Walking in Love
5: 1-7
Walking in love DIG: Does walking in love define what it means to be an imitator of God? Explain. How do we become God’s children? What are some ways a child imitates their parents? In 4:1, Paul urges us to model our lives in accordance with our high calling as God’s grace. In 5:1, what is the model he holds up for us? How does love fulfill the Torah?
REFLECT: How might you lovingly excuse yourself from a gossipy conversation? How can partnerships (business, social, recreational) impact your spiritual life? What are some practical ways we can imitate God’s love? What are the positive and/or negative motivations which prompt you to live a godly life? Who can you tell about Him this week?
In this passage, Sha’ul first presents the positive truths about true godly love,
and then the negative truths about Satan’s counterfeit love and its consequences.
The plea (5:1-2a): Therefore . . . Paul begins Ephesians 5 in the same way as he did the previous chapter – with the word therefore. This word refers back to the forgiveness believers have found in Messiah (4:32). In Ephesians, the concept of forgiveness is connected to two vital biblical themes: redemption and grace (1:7).194 . . . imitate God, as His dear children (5:1). To know what God is like we must study His Word. Yet, the more we learn of God’s character, the more we learn how far above us He is and how impossible it is to fulfill the command to imitate Him in ourselves, to be absolutely perfect, just as He is. That is why we need to be empowered with the inner strength of His Spirit so that we will know the love of Messiah is beyond all comprehension (3:16 and 19a). The only way we can imitate God is for the Lord Yeshua Messiah to live His perfect life through us. We are totally dependent on His Spirit to imitate Him (see the commentary on Galatians, to see link click Bv – Walk by the Ruach, and Not the Desires of the Flesh).
And walk in the way of love (5:2a). The walk of the believer is a key matter to Paul. He has introduced the fact that ours is a worthy walk (4:1c), and a walk different from the pagan Gentiles (4:17a). He will also call for a walk in the light (see Bq – Living in Light), and a walk in wisdom (5:15). In this verse, the apostle pleads with believers to walk in such a way that daily life is characterized by love. Growing in love is a continual need for every believer, since love fulfills all of God’s Torah (see the commentary on Romans De – Respecting Civil Authority: Love fulfills the Torah). As we grow in love we also see the need to be even more loving. And since biblically defined love is so contrary to the flesh, we are always in need of reminders and encouragement to love.195
The pattern (5:2b): A young child often learns to draw by tracing. The more carefully he traces, the truer the likeness of his copy is to the original. The pattern for believers to follow in Yeshua Messiah Himself. The difference between this tracing and that of a young child learning to draw is that we will never have a time when Messiah will cease to be our pattern. In other words, we will never be “on our own,” sufficiently skilled in ourselves to live as He lived. In fact, we must allow the Ruach Ha’Kodesh to pattern us after Messiah.
Our ultimate goal for us is to imitate Yeshua’s love, just the way He loved us (5:2b). Giving oneself to others is the epitome of agape love. Biblical love is not a pleasant emotion or good feeling about someone, but the giving of oneself for his or her welfare (First John 3:16). Divine love is unconditional love, love that depends entirely on the one who loves and not on the merit, attractiveness, or response of the one loved. Messiah did not merely have a deep feeling or emotional concern for us. Nor did He sacrifice Himself for us because we were deserving. While we were still sinners (Romans 5:8), He gave Himself for us purely out of His sovereign, gracious love, taking our sin upon Himself and paying its penalty on our behalf. God’s love, and all love that is like His, loves for the sake of giving, not getting. With conditional love, if the conditions are not met there is no obligation to love. If we do not get, we do not give. Romantic, emotional “love” ebbs and flows. Therefore, to love as God loves is to love sacrificially, to love by the giving of ourselves and He gave Himself.
Messiah’s giving of Himself as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice was a pleasing fragrance to His heavenly Father. The first five chapters of Leviticus describe five offerings commanded by YHVH to the Israelites (see the commentary on Leviticus Ah – The Offerings from the People’s Perspective). The burnt offering (see Leviticus Ai – The Burnt Offering: Accepted by God) was fulfilled by Messiah’s total devotion to YHVH in giving His very life to obey and please His Father; the grain offering (see Leviticus Aj – The Grain Offerings: Dedicated to God) was fulfilled by the sinlessness of His sacrifice; the peace offering (see Leviticus Ak – The Peace Offerings: At Peace with God) was fulfilled by His making peace between God and mankind. All of those offerings obviously spoke of what was pleasing to ADONAI. Each of those offerings provided an aroma pleasing to the LORD. Philippians 4:18 explains that the fragrant aroma meant the sacrifice was acceptable . . . well pleasing to God.
