Ephesians 5:3-20 Lesson 375

Ephesians 5:3-20
Lesson 375

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

A continuation of lesson 374.
Live in the light.

Note how often the words "light" and "darkness" appear in verses 5:8-14.

Study Tip:

Pay special attention when the Bible repeats itself. Reinforcing messages tells us they're important.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Ephesians

The King James Bible

Ephesians 5:3-20
Don't be deceived

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 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.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Margin notes:

"Fornication." (5:3) - Any form of immoral sexual behavior, especially sexual relations outside marriage.

"Uncleanness." (5:3) - Religiously impure, sinful, or morally corrupt behavior.

"Let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints." (5:3) - "Don't even talk about it, as befitting Christians." See also Romans 6:13.

"Filthiness." (5:4) - "Talking dirty." Paul repeats this warning from Ephesians 4:29. He will emphasize it again in Colossians 3:8.

"Nor jesting." (5:4) - "Nor crude joking."

"Which are not convenient." (5:4) - "Which are not proper."

"For this you know." (5:5) - Means, what Paul is about to say is self-evident.

"Covetous." (5:5) - Greedy. You can find similar lists of sinful behavior in 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Romans 1:28-32, Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5,1 Timothy 1:10, and 2 Timothy 3:2.

"Let no man deceive you with vain words." (5:6) - "Let no one fool you with empty words." Paul is repeating Jesus' advice from Matthew 24:4.

"Because of these things cometh the wrath of God." (5:6) - Romans 1:18.

"Be not ye therefore partakers with them." (5:7) - "Therefore, don't participate with them."

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (5:8) - "For you were once in the dark (blind and ignorant), but now you are in the light of God." Be a role model; your lifestyle should show your faith (Matthew 5:14-16).

"Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." (5:10) - "Find out what pleases the Lord."

"Reprove them." (5:11) - Expose them.

"It is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." (5:12) - "It is shameful to even talk about the things they do in secret."

"All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light." (5:13) - "Everything exposed by the light is revealed."

"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (5:14) - This verse appears to be from an old Hebrew hymn. See Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 52:1, and Isaiah 60:1-2).

"Walk circumspectly." (5:15) - The word circumspectly comes from the Latin word circirmspicio, which means walk carefully, be cautious.

"Redeeming the time." (5:16) - This means make up for lost time, or make good use of your time.

"The days are evil." (5:16) - Paul wrote these words two thousand years ago. But many believe it's still true today. Jesus gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from this evil, sinful world (Galatians 1:4).

"Speaking to yourselves." (5:19) - "Speak to each other."

To learn more about "the Spirit" (5:18), read Luke 11:13, John 14:15-17, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Acts 4:7-13 and Romans 8:2-14.

New Living Translation

Ephesians 5:3-20

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people.

4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes-these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.

5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him.

7 Don't participate in the things these people do.

8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.

13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,

14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

  "Awake, O sleeper,
      rise up from the dead,
      and Christ will give you light."

Living by the Spirit's Power

15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.

16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

17 Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit,

19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts.

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

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. Can sinners go to heaven? (5:5)




These lessons are available five days a week.  How often would you like to receive them?

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. We are all sinners, but we can all go to heaven. To do so, we must admit our sins, ask forgiveness, and walk in the spirit (Romans 8:1-8; 1 John 1: 8-10).



Application thought for the day:

How do you spend your time?
What is your focus?
Verses 5:10 and 5:17 encourage us to be wise and learn what God expects from us.
We do this by prayer and by studying the Bible.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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