Ephesians 5:18-21
5:18 a The Holy Spirit, not wine, should dominate believers’ lives (see Prov 23:29-35 b; cp. Acts 2:15-18 c).• be filled: The grammar here suggests that believers’ lives are to be continuously filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit.
Summary for Eph 5:19-20: 5:19-20 d Lives filled with the Holy Spirit will be expressed in singing ... and making music (Col 3:16-17 e). Joyful praise, worship, and giving thanks are fitting responses to God’s saving grace.
• among yourselves: Singing together builds up the body of Christ.
• The Lord hears the music in our hearts.
• in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is our mediator and representative as we approach God (cp. John 14:13-14 f; 16:23-27 g; Rev 22:4 h).
Summary for Eph 5:21-6:9: 5:21–6:9 i Paul gives specific instructions on how believers are to relate to one another in a Christian home (see also Col 3:18–4:1 j; 1 Pet 2:18–3:7 k). Love and respect are to characterize all relationships in the body of Christ as an expression of believers’ commitment to the Lord himself. 5:21 l And further, submit to one another: The verb form links it with the command to be filled (5:18 m). This general instruction (cp. Phil 2:3 n) applies to all three relationships that Paul discusses: wives and husbands (Eph 5:22-33 o), children and their parents (6:1-4 p), and slaves and their masters (6:5-9 q). For believers, submission is not expressed out of fear or desire for personal gain, but out of reverence for Christ.
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