Ephesians 5
—Simply Bible Readings
Walk in Light
(Ephesians 5:1-21
¶“1Imitate God as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us. Christ gave himself up for us as a sacrifice offered to God for its sweet fragrance. 3Yet nobody should be able to name among you any act of sinful sex, impurity, or greed. Do what is proper among holy people. 4Let there be no obscenity or foolish talk or crude joking. Such talk is improper. Instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5Indeed you know that everyone who commits sinful sex, impurity, or greed is an idolater. That person has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6Let no one deceive you with empty words. Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7So don't become partners with them.” (Ephesians 5:1-7).
¶“8At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10Try to understand what is good and pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. Expose them instead. 12We feel ashamed even to speak of the things done in secret. 13But when anything is exposed to light, it becomes visible. 14Indeed, when anything is made visible, it is the light that we see. Hence the saying, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you'” (Ephesians 5:8-14).
¶“15Walk with due care and diligence. Don't be unwise, but wise. 16Redeem the time, because the days are evil. 17So don't be foolish. Rather, understand what the Lord’s will is. 18And don't get drunk with wine because that just wastes you. Rather, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody to the Lord with your heart. 20 Always, for all things, give thanks to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21Submit yourselves one to another in reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:15-21).
Husband and Wife
(Ephesians 5:22-33)
¶“22Women, submit to your own men, as to the Lord. 23The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of his called out people. He himself is the Savior of that body. 24Just as the called out people submit to Christ, so also wives should fully submit to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22-24).
¶“25Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the called out people. He gave himself up for them, 26to dedicate them. He cleansed them by the washing of water in the word. 27He did this to present to himself a called out people most beautiful, free of spot or wrinkle or any such blemish, holy and blameless. 28In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:25-28).
¶“29For we have never hated own flesh. Rather, we nurture and nourish it, just as Christ does his called out people 30who are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. 31'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' 32This mystery is great. I speak of Christ and the church 33But I say also, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” (Ephesians 5:29-33).