Click Banner to go to main page
Ephesians Chapter 5
By: Rich Puckett
As with most of my studies, my comments are in red. The blue is from Matthew Henrys and Believers Study Bible commentary.
Ephesians 5: (v. 1,2) Exhortation to brotherly love.
(v. 3-14) Cautions against several sins.
(v. 15-21) Directions to a contrary behaviour, and to relative duties.
(v. 22-33) The duties of wives and husbands are enforced by the spiritual relation between Christ and the church.
Exhortation to brotherly love
(Eph 5:1 KJV) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Every parent wants an obedient child, and so does God. He is our father and expects us to follow his will. One time my oldest daughter had went and done something she knew would upset me. When I confronted her she said well Dad you didn't say I couldn't do that, I asked her, but you knew I would not approve and is that not the reason you didn't ask me first hoping you would not get caught? Of course she answered well yeah, you see we often try to use this same kind of action to God. Is it wrong to only do what you are told not to do or is it wrong to do what you know he would not want you to do even if not told that directly? We know the will of God, and right from wrong, the fact he may not of spoke out of heaven and called you by name and said don't do this or that does not excuse you from the err of your way. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
1 Ki 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Ezek 13:3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
1 Tim 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Tim 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
1 Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Mat 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Luke 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
John 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
John 11:52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Eph 5:1: Verses 1-2. Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully.
(Eph 5:2 KJV) 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.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
2 Cor 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Eph 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Eph 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Phil 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
1 Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1 Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1 Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
1 Pet 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
1 John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Cautions against several sins
(Eph 5:3 KJV) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
As a child of God you have a life you are expected to live, a HOLY life. Sex outside of marriage, uncleanness which could be such things as homosexual, drugs, and alcohol, and so on, and greed the desire for money and fine things are not the goals of Gods children. Mat 6:21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. You don't have to talk to a person long to know where their hearts desires are.
Mat 5:32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Acts 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
Acts 21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1 Cor 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
1 Cor 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
1 Cor 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
1 Cor 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Cor 7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
2 Cor 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
1 Th 4:3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Th 4:4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
1 Th 4:5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
1 Th 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mark 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
2 Cor 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up before hand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Pet 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
2 Pet 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2 Pet 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2 Pet 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2 Pet 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2 Pet 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
FORNICATION
(Fohr nih kay' shuhn) Various acts of sexual immorality, especially being a harlot or whore.Old Testament Normally women are the subject of the Hebrew verb zanah, but in Numbers 25:1 men "began to commit whoredom." The clearest example is that of Tamar sitting on the roadway to entice Judah (Gen. 38:12-29). Such action was subject to criminal prosecution bringing the death penalty (Gen. 38:24; compare Lev. 21:9; Deut. 22:21). Fornication meant being unfaithful to a marriage commitment (Judg. 19:2).
Israel’s neighbors practiced a fertility religion in which prostitution was part of the worship. This led naturally to describing worship of other gods as prostitution (Ex. 34:15-16; Judg. 8:27, 33; Hos. 4:13). This concept is central for Hosea’s preaching based on his experience with his unfaithful wife Gomer. Ezekiel also used this concept (Ezek. 16; 23) and extended it to include political treaties with foreign enemies (Ezek. 16:26, 28; 23:5).
New Testament The New Testament also condemns prostitution. Here again prostitution played a central role in worship in places like Corinth and Athens. Greek philosophers could even distinguish the roles of prostitutes for pleasure, slave mistresses to give daily care to the master’s body, and wives to produce legitimate children. Some Stoic philosophers reacted against such practices and condemned sex outside marriage. Many women used the situation to take slave lovers for themselves or become lesbians.
Jesus went against Jewish tradition and forgave prostitutes and opened the way for them to enter God’s kingdom through faith (Matt. 21:31-32; compare Heb. 11:31; Jas. 2:25), though He still regarded fornication as evil (Mark 7:21).