But the other two offerings – the purification offering (see Leviticus Al – The Purification Offering: Purified by the Blood) and the guilt offering (see Leviticus Am – The Guild Offering: Evidence of Repentance) – were different because they were fulfilled by Messiah’s bearing the sin of mankind. They depicted the Father’s turning His back on the Son, when He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf (Second Corinthians 5:21), at which time Yeshua cried out from the cross: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me (Matthew 27:46)? While Messiah was the sin-bearer, Ha’Shem could not look upon Him or rejoice in Him or be pleased with Him. But when the Father raised Messiah from the dead, the sacrifice that caused Him to become sin became the sacrifice that conquered sin. The sin that put Him to death was itself put to death, and that great act of love was to ADONAI as a fragrant aroma. And today that fragrant aroma spreads its fragrance to everyone on earth who will place themselves under the grace of that sacrifice, and it will spread its fragrance throughout heaven for all eternity. In all aspects, our lives should please God (see the commentary on Second Corinthians At – A Sweet-Smelling Aroma).196
The perversion (5:3-4): Whatever ADONAI establishes, the Adversary will counterfeit. Where God establishes true love, Satan produces counterfeit “love.” This counterfeit “love” characterizes Satan’s children, those who are of the world, just as true love characterizes God’s children, those who are citizens of heaven. Among you there should not even be mentioned sexual immorality (Greek: porneia, and refers to all sexual sin), or any kind of impurity (Greek: akatharsia, and refers to anything that is unclean), or greed, which by its very nature is contrary to true love (5:3). What was acceptable in the pagan Roman Empire had, and has, no place in the life of a believer. Therefore, Paul reminded the Ephesians that these are utterly inappropriate for God’s holy people.
Also out of place are obscenity and stupid talk or coarse language; instead, you should be giving thanks (5:4). Our words are a reflection of the thoughts of our heart. Vulgar words and coarse language do not reflect the light of YHVH. As Messianic Jews and Gentiles, the Ephesians were called to use edifying speech and to give thanks. It is important to note that all the forbidden actions are verbs that are present tense, indicating an ongoing and habitual lifestyle, not merely a slip of the tongue once in a while. Such people use stupid talk and coarse language all the time, unlike the followers of Yeshua who at least battles to stay on the narrow path of righteousness. Sha’ul reminded his disciples elsewhere that many of them came out of such lifestyles, being transformed by the power of the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (First Corinthians 6:9-11).197
The punishment (5:5-7): It is clear that the Rabbi was restating a truth that he had taught the Ephesians many times while he lived among them. For he said: Of this you can be sure. There should have been no doubt or confusion in their minds about what he was about to say, because it was nothing new. Ha’Shem does not tolerate sin, and perverted “love” leads to punishment. Every sexually immoral, impure or greedy person – that is, every idol-worshiper – has no share in the Kingdom of the Messiah and of God (5:5). This is a sobering statement that needs serious reflection. The Torah and the whole Bible not only have an impact on this life, but in the world to come. While Judaism has placed great value on the concept of Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World), neglecting the world to come can have catastrophic consequences. It is such an integral part of our relationship with YHVH that the apostle warns us not to let anyone deceive us by telling us that sin is tolerable and that God will not exclude unrepentant sinners from His Kingdom. Because of these things, that is the sins listed here and the lies of empty words that God’s judgment is coming on those who disobey Him. In a final warning, Paul says: Therefore, don’t become partners with them (5:6-7)! He says, “Don’t join the world in its evil; don’t be partners with it in wickedness. Instead, be partners with Messiah and His righteousness. Don’t imitate the world (First John 2:15-17), but rather be imitators of God, as His dear children” (5:1).198
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that Your great love is wrapped in total wisdom, including even knowing the future (Dani’el 2,7, Revelation 19) and the thoughts and intents (Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 9:4) of the hearts of everyone (First Samuel 16:7, Luke 16:15, Acts 15:8). How wonderful that Your love and wisdom work together to always desire what is best for me. For ADONAI Elohim is a sun and a shield. ADONAI gives grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalms 84:11). Your love is guided by Your all-knowing omniscience, so when you give me wisdom, it brings me eternal joy to follow Your leading.
I love You and long to live to please You while I am still on earth. It cost You so very much to buy my redemption (Hebrews 12:2). I want to thank You by listening to Your Ruach Ha’Kodesh so that I will not fall into any sin, and can conquer any temptations (First Corinthians 10:11, John 14:23). I set my joy on living for You. As I praise You, I am encouraged to remember how short life on earth is and how long eternity will be with You. I remember Your steadfast love for me. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You (Psalms 63:3). It is a delight in loving You, even in hard times. For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18). May my life reflect Your holy goodness. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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