Chapter 5
V1-2 We have already determined what walking in love pertains to i.e. following Torah in Spirit and in truth. Yeshua willingly gave Himself up for us. Although it was the Father’s will to appropriate grace to the forsaken world through sacrifice of His Son, ultimately Yeshua had the freewill to fulfil this end, and wrestled much with this decision in the garden of Gethsemane cf Lk 22:42-44. He was our Passover lamb, unblemished and without sin, being a sweet-smelling savour to Elohim.
V3-6 This is purely so-called Old Testament rhetoric. Paul, a law-abiding Christian, no longer a pharisaic judaizer, still preached Torah observance. Porneia/fornication covers all manner of illicit sexual conduct i.e. adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, incest, sex during menstruation, sex out of wedlock, all of which are laid out in the Torah in Leviticus. Akatharsia/Uncleanness included non-Kosher food, leprosy, sexual discharges amongst others again all laid out in Torah.
Covetousness is mentioned in the 10 commandments. Pornos/whoremonger is one who partakes in illicit sex, more specifically male prostitution. Eidolatres/idolater is one who participates in the worship of the heathen, including attending their sacrificial feasts. The churches of today religiously celebrate on a grand scale the Molech, Tammuz, Isis and Osiris heathen days of Easter, Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Lent, Advent, Halloween even. Aischrotes/obscenities, morologia/silly talk and eutrapelia/facetiousness are discouraged in place of gratitude instead. We are given a frightening warning that those Christians partaking in all this behaviour will NOT enter the kingdom of heaven, but face the wrath of Elohim. It must be remembered that this is not a figure of speech on Paul’s part, but rather direct revelation from Yeshua Himself.
V7-10 The light and walking in it is all found in the personification of Torah, Yeshua haMashiach Himself cf Jn 1:4-5; 1 Jn 1:5-7, Pro 6:23.
V9 the fruit of the Spirit is beyond a shadow of a doubt works of love in Torah cf Rom 7:12.
V11-13 We may hide our sins from others on earth, but Yehovah sees all and these sins shall be laid bare before all at the day of judgement by the light, Yeshua who shall judge all Jn 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31.
V14-17 V14 quotes Isa 51:17; 60:1
V16 poneros translated evil is better translated full of hardships. Satan the prince of the air currently dominates our time, and we as Christians are plagued by temptation, tribulation and toil. We are admonished to make the best use of every waking moment in order for us to focus on doing good, despite being surrounded by perpetual evil cf Col 4:5; Amos 5:12-14; Gal 6:10. In order to know how to use our time the best we can, we must know the will of Elohim, which throughout scripture screams at us to observe his laws and commandments in love.
18-21 V18 asotia/profligacy, prodigality arises from drunkenness. Rather we should fill our souls with the Holy Spirit.
V19-21 are self-explanatory.
V22-25 Marriage is holy and is an earthly representation of Yeshua’s relationship with His ecclesia. Feminism has dominated the world in our day and age, taking over the church. Women have been conditioned into seeking and achieving headship of the home, which is contrary in the animal kingdom at large. Churches are headed by female bishops, priests, pastors, preachers and teachers who oversee men who have apathetically or effeminately surrendered their duties to women. Misogyny has been the label hurled with great guile at men who speak up against such anti-scriptural, and Elohim-defying behaviour.
I fearlessly will defend the sanctity of male headship in the home and ecclesia, as much division of families and churches have arisen from female dominance where it is not suitable. Women are not described as being slaves to men by Paul, but rather subject to them. Men, must not abuse this authority but give ourselves up in loving protection and leadership of our wives. Compare 1 Pet 3:1,7. Husbands who do not honour their wives cause hindrance of their prayers. Wives may be weaker vessels, but this means husbands are weak vessels too (though not weaker).
It does not mean husbands are strong, otherwise Peter would have said wives are weak not weaker as a superlative. Also compare Rom 13:1. We live in an orderly world. If children refuse to be subject to their parents, nor wives to their husbands, how is the ecclesia possibly going to submit to Messiah? Satan and his demonic host have gained much ground in the ecclesia’s downfall by fostering disobedience and rebellion against authority.
V26-27 It is not only the blood of Yeshua that is essential for sanctification, but also the water of the word of Elohim cf Ex 30:18-20. The laver of brass was made out of the looking glasses of the women Ex 38:8. Hence before a priest in the tabernacle washed himself, he would see the dirt on him in the brass laver providing his reflection. This dirt represents sin. We cannot approach Elohim in a sinful state lest we die. Hence the need to examine ourselves by His word in order to be cleansed by its waters of refreshing cf Jn 15:3; Tit 3:5-7; Heb 10:22; 1 Jn 5-6.
V27 is best explained by reading Ps 119:1
V28-31 v 31 cf Gen 2:24 If we are one body, it should be impossible for a man to abuse his wife. Unfortunately, many have failed to lead by example and given place to the devil through failing to acknowledge the sanctity of matrimony. Note v30 mentions flesh and bone but not blood. Yeshua seems to have lacked blood in His resurrected form cf Lk 24:39.
V32-33 Up until then it was a great mystery that the union between husband and wife was a picture of that between Yeshua and the ecclesia cf 2 Cor 11:2; Rev 19:7-8