From verse 10 to verse 24, he is closing up his correspondence with the church in Ephesus and is forceful to note that the battle that we find ourselves in is a spiritual battle, rather than a physical battle. The key to our victory is a good defense rather than a good offense. Now he introduces us to our final weapon: prayer. But it is more than intercession, we are to “pray at all times in the Spirit”. By praying in the Spirit, it seems that we are able to better sustain our responsibility of being “on the alert” in prayer for each other. After all, we are dependent upon God for protection, refreshment, and empowerment. Paul specially requests prayer for his ministry of preaching the mystery of the gospel. Paul is aware that he has been entrusted with the gospel and is in need to help to speak it with care and precision.

Paul ends with a few “items of business” before closing with a blessing. One thing I have learned from this study of Ephesians: God loves community.

It’s interesting that he reminds the Ephesians of their spiritual battle right after he gives them instructions concerning community relationships. It is like he knows that community leads to all sorts of grievances and disagreements, and we are to know that the enemy has his hand in these battles more than we would imagine. The enemy’s strategy is to divide the body of Christ and we are to be on guard against these attacks. That is one application of this passage, but I’m sure that Paul is looking at the sinful culture of Ephesus and exhorting the Christians there to fight a spiritual battle.

These verses are often used as a sort of war cry for freedom from demons. But the our only offensive play in this battle is to take up the sword of the Spirit. The word for “sword” is machaira, which means, “a short sword or a dagger.” Our entire strategy is to be built around a good defense. We are to “put on the full armor of God”, “stand firm”, and “resist”. I know there is a place for the binding and rebuking of demons (I should be doing more of that!), but Paul is pointing towards a solid interior rather than a forceful exterior in our spiritual battle.

Children are called to obey their parents. Our relationship with our earthly father should reflect our relationship with our heavenly Father: obedience. This commandment that God gave Moses is the only one that comes with a promise. If you honor your father and mother, you will live a long life on earth. I think what God had in mind when he gave this commandment with a promise, was that man would continue to honor his or her parents throughout their lives. Obviously, honoring your parents looks different at 9 years of age than it does when you are in your adult years.

It’s interesting how any questions of what it looks like to honor parents is answered by Paul’s instructions to fathers. He commands them to not provoke their children to anger. Father’s are to be respectful of their children and not exasperate them (Col. 3:21). I will not pretend to know what this means (having never been a father), but what I see is that many fathers are so heavy-handed with their children, that the child does not feel like they have room to grow and express themselves. This leads to rebellion. Father’s are to apply the discipline and instruction of the Lord, which of course is kind and gives dignity to the freewill of man.

Paul ends his instructions regarding subjection by addressing slaves and masters. Interestingly, Paul points towards eternity and the coming judgment as incentive for slaves to be free of bitterness and anger towards their masters, and for masters to be free of cruelty. Both slave and master are in subjection to God who does not see any rank, for good or bad.

Wives are to be subject to their husbands because it is a picture of the church being subject to Christ. This may be offensive to some, but in verse 25, Paul tells husbands to love their wives. Husbands are not to be subject to their wives, but are to love them. What kind of love? “To love their own wives as their own bodies” (v. 28). Like Christ, husbands are to use their authority over their wives to love and serve them. Christ lowered Himself and used His authority to serve humanity, His church. Husbands are to use their position as head’s of their wives to serve and protect them.

I love how Paul is trying to talk about earthly marriage but keeps going back to speaking about the marriage between Christ and His church. This is because, 1) it is an incredible mystery, and 2) human marriage shadows the Divine-human marriage. Paul instructs husbands how to love by showing how Christ has loved His bride. He washes her with “the water of the word” so that His church will be holy and blameless before Him. Similarly, husbands are to cherish and nourish their wives. Paul redefines the idea of marriage here by introducing the idea of mutual submission.

It is interesting that he encourages us to make the “most of your time” because the days are evil. Being wise in our walk is linked with making the most of the time that we have. It could be that Paul was counter-acting a slothful and entertainment spirit that was indulging in wine. Instead of indulging in entertainment and fun, he tells them to be wise about what they are doing with their time because the days are evil. We can always spend more time in prayer and Bible study. But we also can spend more time in relationships or in serving others. We can make use of our time by using it to combat the worldly spirit that is around us.

