Ephesians 5:5-7

5:5

For – reason for preceding is found to follow

of this you can be sure – What follows is a fact, bet on it by building my life on it

No … person – leaves no room for an exception

immoral, impure or greedy – recalling list from verse 3

such a man is – present tense, current reality

an idolater – worships things, values creation over the creator

has any – not even a little bit

inheritance – receiving the benefits of someone’s estate; not counted as part of the family

in the kingdom – immoral, impure or greedy are not in the Kingdom. Sounds pretty straightforward; but I keep looking for and imagining loopholes.

of Christ and of God – same kingdom; only kingdom that counts because it is the only kingdom that lasts

5:6

Let no one deceive you [NLT: Don’t be fooled] – command, warning

deceive – mislead, blind to the facts, smooth-talk

with – by using

empty words – sound important but have no meaning or no value

for – cause, reason supporting the foregoing warning

because of – as a result, in consequence, in response to

such things – immoral, impure, greedy

God’s wrath – Dies irae; intense anger; fuming rage, but not out of control. God’s wrath is focused on the appropriate target(s).

comes – simple present; the context makes clear that Paul pictures a continuous process, response; as long as people practice (or have practiced or will practice) immoral, impure or greedy behavior, God’s wrath has, does and will come.

on those – on me, on us. I need to remember that Paul writes this warning to the believing fellowship, not to the idolatrous Ephesians. So today this warning still aims at me and others in the fellowship of believers. Granted, it gives us impetus to rescue our neighbors from God’s wrath. But the warning here is intended for me and we who are in the fellowship. This is a warning for me.

who are – present tense, continuous, at this point in time

disobedient – not following orders; intentionally violating instructions. It is an anomaly to picture followers of Christ who are disobedient. But that is the image here. So: At what point does an anomaly, when repeated in my life, cease to be an anomaly and instead become a pattern? If I disobey Him once a week or once a month, I can call that an anomaly. But how long does that pattern continue until it ceases to be an anomaly and becomes a habit or lifestyle? At some point, I cross over into the latter.

5:7

Therefore – because God’s wrath comes on the disobedient…

do not be – present tense, ongoing pattern

partners – participating together, investing with and reaping the same results from the investment

with them – i.e. the disobedient