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Lent · The Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)

Ephesians 5:1-9

Living as Children of Light

March 8, 2026

Old Woman and Boy with Candles, Peter Paul Rubens
Old Woman and Boy with Candles, Peter Paul Rubens, c. 1616–17Mauritshuis, The Hague
A study of light rather than a subject: an old woman holds a candle while a boy lights his from it, and the whole picture is the two flames.Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light.Peter Paul RubensRubens (1577-1640) ran the busiest workshop in Europe from Antwerp and was a working diplomat besides. His religious painting carries the same physical energy as his hunts and his mythologies.Mauritshuis, The HagueA small seventeenth-century town house holding a concentrated Dutch Golden Age collection, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring.Mauritshuis, The Hague
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 11:14-28Lk 11:14-28
EpistleEph. 5:1-9Eph 5:1-9
Old TestamentExod. 8:16-24Ex 8:16-24Alt. OTJer. 26:1-15Jer 26:1-15
PsalterPs. 136:1-16Ps 136:1-16Alt. PsalmPs. 4Ps 4

Overview & Insights

“Put off your old self… and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God.” (Ephesians 4:22–24)

The Old and the New Life Up to this point in the epistle there have been only occasional references to the ethical life of the Christian (2:10; 4:1–3, 15). In 4:1 it appeared that the apostle was preparing a lengthy description of the new life in Christ, but this led, instead, into a further exposition of the unifying elements of the church (4:4–16).

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Commentary

Enduring Word Commentary, Ephesians 5Enduring Word Commentary, Eph 5 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on walking in love as imitators of God and living as children of light.

Ephesians 5:1 CommentariesEph 5:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic exegetical notes on being imitators of God and Christ's sacrificial offering.

Ephesians 4:25-5:2 CommentaryEph 4:25-5:2 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on imitating the Father as dearly loved children.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Commentary | Precept AustinEph 5:1-2 Commentary | Precept Austin Precept Austin

Detailed word study on imitators, walk, and Christ's fragrant offering to God.

Background & Word Study

Overview: EphesiansOverview: Eph BibleProject

Animated overview of the letter's argument from new identity to new conduct.

Ephesians 5:1 InterlinearEph 5:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text with parsing for imitators of God and walking in love.

The Church Fathers

Church Fathers on Ephesians 5 (Catena Bible)Church Fathers on Eph 5 (Catena Bible) Catena

Patristic comment on imitating God and living as light in the Lord.

Questions preachers ask

What is the new self?

Paul calls believers to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, putting away falsehood, anger, and theft, and putting on the new self created in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22–28).

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