Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 5

Be you therefore followers of God,

Or, imitators of God.

As dear children

Children are naturally imitators. They are usually inclined to imitate their father; this is, therefore, a most fitting and appropriate precept: Be you therefore imitators of God, as dear children.

What a path to walk in! Walk in love. What a well-paved way it is! As Christ also hath loved us. What a blessed Person for us to follow in that divinely royal road! It would have been hard for us to tread this way of love, if it had not been that his blessed feet marked out the track for us. We are to love as Christ also hath loved us, and the question which will often solve difficulties is this, "What would Jesus Christ do in my case?"

What he would have done, that we may do: Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us. And if we want to know how far that love may be carried, we need not be afraid of going too far in self-denial; we may even make a sacrifice of ourselves for love of God and men, for here is our model: As Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

So far from ever falling under the power of these evils, do not even name them; consider them sins unmentionable to holy ears. In what a position do we find covetousness placed, side by side with fornication and all uncleanness! In Colossians, covetousness is called idolatry, as if the Holy Spirit thought so poorly of this sin that He could never place it in worse company than it deserved to be in. Yet I fear it is a very common sin even among some who call themselves saints. May God deliver us completely from its sway, and help us to hate the very name of it!

All sorts of evil, frivolous, fruitless talk should be condemned by the Christian. He should feel that he lives in a nobler way; he lives with purpose; he lives to bear fruit; and that which bears no fruit, and from which no good can come, is not for him. But rather giving of thanks. Oh, for more of this giving of thanks! It should perfume the labors of the day, it should sweeten the rest of the night, this giving of thanks. We are always receiving blessings; let us never cease to give God thanks for them. If we never cease thanking until we are beyond the need of blessing, we will go on praising the Lord as long as we live here, and continue to do so throughout eternity.

What a sweeping sentence! This is indeed a sword with two edges. Many will flinch before it; and yet, though they flinch, they will not escape, for Paul speaks neither more nor less than the truth when he declares that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.