Paul extended the use of the Greek term for fornication to cover all sinful sexual activity. He dealt with the problem particularly in writing the Corinthians who faced a society permeated with sexual religion and the sexual sins of a seaport. A believer must decide to be part of Christ’s body or a prostitute’s body (1 Cor. 6:12-20). The believer must flee sexual immorality and cleave to Christ, honoring Him with the physical body. Fornication is thus a result of sinful human nature (Gal. 5:19) and unsuitable for God’s holy people (Eph. 5:3; 1 Thess. 4:3).
The Book of Revelation also says much about fornication, condemning those guilty to eternal punishment (Rev. 2:21-22). Revelation, as well as the prophets, extends the meaning of fornication to include political and religious unfaithfulness (Rev. 14:8; 17:2, 4; 18:3; 19:2).
As a whole, the New Testament uses porneia, most often translated fornication, in at least four ways:
1. Voluntary sexual intercourse of an unmarried person with someone of the opposite sex (1 Cor. 7:2; 1 Thess. 4:3).
2. A synonym for adultery (Matt. 5:32; 19:9). See Adultery; Divorce.
3. Harlotry and prostitution (Rev. 2:14, 20).
4. Various forms of unchastity (John 8:41; Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 5:1).
Gary Hardin
un·clean (
n-kl
n
)
adj. un·clean·er, un·clean·est
un·cleanness n.
covetousness a strong desire after the possession of worldly things (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5; Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10; Matt. 6:20). It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness.
covetousness
\Cov"et*ous*ness\, n. 1. Strong desire. [R.]
When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their skill in covetousness. --Shak.
2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad sense.
Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the true end of getting. --Sprat.
Eph 5:3: Verses 3-14. Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Our cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may tend to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places that hope, confidence, and delight, in worldly good, which should be in God only. Those who allow themselves, either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they come to the kingdom of glory. When the vilest transgressors repent and believe the gospel, they become children of obedience, from whom God's wrath is turned away. Dare we make light of that which brings down the wrath of God? Sinners, like men in the dark, are going they know not whither, and doing they know not what. But the grace of God wrought a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, as having knowledge and holiness. These works of darkness are unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast; for they end in the destruction of the impenitent sinner. There are many ways of abetting, or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good man will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked men are not ashamed to do. We must have not only a sight and a knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measure shameful, but see it as a breach of God's holy law. After the example of prophets and apostles, we should call on those asleep and dead in sin, to awake and arise, that Christ may give them light.
(Eph 5:4 KJV) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
You are the witness of God and show the light of Christ. If you words are dirty and you are always quick to make jest or light of good work, and you spend hours talking about things with little profit to saving souls, how bright a light do you think you are. I once worked with a man for months and one day someone mentioned to me he was a Minster. I was shocked, not once had I ever heard conversation that sounded Godly from him. His jokes were always slanted toward sex, his words were curse words, he was the first to get out side to smoke, so how much of a light for God was he? The real issue is how Christ like am I how much are you?
(Eph 5:5 KJV) 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.
This is not me or some church saying this, its Gods word. You cannot go to heaven with sin in your heart and life.
(Eph 5:6 KJV) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
I see today so many people living lives that they think will take them to heaven, they belong to a church, put money in the plate, are sometimes very religious but my friends its not enough. I hear preaching today that make everything ok, you can go to church for months and sometimes years and have no ideal what sin is or isn't. Remember this,
1 Cor 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1 Cor 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
(Eph 5:7 KJV) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
You must decide who you will associate with and who will be your friends and who you will spend your time with but he tells you plain enough not to keep company with those who are not living in agreement with his word. Don't belong to a church that teaches what you know is contrary to Gods will and word. Don't listen to every voice that calls out of the forest but hear the voice, which speaks in the heart.
1 Cor 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1 Cor 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1 Cor 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1 Cor 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1 Cor 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
2 Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Th 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
(Eph 5:8 KJV) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
(Eph 5:9 KJV) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
(Eph 5:10 KJV) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
(Eph 5:11 KJV) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
(Eph 5:12 KJV) For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
(Eph 5:13 KJV) But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
(Eph 5:14 KJV) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Before we are born again in to the love of God and joined unto his family we are dead. But when we come to him and make him our father and we become his children, behold we are no longer in the darkness of sin but in the light of understanding and knowledge so we have no excuse for our sin.
