Ephesians 5:1

CHAPTER V.

Christians should imitate their heavenly Father, and walk in

love, after the example of Christ, 1, 2.

They should avoid all uncleanness, impurity, covetousness, and

foolish jesting, and idolatry, because these things exclude

from the kingdom of God, 3-7.

The Ephesians were once in darkness, but being now light in the

Lord, they are exhorted to walk in that light, and bring forth

the fruits of the Spirit; and to have no fellowship with the

workers of iniquity, whose evil deeds are manifested by the

light, 8-13.

All are exhorted to awake; to walk circumspectly; to redeem the

time; and to learn what the will of the Lord is, 14-17.

The apostle gives particular directions relative to avoiding

excess of wine, 18.

To singing and giving thanks, 19, 20.

Submission to each other, 21.

To husbands that they should love their wives, as Christ loved

the Church; for by the marriage union, the union between Christ

and the Church is pointed out; and wives are exhorted to

reverence their husbands, 22-33.

NOTES ON CHAP. V.

Verse Ephesians 5:1. Be ye therefore followers of God] The beginning of this chapter is properly a continuation of the preceding, which should have ended with the second verse of this. The word μιμηται, which we translate followers, signifies such as personate others, assuming their gait, mode of speech, accent, carriage, c. and it is from this Greek word that we have the word mimic. Though this term is often used in a ludicrous sense, yet here it is to be understood in a very solemn and proper sense. Let your whole conduct be like that of your Lord; imitate him in all your actions, words, spirit, and inclinations; imitate him as children do their beloved parents, and remember that you stand in the relation of beloved children to him. It is natural for children to imitate their parents; it is their constant aim to learn of them, and to copy them in all things; whatever they see the parent do, whatever they hear him speak, that they endeavour to copy and imitate; yea, they go farther, they insensibly copy the very tempers of their parents. If ye therefore be children of God, show this love to your heavenly Father, and imitate all his moral perfections, and acquire the mind that was in Jesus.