1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as deare children.
2 And walke in loue, as Christ also hath loued vs, and hath giuen himselfe for vs, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling sauour;
3 But fornication and all vncleannesse, or couetousnesse, let it not be once named amongst you, as becommeth Saints:
4 Neither filthinesse, nor foolish talking, nor iesting, which are not conuenient: but rather giuing of thankes.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor vncleane person, nor couetous man who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdome of Christ, and of God.
6 Let no man deceiue you with vaine words: for because of these things commeth the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience.
7 Bee not yee therefore partakers with them.
8 For yee were sometimes darkenesse, but now are yee light in the Lord: walke as children of light,
9 (For the fruite of the spirit is in all goodnesse and righteousnesse & trueth.)
10 Proouing what is acceptable vnto the Lord:
11 And haue no fellowship with the vnfruitfull workes of darkenesse, but rather reproue them.
12 For it is a shame euen to speake of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reprooued, are made manifest by the light: for whatsoeuer doth make manifest, is light.
14 Wherfore hee saith: Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall giue thee light.
15 See then that yee walke circumspectly, not as fooles, but as wise,
16 Redeming the time, because the dayes are euill.
17 Wherefore be ye not vnwise, but vnderstanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And bee not drunke with wine, wherein is excesse: but bee filled with the Spirit:
19 Speaking to your selues, in Psalmes, and Hymnes, and Spirituall songs, singing and making melodie in your heart to the Lord,
20 Giuing thankes alwayes for all things vnto God, and the Father, in the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ,
21 Submitting your selues one to another in the feare of God.
22 Wiues, submit your selues vnto your own husbands, as vnto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, euen as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the sauiour of the body.
24 Therefore as the Church is subiect vnto Christ, so let the wiues bee to their owne husbands in euery thing.
25 Husbands, loue your wiues, euen as Christ also loued the Church, and gaue himselfe for it:
26 That he might sanctifie & cleanse it with the washing of water, by the word,
27 That hee might present it to himselfe a glorious Church, not hauing spot or wrinckle, or any such thing: but that it should bee holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to loue their wiues, as their owne bodies: hee that loueth his wife, loueth himselfe.
29 For no man euer yet hated his owne flesh: but nourisheth and cherisheth it, euen as the Lord the Church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leaue his father and mother, and shall be ioyned vnto his wife, and they two shalbe one flesh.
32 This is a great mysterie: but I speake concerning Christ and the Church.
33 Neuerthelesse, let euery one of you in particular, so loue his wife euen as himselfe, and the wife see that she reuerence her husband.
Exhortation to brotherly love. (1,2) Cautions against several sins. (3-14) Directions to a contrary behaviour, and to relative duties. (15-21) The duties of wives and husbands are enforced by the spiritual relation between Christ and the church. (22-33)1,2 Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully.
3-14 Filthy lusts must be rooted out. These sins must be dreaded and detested. Here are not only cautions against gross acts of sin, but against what some may make light of. But these things are so far from being profitable. that they pollute and poison the hearers. Our cheerfulness should show itself as becomes Christians, in what may tend to God's glory. A covetous man makes a god of his money; places that hope, confidence, and delight, in worldly good, which should be in God only. Those who allow themselves, either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they come to the kingdom of glory. When the vilest transgressors repent and believe the gospel, they become children of obedience, from whom God's wrath is turned away. Dare we make light of that which brings down the wrath of God? Sinners, like men in the dark, are going they know not whither, and doing they know not what. But the grace of God wrought a mighty change in the souls of many. Walk as children of light, as having knowledge and holiness. These works of darkness are unfruitful, whatever profit they may boast; for they end in the destruction of the impenitent sinner. There are many ways of abetting, or taking part in the sins of others; by commendation, counsel, consent, or concealment. And if we share with others in their sins, we must expect to share in their plagues. If we do not reprove the sins of others, we have fellowship with them. A good man will be ashamed to speak of what many wicked men are not ashamed to do. We must have not only a sight and a knowledge that sin is sin, and in some measure shameful, but see it as a breach of God's holy law. After the example of prophets and apostles, we should call on those asleep and dead in sin, to awake and arise, that Christ may give them light.
15-21 Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they daily sacrifice it! People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Be not unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries men into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard holds out to his family and to the world the sad spectacle of a sinner hardened beyond what is common, and hastening to perdition. When afflicted or weary, let us not seek to raise our spirits by strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more felt. But by fervent prayer let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to avoid whatever may grieve our gracious Comforter. All God's people have reason to sing for joy. Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency. God keeps believers from sinning against him, and engages them to submit one to another in all he has commanded, to promote his glory, and to fulfil their duties to each other.
22-33 The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin, by those influences of the Holy Spirit, of which baptismal water was the outward sign. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to glory. But those only who are sanctified now, shall be glorified hereafter. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, are spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. It was a kind of type, as having resemblance. There will be failures and defects on both sides, in the present state of human nature, yet this does not alter the relation. All the duties of marriage are included in unity and love. And while we adore and rejoice in the condescending love of Christ, let husbands and wives learn hence their duties to each other. Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects would be avoided.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.