Read Ephesians 5
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5&version=NIV

5:3–14 “Those who are disobedient” (5:6) are unbelievers who are characterized by disobedience to God. Paul admonished the believers to walk in the light, a metaphor for a life of holiness. While spiritual darkness is the realm of unbelievers, light is the realm of Christians (Col. 1:12–13; John 8:12; 12:35). Believers expose the things of darkness (5:11) by living differently (4:17–24), walking with God (1 John 1:7), being a light (Matt. 5:14–16), and rebuking sin (2 Tim. 3:16). Paul’s quotes in Ephesians 5:14 were probably taken from Isaiah 26:19 and 60:1. This verse contains a sample of how one might reprove a sinner.

5:15–17 Since the time is short and the days are evil, a Christian’s use of time needs redeeming or he will use it as most do—for evil. Make the most of every opportunity (5:16; “Redeeming the time,” kjv) means to “buy it back”—to use wisely the short time that believers do have (cf. John 9:4). This demands an understanding of what evil is in the first place and an understanding of God’s will. From this knowledge should follow action; Christians should use their time pursuing that which avoids evil and works to fulfill God’s will.

5:18–21 Paul had already shown that the Spirit’s power was behind the Christians’ victories (1:13–14; 1:19–21; 2:18; 3:16; 4:4, 30). Ephesus was a center for the cult of Dionysus (Greek, “Bacchus”), the god of wine. Celebrations in honor of Dionysus emphasized fertility, sex, and intoxication. Intoxication would allow Dionysus to control the body of the worshiper. Thus the worshiper would do the will of the deity. Paul was saying in 5:18, Don’t be filled with the spirit of Dionysus through wine, but be filled with the true and living God by his Spirit. Paul’s key illustration of being wise was to be filled with the Spirit for all the behaviors he described in 5:19–6:9. Paul described that fullness in several ways: speaking and singing (5:19), thankfulness (5:20), and submission (5:21).
The last point, submission, receives detailed development (submission in marriage, 5:22–33; submission of children to parents, 6:1–4; submission of slaves to masters, 6:5–9). In each area of submission Paul was careful to exhort those commanding the submission to show love to those under them, not to abuse them (husbands, 5:25–33; fathers, 6:4; masters, 6:9).

This passage further explains what Paul meant by laying aside the old self and putting on the new self (4:22–25). The acts of speaking, thankfulness, and submission show what believers should “put on” in the fullness of the Spirit’s power and intention for their “walk” with God in Christ. They are visible manifestations of the grace and power that belong to believers in the “heavenly realms.” Paul desired that the believers wake up and, with enlightened hearts, realize the power for life that God has given (3:14–21). All Christians possess God’s fullness through Christ (1:23).
In 5:21 many have thought that Paul was teaching the principle of mutual submission of all believers to each other. Rather, Paul enjoined believers to submit themselves to and obey rightful authorities. He then proceeded to give some specific examples of proper submission—wives to husbands, children to parents, slaves to masters (5:22–6:9)

5:22–24 The submission of the wife to her husband does not suggest inequality, for Christ was in submission to the Father but was also his equal (John 14:9; 17:22; 1 Cor. 11:3; Phil. 2:6–8). The relationship between the husband and wife is one governed by unselfish love, where both meet the needs of each other.

5:25–33 Husbands are to have a Christ-like passion to bring their wives into deeper purity and holiness before God. Christ’s sacrificial love for the church is set forth as the pattern for the husband’s love for his wife. Husbands ought to consider whether they are loving their wives according to this pattern. Paul quoted Genesis 2:24, the scriptural basis for marriage (5:31). There is a symbolic purpose in marriage (5:32). The union is designed to be a reflection of the relationship between Christ and his church.


Discussion and reflection question

Verse 21 says that we should “submit to one another out of reference for Christ.” What does that mean to you?