Ephesians 5:2, commentary and pictures

To walk in love is to live as dear children of God in love patterned on Christ, who loved people and gave himself for them as a complete offering and sacrifice pleasing to God. He withheld nothing in self-denial from beginning to end, coming in poverty and suffering to bear guilt and wrath, paying sin's penalty as a propitiation for the whole world so believing sinners might be freed, forgiven and restored to favor and life. His offering was fragrant and acceptable to God through his righteousness, and believers share in that sweet savor both as his merits are imputed for their acceptance and as his graces implanted in the heart shed fragrance in love, meekness and forbearance. That walk means imitating God's character in obedience great and small, leaving no room for impurity, corrupt speech, bitterness and malice, but being kind, tenderhearted and forgiving, walking in light, humility and unity without drawing apart. Those who love will give as he gave, devoting all powers and means to God and others in wholehearted service rather than half-hearted selfishness, with his love for the church as the pattern that deepens and purifies the love of husband and wife.

Meaning of Walking in Love

The command is to live in love as followers of God as dear children, patterned on Christ who loved his people and gave himself for them as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. This loving life is both possibility and duty for Christians, and Christ's self-giving love is the pattern for how believers are to treat one another. Such Christlike love means surrendering self through self-denial and self-sacrifice, forgetting self, and benefiting and blessing others.

To walk in love is to imitate God's character and to practice the Word rather than merely hear or profess it. Its words are to be cherished, believed, studied and obeyed in small and large matters, with the Bible studied and its principles brought into practical life so the Word has free course in the heart. This means proving what is acceptable to the Lord and bearing goodness, righteousness and truth as each person's own work, as those once in darkness now live as children of light. It involves knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, receiving the words Christ gave from the Father and keeping them, and abiding in Christ, for where the Word is truly appreciated it will be obeyed. It belongs to the constant spiritual battle in which God's people must remain watchful and faithful rather than laying aside their spiritual armor.

This walk is the indwelling and co-working of divinity in humanity, making people perfect in their sphere as the Father in heaven is perfect in His. It requires the heart opened to the grace of Christ and filled with pure, clean, sanctified, Christlike love, keeping the love of Christ in humanity while laboring together with God. Those who claim to believe present truth for this time must study and live this standard. The verse expresses longing entreaty to churches and individuals for an advance movement and transformation of character, putting away thoughtless words, reflections and censure of the undeserving, and wrathful, bitter, unjust and unholy feelings.

The whole chapter of Ephesians 5 is to be studied and practiced as a call to live on Christ's side, shown in faithful conduct and in right order and discipline in the home, with ministers to give the Word power by practicing it. Its instruction applies to ministers and members who stand with the world instead of Christ and indulge selfishly in eating, drinking and dress.

The command is to live in love as followers of God as dear children, patterned on Christ who loved his people and gave himself for them as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. This loving life is both possibility and duty for Christians, and Christ's self-giving love is the pattern for how believers are to treat one another. Such Christlike love means surrendering self through self-denial and self-sacrifice, forgetting self, and benefiting and blessing others.

To walk in love is to imitate God's character and to practice the Word rather than merely hear or profess it. Its words are to be cherished, believed, studied and obeyed in small and large matters, with the Bible studied and its principles brought into practical life so the Word has free course in the heart. This means proving what is acceptable to the Lord and bearing goodness, righteousness and truth as each person's own work, as those once in darkness now live as children of light. It involves knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent, receiving the words Christ gave from the Father and keeping them, and abiding in Christ, for where the Word is truly appreciated it will be obeyed. It belongs to the constant spiritual battle in which God's people must remain watchful and faithful rather than laying aside their spiritual armor.

This walk is the indwelling and co-working of divinity in humanity, making people perfect in their sphere as the Father in heaven is perfect in His. It requires the heart opened to the grace of Christ and filled with pure, clean, sanctified, Christlike love, keeping the love of Christ in humanity while laboring together with God. Those who claim to believe present truth for this time must study and live this standard. The verse expresses longing entreaty to churches and individuals for an advance movement and transformation of character, putting away thoughtless words, reflections and censure of the undeserving, and wrathful, bitter, unjust and unholy feelings.

The whole chapter of Ephesians 5 is to be studied and practiced as a call to live on Christ's side, shown in faithful conduct and in right order and discipline in the home, with ministers to give the Word power by practicing it. Its instruction applies to ministers and members who stand with the world instead of Christ and indulge selfishly in eating, drinking and dress.

