Christ’s Love for the Church
Ephesians 5:18-6:4 or Ephesians 5:21-6:4
International Sunday School Lesson
December 30, 2012
Commentary
By
Jed Greenough
“I will not put a thief in my mouth to steal my brains.” Have you ever heard that before? If you were a big fan of John Wayne movies you may distinctly remember the character of Mattie Ross say that to Rooster Cogburn when he offered her a drink in the movie True Grit. This of course comes from the book by the same name but the real originator of the statement was William Shakespeare as he wrote the words for the character Cassio from Othello Act II Scene three line 1142. I’d suggest you read the whole Act to see how a man was changed by putting an enemy in his mouth that stole his brains.
If your lesson doesn’t include 5:18-20 as it does for some that all might not make a lot of sense. In order to understand the context of what Paul is saying in 5:21-6:4 though it is rather important. He is talking about going against our natural inclination in our choices.
Paul according to the NIV study Bible scholars, tells us by his choice of words and their meanings that just as choosing to become drunk with wine is a choice and a choice by choice basis so is being filled with the Holy Spirit. We choose under what we are going to be controlled.
Choosing to submit to the Holy Spirit’s influence is indeed the only way we can put on a true reverence for Christ which in turn is the only way we will truly submit to one another instead of putting our interests and motives first.
Whether it is a husband who selfishly always considers his own wants first or a wife who ignores the order that God has planned or a child who is disobedient they will not consistently think of the other first without submitting to God’s influence.
There is plenty in today’s scripture for any of us to not like if we are not willing to submit to Him but this is what Christ did despite His position when He “gave Himself up for” the church. He thought of every one of us before He thought of Himself and this is what Paul is reminding us of in asking us to “submit to one another out of reverence to Christ.”
Yep, it takes an effort and it is something we have to consciously do but with the aid of the Holy Spirit’s influence we can accomplish something for each other that if we don’t is not pleasing to God or showing reverence to Christ. It seems like if we are going to have a New Year’s Resolution this would be a pretty good place to start.
For Discussion:
1. Discuss this idea of choosing to be filled with the Spirit.
2. Discuss what it means in 5:19 to, “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” I mean it, really discuss it! How are we doing in that area?
3. Discuss verse 20’s, “sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.”
4. Discuss that we aren’t just talking about husbands, wives and children when we read to “submit to one another.”
5. Read 1 Corinthians 11:2-12.
6. Discuss the roll of fathers.
7. Happy New Year and I hope that my blog has been a blessing to you in the past year!
Upcoming Adult Sunday School Class Commentaries
1-6-13: Proclaiming Christ Philippians 1:12-26 or 1:15-26
1-13-13: Imitating Christ aka Jesus’ Humility and Exaltation Philippians 2:1-13 or 2:5-11
1-20-13: Knowing Jesus Christ aka Gaining in Jesus Christ Philippians 3:1-11 or 3:7-11
1-27-13: Standing Firm in Christ aka Stand Firm Philippians 3:12-4:1 or 3:12-16
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved
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