It is interesting that he encourages the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit by speaking to one another and singing to the Lord. We really value the singing to the Lord part at IHOP, but it is awkward for me to speak to someone else a psalm or hymn. But this is what being filled with the Spirit is! Two more ways that we can live in these evil days, is to give thanks to the Lord, and “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” Being subject to each other is a very Kingdom of God practice and not a kingdom of darkness practice. But humility is a wise course of action.

It is interesting to consider what Paul means by exposing the deeds of darkness. He tells us to expose them in verse 11, but then in verse 12 he says that it is “disgraceful even to speak” of them. Does this mean that we bring disgrace upon ourselves by paying attention to their deeds, or does he mean it in the sense of it bringing disgrace on the one in darkness? I wonder if he is trying to uproot an inclination to stare at the deeds of darkness. In other words, were believers paying too much attention to the disgraceful acts? Had it become the center of attention? This seems to be possible, because in verse 13 he tells them that “all things become visible when they are exposed by the light.” Paul seems to be advocating a lifestyle that brings conviction upon those who are walking in darkness. If they see the good deeds and the love of Christ that is in us, then they will turn. But if they do not know anything other than darkness, what are they going to turn to?

This reminds me of that famous quote: “At all times preach the gospel; use words when necessary.” Paul is encouraging the church in Ephesus to not be overwhelmed by darkness, but to live a life that shines bright in the darkness.

After the flood, Noah and his family came off the ark onto dry land. Noah took one of every clean animal and bird and offered a sacrifice to the Lord on an altar. Genesis 8:21 reads, “The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.’” Noah’s small offering had touched something in the heart of God and was a proper sacrifice for sin. Since man is evil from “his youth”, he has no choice but to sin because it is his nature. For this reason, He had mercy on him and promised to never again “destroy every living thing.” This was a type or a foreshadow of Christ’s pleasing sacrifice. The Old Testament sacrifices and lives of faith were only pleasing to the Father because He was looking forward to the sacrifice and faith of Christ the Son (Gal. 3:8).

As a contrast of the sons of God, Paul describes the sons of darkness and they behavior. The saints and children of God are to not act in immorality or greed, but are to give thanks. We are to give thanks because we are not prone to immorality or impurity, but those who are will not enter the kingdom of God. Yet we are to fear and be wise lest we do act fall short.

He begins by reiterating that we are to speak truth to one another. Rather than speaking truth to free someone from delusion, we are to be honest with one another. A lack of honesty leads us to be angry because lies and distrust build which opens the door for accusation and anger. Paul offers an interesting commentary on how those who are poor are to treat their neighbor. Rather than stealing or relying on other’s for money, they are to get a job and make their own money. Then, they can give to others. He doesn’t say anything about how we are to treat the poor, or how long we are to extend mercy before we can hold them accountable for providing for themselves.

How hard verse 29 is to walk out! We are to let no “unwholesome word” come out of our mouths, but only speak that which is good for edification and what is needed in the moment. A failure to do so actually grieves the Holy Spirit. When was the last time that I actually stopped and thought about if the words I was about to say were needed? Sometimes I will stop myself, only to be convinced to say them anyway in the name of “honesty” or “openness”. The underlying rule of all our behavior is that we are to act towards one another as Christ has acted towards us.

The Ephesians were living in a culture where evil was pervasive so that the Gentiles had given themselves over to evil and had become calloused in their hearts. They were unable to respond to God because they had practiced greed over and over again. My friend Brandon went to Ephesus a couple of months ago, and he said that it was a common practice to throw newborn babies outside of the city gate. This was common not only in Ephesus but also in other cities in Asia at that time. The sin that the Gentiles were involved in was rooted in greed. They were ignorant of God, but they also had hardened hearts. Paul instructs the church in Ephesus to not walk like them.

How are they to walk in the way of Christ? First, they are to set aside the old self, and put on the new self. This new self is made in the likeness of God, “created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” Second, the way to put on the new self is to be “renewed in the spirit of your mind.” In Romans 12:2, Paul tells us to renew our minds so we can “prove what the will of God is.” This is why reading, meditation, praying, and study of the word of God is so important. We need to wash ourselves with truth so that we can have a walk that is worthy of our calling.