Christ's Self-Giving Sacrifice

Christ loved people and gave himself, his life and his body for them as a complete offering and sacrifice, withholding no part of the price in a life of self-denial from beginning to end. He came into the world in shame and poverty to meet people where they are, bearing their sins in his own body on the tree with hands pierced by nails and feet fastened by spikes. On the cross he bore the burden of guilt and the wrath of divine justice, and that suffering and agony is the price of redemption and the ransom that delivers from going down to perish eternally. Because he gave all without reserve, he will not accept half-hearted service but calls all who would follow to deny self, take up the cross, and restrict selfish extravagant wishes in order to have more to give.

He is the divine Son of God whose heavenly origin was concealed by the garb of humanity, so the honored, great and wise men of the world judged him only from outward appearance and the humiliations that fell upon him and did not know his character, beauty and loveliness. His disciples were given views of him that revealed his divinity and his identity as the sacrifice. He is a personal, sympathizing Saviour who loves the sinner personally and desires to save him. His gift of himself at Calvary is the measure of the human soul's worth, so that intellect and all powers belong to him and are to be used in his service.

His sacrifice was made for the sins of the whole world as a propitiation: he who knew no sin was made sin for us so that we might become God's righteousness in him. It paid the penalty of sin and provides the merit by which believing sinners receive title to eternal life, without making the law void or saving people in their sins. By giving his life he freed people alienated by sin from sin itself and restored them to the Creator's favor, delivering them from darkness to share the saints' inheritance of light. His death also defeated death's power and opened the gates of Paradise.

The hope of a redeemed and holy universe prompted him to make this sacrifice. The cross proves love that is infinite and everlasting, drawing with more than a mother's yearning sympathy for a wayward child. His mission to reclaim the fallen race was moved by love that angels look upon with awe and amazement while human beings lightly regard the purchase of his blood. In giving Christ to redeem and uplift fallen humanity and restore the divine image, God gave heaven's resources for that work.

His death is pictured as his body broken while the fragrance of his life fills the earth. Mary's loving anointing anticipated his burial and reflected God's love for fallen humanity. He gave himself as a living sacrifice to ransom people and make them free servants of Christ. His giving of himself wholly as a sacrifice is an encouragement to those who wait for him.

His self-giving is the foundation of the message of salvation, to be presented as hope for the penitent and strength for every believer. It is central to what ministers are to preach as they call people to come to him, the risen Saviour.

Sweet-Smelling Savour Explained

His offering and sacrifice was pleasing and acceptable to God as a sweet-smelling savor. That offering was made complete, withholding nothing, and was made fragrant by the incense of His righteousness. His sinless life is the standard for those who love Him, calling them to rise above cheapness in word and action. His mission in so giving Himself was to save sinners from their sins, bringing redemption and forgiveness.

Believers share in that sweet savor in two ways. His merits imputed to His followers come up before the Father as a sweet odor, and by them they are accepted. Through faith and communion with Him His righteousness is imputed to them, their sins are reckoned to Him, and their prayers are accepted in the Beloved as a sweet-smelling savor. The graces of His character implanted in the heart also shed a precious fragrance around the life. That fragrance is love, meekness and forbearance pervading the life, with power to soften and subdue hard hearts and to win even bitter opposers of the faith.

When they pray He joins their prayers with the incense of His righteousness and presents them to God as a fragrant sacrifice. He conquered Satan while living in human nature and watches with tender care, so His strength helps resist temptation and His sacrifice assures victory. Unselfish loving service that helps bring people to the light of truth is likewise offered to God as sweet incense. Such service can refresh, draw others from sin, and bear lasting fruit. Work done for the Lord with a pure, sincere heart, and sincere pure-hearted efforts in His service, are a fragrant offering to Him.

When His love abides in the heart it is diffusive rather than self-centered, seeks not her own, and softens and subdues the rugged character. That indwelling love makes a person's sacrifices acceptable to God as a sweet-smelling savor. A life shaped in God's likeness is likewise marked in words and actions by the rich fragrance of Christlike love. Contemplating Him who loved and gave Himself makes lives sweet and fragrant and gives power to perfect an unselfish Christian experience, so that others learn to do good. Genuine unselfish love manifested at all times and in all places by kind words and pleasant looks costs those who give it nothing, yet leaves behind a fragrance surrounding the soul. It blesses the giver as well as the receiver, for it reacts upon him, and being of heavenly origin it increases in fragrance in proportion as it is dispensed to others. Faith working by love purifies the soul, holds truth with steadfast principle, advances in knowledge of Him and in love for God and neighbor, cleanses away everything unlike His spirit, and fills the heart with the attributes of His pure and holy character, so that all the springs of the heart become as flowers fragrant with perfume, a sweet-smelling savor, a savor of life unto life.