Directions to a contrary behaviour, and to relative duties
(Eph 5:15 KJV) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
No one likes to be called a fool or stupid then why do we act that way. Look where your going, take time to listen and to see what is ahead. Don't jump into something just because it sounds good, go with prayer and study of Gods word.
cir·cum·spect
(sûrk
m-sp
kt
)Eph 5:15: Verses 15-21. Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they daily sacrifice it! People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Be not unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries men into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard holds out to his family and to the world the sad spectacle of a sinner hardened beyond what is common, and hastening to perdition. When afflicted or weary, let us not seek to raise our spirits by strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more felt. But by fervent prayer let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to avoid whatever may grieve our gracious Comforter. All God's people have reason to sing for joy. Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency. God keeps believers from sinning against him, and engages them to submit one to another in all he has commanded, to promote his glory, and to fulfil their duties to each other.
(Eph 5:16 KJV) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
(Eph 5:17 KJV) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
(Eph 5:18 KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
(vv. 5:18-6:9) The evidence of the Spirit's filling is (1) the spiritual content of one's fellowship with other Christians (5:19a); (2) a private, inward worship (5:19b); (3) an attitude of thanksgiving (5:20); and (4) a willing subjection to one's spiritual head -- e.g., wives to husbands (5:22-33), children to parents (6:1-4), and slaves to masters (6:5-9).
The filling of the Spirit results in an absolute control of the believer's life by the Spirit, when that life is yielded to Christ. The filling of the Spirit is to be continually experienced, as the present tense verb would affirm. Special fillings occur in times of need for particular spiritual prowess. "The filling" is to be distinguished from "the baptism" of the Holy Spirit, the latter being a once-for-all gift at the moment of salvation (cf. 1 Cor. 12:13, note).
(Eph 5:19 KJV) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
It is hard to be mad at your wife or children if you are singing, its hard to get so down and worried if you learn to sing, and not just sing, but sing songs of praise. Here in lies the answer to many of your own problems trust God and learn to sing, it cures much of what is wrong in the heart.
(Eph 5:20 KJV) Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
It's not always easy to thank God when things are hard, but my friends in learning to give thanks we show our trust, the more trust you show the more you find he is there.
(Eph 5:21 KJV) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
One of the biggest problems facing the church and our world today is that people have a nature about them that refuse to submit. It is God instruction to us to submit to each other, to our boss and to the laws of our land, to our leaders and wives to your husbands. If you can not learn to submit to each other how will you ever learn to submit to God. Here is a lesson if you will learn will help you. There is no fear in submitting if you are submitting out of love to one whom loves you. A wife has not to fear from a husband that loves her that he would demand something that would hurt her or cause her pain, likewise to God.
sub·mit
(sb-m
t)
v. intr.
1 Cor 16:16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
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.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
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.
Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Col 3:18 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.
Col 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Col 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
1 Pet 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1 Pet 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1 Pet 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
The duties of wives and husbands are enforced by the spiritual relation between Christ and the church
(Eph 5:22 KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
In Greek "wives" is in the vocative case, yet with the definite article. Used in a general sense, it binds all wives into one class for this assignment. Wives are asked to submit to husbands. Husbands are asked to love their wives (v. 25). "Submit" translates a military term (hupotasso, Gk.), which means "to place under" or "to subordinate" (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1, note). This is not because of essential feminine inferiority but because God has placed the husband first in order of creation as head of the home, just as Christ is the Head of the church. While submission is in one sense limitless, i.e., wives are to submit "in everything" (v. 24), in another sense this submission is not to exceed the parameters of the will of God (v. 22). The directive to husbands is even more imposing. The mandate to love employs agapete (Gk.) and hence must be a command for the husband to exhibit thoroughly all the qualities delineated in 1 Cor. 13 in his relationship with his wife. The verb indicates continuous, habitual action (v. 25). Christ loved the church not because it was holy, but in order to make it holy (v. 26).
