Ephesians 5

Walk in Love

1 So be imitators of God, like beloved children who look up to their Father.

2 Walk in love just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God, a sweet-smelling aroma.

3 But sexual immorality, all impurity, and greed should not even be named among you all, because that is not fitting for God’s holy people.

4 Neither should filthy talk, foolish talk, or crude joking be coming out of your mouth. Instead, let thanksgiving be what fills your conversations.

5 You can be sure of this: no sexually immoral person, impure person, or greedy person, which is really idolatry, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Do not let anybody deceive you with empty words, because God’s judgment comes on those who live in rebellion.

7 So do not partner with them or join in with what they are doing.

8 At one time you all were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live like children of light.

9 The fruit of the light is found in everything that is good, righteous, and true.

10 Keep learning what pleases the Lord.

11 Do not participate in the worthless works of darkness. Instead, expose them for what they are.

12 The stuff people do in secret is shameful even to talk about.

13 But when light shines on something, it reveals what it really is.

14 That is why it says, "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Walk in Wisdom

15 So pay close attention to how you live. Do not move like people without wisdom, but move like people who understand what matters.

16 Make the most of every opportunity because these days are full of evil.

17 Do not be foolish. Understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 Do not get drunk with wine, because that leads to reckless living. Instead, be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.

19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord.

20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Christ and the Church

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and He is its Savior.

24 Just as the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives the same way Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

26 He did this to make her holy, cleansing her through the washing of water by the Word.

27 His goal was to present the church to Himself in splendor, without stain, wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and blameless.

28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife is really loving himself.

29 Nobody hates their own body. They feed it, care for it, and protect it, just as Christ does for the church.

30 Because we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.

32 This is a profound mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless, each husband should love his wife as he loves himself, and each wife should respect her husband.