Marriage and Home

The love shown by Christ is the pattern for the love husband and wife are to show each other, walking in love as he loved. The spirit he manifests toward the church is the spirit they are to manifest toward each other. Making him first in the marriage deepens and strengthens their love for one another and purifies it. When both are consecrated to God that self-giving love leads to mutual self-denial and sacrifice rather than domination.

Marriage is a union for life symbolizing the union between Christ and his church. It requires putting on kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and long-suffering. The husband is to cherish his wife as Christ cherishes the church, being faithful to her, showing her special favor and loving her as Christ loved, while the wife is to respect and love her husband. Both are to cultivate kindness and be determined never to grieve or injure the other, neither making any plea for rulership, and self-conceit is forbidden.

The call belongs to faithful conduct and to right order and discipline in the home and in family worship. Children are urged to imitate Christ's life. They are to avoid controversy and divisions, remain united in faith and walk in truth rather than causing sorrow. Believers are to walk in love together in companionship, bearing with and forgiving one another while working to save souls.

Purity and Speech

To walk in love leaves no room for fornication, all uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and jesting to be once named among saints, but calls instead for thanksgiving. Each person has personal responsibility to God to overcome the sin of foolish talking and foolish acting, searching the heart as with a lighted candle to find what is wrong. That change requires renewal in the spirit of the mind and putting on the new man created in righteousness and true holiness. It demands a complete working from Christlike principles, making a distinction between the precious and the vile, purging uncleanness and unholy conversation and low, cheap sentiments from unsanctified lips, and educating all departments in different words and deportment before unbelievers. This way of living is practical medical missionary work that testifies to the sanctifying power of truth upon human minds.

The same walk requires faithful reproof rather than withholding it, refusing to be deceived by vain words or to partake with the children of disobedience on whom wrath comes. It has no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reproves them, while living as light in the Lord by proving what is acceptable to the Lord. It requires letting no corrupt communication proceed out of the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to the hearers, and not grieving the Holy Spirit. Abundant reason for thanks is found in the great goodness of the heavenly Father, and honoring God in this way shows the world thankfulness. That command is to be studied and obeyed, not ignored nor disregarded nor treated with indifference, for it is the doers of the Word who receive the reward.

Walking in that love means putting away thoughtless words, ceasing to cast reflections and censure on those who do not deserve it, and putting away wrathful, bitter, unjust and unholy feelings. It requires a saving influence through patience, kindness and forbearance instead of giving loose rein to an impatient, unreasonable spirit that spreads like contagious disease. Those who labor together with Christ become fragrant in good works, prizing the talent of words to speak and do what gives life and not death. Sober, careful words and holy example help win others to accept Christ as Saviour. It means not merely reading the Bible without practicing its teachings, but studying the Bible and bringing its principles into practical life and letting the Word have free course in the heart, so God will be glorified.

To walk in love is to walk in the light as a child of light. It means resolving, exercising thought, and exerting will power in earnest endeavor to represent Christ in sweetness of character, putting away all gloom. It is not enough merely to say I am a child of God, but beholding Jesus and by beholding becoming changed into His likeness. It means advancement and progress in spiritual attainments, forgetting what is behind and reaching forth to what is before while constantly beholding the Pattern, walking uprightly and in the way of the Lord, by faith, in the Spirit, in the truth, and in newness of life, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. It means walking humbly with God in love, serving in all lowliness of mind with a humble, contrite spirit, practicing the truth in words, in spirit, and in action. That love loves the brethren, makes room for them, links up with them in cheerful unity, and puts away self-sufficiency, self-choosing, and separation, joined with humility, a subdued heart, prayer to be taught, and attention to the Holy Spirit by which self is merged in Christ and the mind raised to a holier standard.

Unity and Kindness to Others

Walking in love requires putting away all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking with all malice, and being kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake forgave. That walk lets no corrupt communication proceed out of the mouth but only what is good for edifying to minister grace to the hearers, and it does not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. It belongs with having been darkness but now being light in the Lord and walking as children of light, and with singleness of heart in service as unto Christ. It is inspired command to be studied and obeyed rather than ignored or treated with indifference, for it is the doers of the Word who receive the reward. Contemplated rightly, Christ's self-giving love makes the Christian life fragrant and gives power to grow in character, expressing itself in compassion and Christlike deeds toward people who suffer or are in need.

