The New Testament. There is no difference.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Foolishness is simply being unwise. So wisdom and foolishness are opposites.
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
There is much trouble in this world and things aren’t going to get better, so it is best to make wise use of our time by studying God’s Word every day. The time allotted to us is the gift of God.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
All true Wisdom comes from God. We should ask for wisdom, and our Lord will give it to us, because it is His Will that we be wise. Our Father teaches us how this world will end, so we should not be caught off guard when those days approach us. And He teaches us what He expects from us, that is, what His Will is for us.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
The word “drunk” is from “meth-oos’-ko” which means “to intoxicate.”
The word “excess” is from “as-o-tee’-ah” which means “unsavedness, that is, (by implication) profligacy.” And “profligacy” means “a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice.”
It is lawful to drink in moderation. But drinking to excess causes a person to lose their sense of sound judgment. One clear sign that someone has had too much to drink is when they begin to speak foolishly. We must not be drunkards as some others who lose all self-control. Such behavior is the opposite of being wise. So maintain self-discipline to drink only in moderation.
Instead of drinking to excess, we should be thankful and filled with The Holy Spirit.
Eph 5:19-20 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Being thankful in our prayers and in our conversations with others is the way to obtaining true Happiness and Peace of Mind.
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
We must remain sober and of sound minds and with true humility.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Ephesians — Part 10
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
The word “submit” is from the Greek “hoop-ot-as’-so” which means “to subordinate; reflexively to obey.”
The wife should be subordinate to her husband, just as she is to our Lord and Savior. Where is this written?
Gen 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.
Our Father declared that the wife is subordinate to her husband, that he has power over her.
Eph 5:23 For 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.
The word “saviour” is from “so-tare’” which means “a deliverer, that is, God or Christ.” And it is derived from “sode’-zo” which means “to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively).”
The husband is in charge, just as Christ Jesus is The Head of the assembly, which is His Body in this world. And the husband is also the savior, the provider and protector of the wife and family. This is the natural order of the family institution which also establishes the pattern for all of society.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
So wives should be subordinate to their husbands in every way.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
The word “love” is from “ag-ap-ah’-o” which means “to love (in a social or moral sense).”
The husband should love his wife so much that he is willing to die for her, to save her from death, as Christ did His Assembly. A young man should consider when choosing a wife if his love for her is sufficient for him to sacrifice his life to save hers or to save their children. Because our Lord sacrificed His Life for us.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Our Lord has set us apart from all other people in this world, and washed us from all sins, and He has washed us by The Water of The Word. Paul alludes to baptism in this analogy, in that we are submerged in water as sinners and when we rise up we are clean from all sin. So it is that as we study God’s Word each day, we become fully immersed in The Truth, such that Satan’s deception no longer has influence over our minds.
Eph 5:27 That 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.
The word “holy” is from “hag’-ee-os” which means “sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).”
Our Lord has washed us in His Word to make us sacred, consecrated to God, perfect and without any stain or blemish. And our Lord died to accomplish this work to save us from our sins.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
This precept is important and worth meditating about. Paul compares the relationship of a husband and his wife to Christ and His Assembly on earth. When the husband looks at his wife, he should consider that she is like a mirror into his own soul, because as he loves her, he loves his own self. Similarly we can conclude that when the husband is angry with his wife or full of resentments against her, that in fact he is angry and full of resentments against his own self. Therefore husbands should love their wives.
And this is not a difficult precept to understand on the surface, but may be a difficult precept to accept and take to heart. Our Lord commanded us to love our neighbor as our self. Paul is simply extending this commandment to say, “husbands, love your wife as yourself.” So husbands, I advise you to take a look into the mirror to see what you really are.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
Men do not hate their own selves, but love themselves. Similarly, Christ loved His Assembly.
Eph 5:30-31 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. We are the members of our Lord’s Body on earth. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Paul quotes from Genesis.
