Ephesians 5: Children of Light and Love
Paul calls believers to imitate God in love and purity, to walk wisely as children of light, and to fill marriage with the love of Christ.
Ephesians 5 (WEB)
1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.
2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,
10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.
11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.
14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 Don’t be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father;
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
24 But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it;
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.
28 Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly;
30 because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.
31 “For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh.”
32 This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the assembly.
33 Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5 (KJV)
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
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.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
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.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 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.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Ephesians 5 (ASV)
1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints;
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them;
8 for ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 proving what is well-pleasing unto the Lord;
11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them;
12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of.
13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise;
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;
19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.
22 Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word,
27 that he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself:
29 for no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church;
30 because we are members of his body.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
32 This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.
33 Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband.
Summary
Paul calls the church to be imitators of God as beloved children, walking in love just as Christ loved us and gave himself up as a fragrant offering. Such a life leaves no room for sexual immorality, impurity, or greed, nor for filthy talk or coarse joking, but rather thanksgiving. He warns that the immoral and idolatrous have no inheritance in Christ's kingdom and urges believers not to be deceived or to partner with such darkness. Once they were darkness, but now they are light in the Lord, and so they must walk as children of light, bearing the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth, and exposing the works of darkness rather than sharing in them. Paul calls them to live carefully and wisely, making the most of the time because the days are evil, understanding the Lord's will and being filled not with wine but with the Spirit. This Spirit-filled life overflows in singing, thanksgiving, and mutual submission in the fear of Christ. Paul then applies this to marriage: wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, and husbands are to love their wives sacrificially, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy. A husband should cherish his wife as his own body, for marriage itself points beyond itself to a profound mystery—the union of Christ and the church.
Key Figures
- Paul — The apostle who calls the church to imitate God in love and light, to be filled with the Spirit, and to model marriage on Christ and the church.
- Christ the bridegroom — The One who loved the church and gave himself up for her, cleansing and sanctifying her to present her to himself in splendor.
- The Holy Spirit — The Spirit with whom believers are to be filled, overflowing in song, thanksgiving, and mutual submission.
- Husbands and wives — Believers whose marriage is called to reflect the self-giving love of Christ and the responsive love of his church.
Key Verse
Ephesians 5:2 (WEB)
Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
Lessons Learned
- As God's beloved children we are called to imitate him, especially in self-giving love.
- Walking as children of light means a real break with the impurity, greed, and deceit of darkness.
- Wise living redeems the time, discerns God's will, and is fueled by the fullness of the Spirit.
- Spirit-filled life shows itself in worship, gratitude, and humble mutual submission.
- Christian marriage is meant to picture the saving love between Christ and his church.
- Love is the pattern of the Christian life. “Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2, WEB). Christ's self-sacrifice is the model for ours.
- Light and darkness cannot mix. “You were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, WEB). New identity calls for a new way of living.
- Wisdom redeems the time. “Watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, WEB). Time is a stewardship to be used well.
- The Spirit fills us for worship and humility. “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms… subjecting yourselves one to another” (Ephesians 5:18-21, WEB). Fullness overflows in song and servant-heartedness.
- Marriage displays Christ and the church. Husbands love “even as Christ also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it” (Ephesians 5:25, WEB). The deepest meaning of marriage is the gospel it pictures.
- What does it mean to “walk in love” as Christ loved us (5:2), and how is his sacrifice the pattern for ours?
- Paul contrasts our former darkness with our present light (5:8). What practical difference should this identity make in daily choices?
- How do we “redeem the time” and discern the Lord's will in days Paul calls “evil” (5:16-17)?
- What does being “filled with the Spirit” (5:18) look like, according to the verses that follow?
- How does seeing marriage as a picture of Christ and the church (5:31-32) reshape the way spouses are called to love and respect one another?
- To walk in love is to give ourselves for others as Christ gave himself for us—a fragrant offering to God (5:2). His sacrificial love sets the standard far above mere sentiment. Encourage members to consider where love is calling them to costly self-giving rather than convenience.
- Light brings a real moral break: purity instead of immorality, generosity instead of greed, truth instead of deceit (5:3-11). This is partly personal application; invite members to name one area where their conduct should now match their new identity as children of light.
- Redeeming the time means living wisely and purposefully in a fallen age, seeking to understand God's will rather than drifting (5:15-17). Help the group think practically about priorities and habits, treating each day as a trust from God in evil times.
- Paul's description follows immediately: speaking in psalms and hymns, singing, giving thanks, and submitting to one another (5:18-21). Spirit-fullness is less about spectacular experiences than about worship, gratitude, and humility. Encourage members to pursue these ordinary marks of the Spirit's filling.
- Marriage is a living parable of Christ's love for his church and her response to him (5:31-32). This frames a husband's sacrificial love and a wife's respect not as power but as mutual reflection of the gospel. As leader, handle this gently, keeping Christ's self-giving love at the center for both spouses.