No provision has been made for Christians to draw apart from each other, and by unity and love they reveal the character of Christ. To walk in love as dear children following God is to practice God's known will by loving each other as brethren and growing into unity with one another as Christ is one with the Father. That love takes an active interest in one another, treats one another kindly, guards one another's interests, helps those in error come from darkness into light rather than passing them by, bears with one another's faults patiently and meekly, and carries one another's burdens. It corrects lack of unity and lack of love in the church that grieves the angels of God and the Spirit of God, working on the principle of unity and loving one another in the church. Companies of workers are to blend their plans and let there be no variance among them, dealing circumspectly without searching out differences and closing the door to criticism, while learning Christ's meekness and lowliness brings rest as self surrendered lets Christ abide.

That same love labors for sinners to be converted but does not regard sinners as saints, nor regard those who love God as sinners because mistrustful complainers murmur against them. Believers are not to associate with the immoral class named in the same chapter when that company would pull them down instead of being lifted up, for if believers cannot lift such ones up those ones will pull believers down. As the repository of gospel truth the church shines God's light by that loving, self-sacrificing walk as lights in the world. Following Christ as dear children in loving service engages the affections and inspires prayer, and it means living a holy, separate life rather than conforming to the world so that character represents Christ. This unselfish love without taint of selfishness is the height to be reached, requiring church members to be ever respectful and courteous to the Lord's ministers, and for the physician it requires continual communion, dependence on grace, and modesty among the sick and dying.

Christ loved all people and gave Himself in sacrifice for all without any distinction of caste, color, or nationality. All have the same Redeemer and the same heavenly Father and are preparing for the same heaven. Because His love and death were for every soul, no child of God is to have a proud heart, make a difference because of skin color, turn from any soul who loves God, or cease to labor for any soul for whom Christ died. Each one is to reject caste and national pride and help whoever needs tender regard and consolation whatever his nationality may be.

Walking in love means obeying God and following Christ's character by being tender and thoughtful toward others, with kindness, charity, and love for others uniting a person with Christ and turning the mind away from self. Others are to be considered just as deserving as oneself of comfort, happiness, and consideration. Dwelling on His love and pity leads to extending the same spirit to others, loving and respecting one another despite faults and imperfections, and cultivating humility, self-distrust, patience, and tenderness toward others' faults. This kind of love overcomes narrow selfishness and makes generous. It is unselfish and steady, honoring God rather than seeking self-glory, shining consistently amid the world's moral darkness.

Giving, Offerings and Service

To walk in love is to give, for love gives as Christ gave Himself as offering and sacrifice, and those who love follow that pattern. On the cross self-sacrificing love gave all He had and then gave Himself that humanity might be saved. That giving spirit is the spirit of heaven and the spirit of liberality, set against the getting spirit of selfishness which is the spirit of Satan. The cross appeals to the benevolence of every follower to live by the principle of give, give, and to carry it out in actual benevolence and good works, which is the true fruit of the Christian life, while the principle of worldlings to get, get brings misery and death in all its bearings.

A sacrifice is precious to God when it costs the giver something through self-denial. Even a modest offering that gives up a desired pleasure or possession becomes sweet-smelling to God. The smallest offering and willing sacrifice, yielded willingly in faith and grateful love for ransom from the slavery of sin by precious blood, gains a divine fragrance and becomes of priceless value. Though it seems poor and meager beside the debt of gratitude owed, angels present it as a fragrant offering before the throne where it is accepted. The smallest talent and humblest service, if presented with sincere heart in love to God from longing desire to serve Jesus, is presented by Christ with the fragrance of His own merits as a consecrated gift to the Father and is wholly acceptable, and children in need cared for, blessed and shaped in Christ's way can likewise be presented as a fragrant offering.

Because Christ purchased with His blood and sustains with His life, time, strength, intellect and all powers belong to Him to be developed and used for Him. Believers are not to be mere consumers but workers together with God, receiving and imparting under the gospel plan. All talents and strength are to be brought in to carry the work forward and not devoted to earthly temporal things, but devoted to His service with tact, skill and the grace of Christ to secure the very best talent for His honor and glory. So equipped they bear a message to the world and reveal a character after Christ's similitude with earnestness, fervor and enthusiasm, and each is to do personal work for himself, speaking in season and out of season and seeking the acquaintance of those not in the truth, since no one else can do it for him. That self-sacrificing service carries the gospel forward with economy rather than extravagant spending.