Gen 2:23-24 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
Our Father has hidden a Mystery in the institution of marriage, of Husband and Wife, such that it is a shadow of the relationship between Christ and His Called-Out Ones. We therefore become One with Him spiritually as a husband and wife become one.
Eph 5:32-33 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Ephesians — Part 11
Eph 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The word “honour” is from the Greek “tim-ah’-o” which means “to prize, that is, fix a valuation upon; by implication to revere.”
Paul continues teaching of the natural order of the family in accordance with God’s Word.
Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
The word “honour” is from the Hebrew “kaw-bad” which means “to be heavy, that is, in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively to make weighty (in the same two senses).”
So the wife is subordinate to her husband, and the children are subordinate to their father and mother. Also our Father promises that we will live longer lives for honoring our father and mother.
Eph 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
The word “wrath” is from the Greek “par-org-id’-zo” which means “to anger alongside, that is, enrage.”
We must not pressure or stress our children to the point they become hysterical in their distress, because that is abusive.
The word “nurture” is from “pahee-di’-ah” which means “tutorage, that is, education or training; by implication disciplinary correction.”
We should correct our children as a means of educating and training them so that they will learn to lead disciplined and productive lives in their youth and later in their adulthood.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
The word “singleness” is from “hap-lot’-ace” which means “singleness, that is, (subjectively) sincerity (without dissimulation or self seeking), or (objectively) generosity (copious bestowal).”
Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
The word “eyeservice” is from “of-thal-mod-oo-li’-ah” which means “sight labor, that is, that needs watching (remissness).”
Eph 6:7-8 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
When we work for other people, we should do so honestly and in submission to their will. We should not be like flatterers that must be watched all the time to prevent them from slacking off, but sincere in our communications with our employers and devoted in our service to them. Ultimately, we all are The Lord’s servants, so He is the one we serve and the one we work to please.
Eph 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
Employers should not be abusive to their employees, but instead by implication should provide constructive instruction and training. Because God is the master and judge over all of us, and He does not have any partiality from one person to another. So we see the conclusion of the natural order of the Christian family and of Christian society in general.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Ephesians — Part 12
Eph 6:10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
The word “armour” is from the Greek “pan-op-lee’-ah” which means “full armor (‘panoply’).”
The word “devil” is from “dee-ab’-ol-os” which means “a traducer; specifically Satan.” And a “traducer” is a defamer or slanderer.
We must put on God’s Armor in order to defend ourselves against the deceitful lies and slanders of Satan.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We are not in a struggle against flesh men at war with us. Satan is the god of this world, and offers various “bargains” to anyone who will worship him. Recall what he offered to Jesus.
Mat 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Satan declared that he had dominion over all of the kingdoms in this world, and offered them to Jesus if only He would worship him. Jesus firmly rejected the offer. But not many men have the integrity to reject Satan’s offers, and are willing to serve him for just a little taste of luxury in this world. And until men are redeemed by The Blood of Christ, they are Satan’s servants whether they realize it or not.
So Christians are singled out by Satan and in turn by his servants, even by people who don’t even know us. So when people rise up against us seemingly for no reason, or when trouble just starts and people start speaking against us unfairly and spreading malicious gossip, don’t be amazed or alarmed. Instead, understand that what is happening is to be expected.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
In order to endure persecution, we must gain The Knowledge of God which we learn by daily study of The Word. We could not know of the spiritual (mental) warfare that we are engaged in except that we read about it in The Scriptures.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
God’s Word is The Truth, and our righteousness is of God.
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Our feet provide us a sure footing and their protection is by The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do you perceive how these are mental armaments only available to Christians through The Word of God?
Eph 6:16-17 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
The Sword of The Holy Spirit is The Word of God.
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We should remain on the lookout for fellow Christians and for other people who may willingly accept and believe The Gospel.
Eph 6:19-20 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
We must pray for one another in Christ.
Eph 6:21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Tychicus was the Gentile scribe that penned this epistle.
Eph 6:22-24 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
This epistle was written from Rome by Tychicus to the Ephesians.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.