Eph 5:22: Verses 22-33. The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin, by those influences of the Holy Spirit, of which baptismal water was the outward sign. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to glory. But those only who are sanctified now, shall be glorified hereafter. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, are spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. It was a kind of type, as having resemblance. There will be failures and defects on both sides, in the present state of human nature, yet this does not alter the relation. All the duties of marriage are included in unity and love. And while we adore and rejoice in the condescending love of Christ, let husbands and wives learn hence their duties to each other. Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects would be avoided.
(Eph 5:23 KJV) 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.
Every one has a role to play its not a role of less importance just different job to perform. In the church not everyone can be the Pastor, in the home only one person can be the head. Yet just as a Pastor talks and works with God a husband and wife should do the same. There comes a time in every relationship where someone has to have the finale word, for the church and Pastor it should be God in the home should be the husband. Not because I say so but because God who is greater then us all says so. You may refuse to do this, but I assure you, you will never have full victory with God and your family will be in turmoil till you are willing to obey God. Husbands you err if you try to beat your wife or force her into this, it won't work. God does not force us to obey him, and we cannot force our family's it has to be out of love. So love her and treat her as God does you with love and compassion.
A "church" (ekklesia, Gk.) is a group of people who, having been called out of sin and unbelief to life in Christ, have given witness to that life through believer's baptism and have banded themselves into a voluntary fellowship. The church is made up of all those who have been regenerated by faith in the atoning work of Christ. The compound word ekklesia joins the preposition ek ("out") and the verb kaleo ("to call"), meaning literally "the called-out ones." This is the same word used by the Greeks for their assembly of citizens who were "called out" to transact the business of the city. The word itself implies no more than simply "assembly." The church's task is to continue the earthly work of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Corporately and individually, these who have been regenerated constitute the "temple" (naos, Gk.; "the Most Holy Place" or inner part of the Jewish temple) of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19, 20). Everyone who has been saved belongs to the body of Christ -- the universal church. The universal church is manifested in the world by individual local churches, each of which is to be a microcosm of the body of Christ. The church is to function under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, operating under His sovereign rule. Jesus Christ is the Founder and Lord of His church and has guaranteed its perpetuity until He returns (cf. Matt. 16:18; Col. 1:18). The church exists to worship, to evangelize, to serve, and to teach (cf. Acts 2:41-47). Its spiritual officers are pastors (cf. 1 Pet. 5:1-3, note) and deacons (cf. 1 Tim. 3:8). The memorial ordinances of the church are baptism (cf. Rom. 6:3, note) and the Lord's Supper (cf. 1 Cor. 11:23, note). The church's destiny lies eventually in the heavenly city which Christ has prepared for His bride (John 14:1-3; Rev. 21:9-27), which is already to be regarded as the "homeland" where the believer's citizenship resides (Phil. 3:20). In the O.T., Israel is seen as a people uniquely called by God, first out of heathenism (Isa. 51:2), then from Egypt and slavery (Hos. 11:1) to be God's own people (Isa. 43:1). In the N.T. God's calling refers to (1) the universal gospel invitation (Mark 2:17), (2) the effective call which brings the elect to salvation (Rom. 8:30), (3) God's summons to particular ministries in the church (Rom. 1:1), and (4) the external circumstances and status of life in which a person finds himself (1 Cor. 7:20).
(Eph 5:24 KJV) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
(Eph 5:25 KJV) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(Eph 5:26 KJV) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
If you want love you have to give love.
(Eph 5:27 KJV) 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.
(Eph 5:28 KJV) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
(Eph 5:29 KJV) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
You should cherish your wife and show her love and respect and she should do the same to you.
(Eph 5:30 KJV) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
(Eph 5:31 KJV) 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.
(Eph 5:32 KJV) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
One of the reasons for the importance of lifelong, monogamous marriage is that the relationship of the home is one of the analogies employed to describe the even more crucial relationship between Christ and the church. The church is the bride of Christ (Rev. 21:2).
(Eph 5:33 KJV) Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.