He gave all without reserve to do the Father's will, living self-denial from beginning to end and withholding no part of the price as a complete offering made fragrant by the incense of His righteousness. Therefore He will not accept half-hearted service but calls all who would follow to deny self and take up the cross and follow Him. Walking in that love is obeyed in home life, in the church, in business and in the neighborhood by not living for self but practicing self-denial and self-sacrifice for the good and happiness of others in entire devotion and benevolence. It restricts selfish extravagant wishes and desires in order to have more to give to the Lord, learning self-denial from the Lord of life and glory who died that they might live forever in His kingdom. His love abiding in the heart is diffusive rather than self-centered, seeks not her own, softens and subdues the rugged character, makes sacrifices acceptable as a sweet-smelling savor, and bears fruit in words, deportment, actions and daily family intercourse as the only sign to world, angels and men of vital connection with Christ and of following God as a dear child.

Receiving and Reflecting Christ

To receive Christ by faith is to answer His love by giving self to Him in return and expressing love to Him as truly as He has expressed love in dying and giving Himself to redeem from ruin. Hearts given to Him freely devote gifts, earthly possessions, mental and spiritual abilities, lives and influence to His service, yielding themselves to the Lord with undivided affections in appreciation of the great gift of suffering and surrendered life. All love and praise and exaltation belong to Him, and trust, light and strength are to be sought from Him rather than from finite man or the arm of flesh, making the seeking of His favor central with fresh zeal, using entrusted means for salvation, sending gifts with praise, and preaching the gospel.

His surrender to meet the necessities of the striving, struggling soul began a work that calls for surrender in return, and when that surrender is entire He can finish what He began in complete restoration. That complete response is to accept Christ as personal Saviour, to choose to be saved in God's appointed way, to acknowledge faith in present truth, to stand firmly and wholly on the Lord's side and reveal God's excellency, to hang the helpless soul on Jesus and lean the whole weight upon Him, giving self without one reservation and becoming free indeed from Satan's power, with no excuse found in another person's choice. His coming in shame and poverty to meet people where they are reveals the cost and self-denial of His love and calls believers to walk and work in self-denial and humility, living free from all worldliness and corruption, with the human voice precious when devoted to praising Him for self-giving love.

Contemplating His goodness, love and self-giving makes the Christian life fragrant and gives power to grow in Christian character, expressed in compassion and Christlike deeds toward sufferers and the needy. Dwelling on Him molds the character after the divine similitude, imprinting His image on the eye of the soul, pervading thoughts with His love, softening and subduing the whole nature, irradiating heart, soul and mind, and transforming the life to reflect the bright and cheerful beams of His righteousness to all around. As faith keeps His presence and work in view and beholds His character, believers reflect His image in daily life, aim at His excellence, labor together with Him in the same work He did on earth, and by larger and more distinct views of His preciousness, courtesy and glory are changed from glory to glory into partakers of His divine attributes, making others apprehend the Lord, King, Creator, Redeemer and Lamb who takes away sin by pleasant, gracious words of love.

Beholding His love transforms the hungering, thirsting, believing soul as the current of His love passes through in heavenly gratitude, making heavenly love a blessed, abiding presence. Christ and His grace abiding in the heart by faith make the believer a partaker of the divine nature escaped from corruption through lust, no longer blinded by the god of this world to manifest harshness and coldness, harsh speeches, evil thinking, or a selfish, unchristlike temper, but revealing Christlike attributes. Faith working by love purifies the soul, holds truth without compromise with steadfast principle, advances in knowledge of Jesus and reception of His love for God and neighbor so heaven's sunlight shines in daily life, cleansing the deepest recesses from all unlike Christ and filling the heart with attributes of His pure, holy, undefiled character, so the springs of the heart become as flowers fragrant with perfume, a sweet-smelling savor, a savor of life unto life.

His oblation of a life-gift for the world's salvation aims that those He saves become all He desires, His representatives expressing the fragrance of His character, His pure thoughts and divine attributes as manifested in His sanctified human life. Beholding Him in human form and comprehending God's wonderful design leads others to desire to be like Christ, pure, undefiled, wholly acceptable to God, without spot or wrinkle. His self-sacrifice, given without reserve to do the Father's will and reclaim the fallen race, brings salvation and grounds the special work of those joined to Him so He can work through them to bring sinners salvation.

His self-giving is the ground of peace and pardon, for Jesus alone cleanses from sin and gives peace, rest and quietude even when the future is unknown and circumstances change. He forgives and heals not because it is earned but from goodness and compassion for weakness, loving even while people are still sinners. That love is not partiality nor want of sympathy and affection, yet it does not welcome affection opposing God's mind and will, as when with feet already bending toward Calvary He severely rebuked Peter's human urging to spare Himself, because such love would turn aside God's purposes and block salvation.