Matthew Henry Commentary Ephesians 5

Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as is fitting for those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully.

Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against blatant acts of sin, but also against things that some may treat lightly. But these things are so far from being beneficial that they pollute and poison those who hear them. Our cheerfulness should express itself, as is fitting for Christians, in ways that contribute to God's glory.

A covetous man makes a god of his money; he places that hope, confidence, and delight in worldly goods which should be in God alone. Those who indulge in either the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world do not belong to the kingdom of grace, nor will 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 treat lightly that which brings down the wrath of God? Sinners, like people in the dark, are going they know not where, and doing they know not what. But the grace of God worked a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, possessing knowledge and holiness.

These works of darkness are unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast of; for they end in the destruction of the unrepentant 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 punishments.

If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good person will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked people are not ashamed to do. We must not only recognize and know that sin is sin, and to some extent shameful, but also see it as a breach of God's holy law. Following 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.

Another remedy against sin is care, or caution, as it is otherwise impossible to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given to us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time previously, we must double our diligence for the future. How little do people think of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, and to what trifles they daily sacrifice it!

People are very apt to complain of bad times; it would be well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Do not be unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries people into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard presents 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 with strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more deeply felt. Instead, 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 always be giving thanks; we should never lack the disposition for this duty, as we never lack reason for it, throughout the whole course of our lives.

We should give thanks always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things, being assured of their loving intent and beneficial outcome. God keeps believers from sinning against him, and leads them to submit to one another in all he has commanded, to promote his glory, and to fulfill their duties to each other.

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 until 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 from this their duties to each other. Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects would be avoided.