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Trinity/After Pentecost · The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity

Ephesians 5:15-21

Living as Children of Light

October 18, 2026

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne, c. 1618–1620Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
A French follower of Caravaggio working in Rome. Paul is lit from one side at a table strewn with paper, caught mid-thought with the pen stopped.These passages are Paul arguing on paper, and the painting is the pause in the middle of a sentence.Valentin de BoulogneA French painter in Rome and the most committed of Caravaggio's followers, who died at thirty-eight after a night out in the cold.Museum of Fine Arts, HoustonThe oldest art museum in Texas, grown very large on oil money, and free on Thursdays.Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 22:1-14Mt 22:1-14Alt. GospelMatt. 21:33-44Mt 21:33-44
EpistleEph. 5:15-21Eph 5:15-21
Old TestamentIsa. 55:1-9Is 55:1-9
PsalterPs. 27:1-9Ps 27:1-9

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 Bible Commentary Ephesians Chapter 5Enduring Word Bible Commentary Eph Chapter 5 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse evangelical commentary on walking as wise and being filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:15 CommentariesEph 5:15 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentators on redeeming the time, understanding God's will, and singing in the Spirit.

Ephesians 5, Expository NotesEph 5, Expository Notes StudyLight

Thomas Constable's expository notes on the contrast of drunkenness and the fullness of the Spirit.

Commentary on Ephesians 5:15-20Commentary on Eph 5:15-20 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary exegesis of wisdom, thanksgiving, and being filled with the Spirit rather than wine.

Background & Word Study

Overview: EphesiansOverview: Eph BibleProject

An animated overview of Ephesians that frames the call to walk worthy of the calling.

Ephesians 5:15 Greek InterlinearEph 5:15 Greek Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers for wise, time, Spirit, and give thanks.

The Church Fathers

Commentary on Ephesians 5 from the Church FathersCommentary on Eph 5 from the Church Fathers Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse on walking wisely and the Spirit-filled life of thanksgiving.

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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