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Ephesians 5 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
For this reason, it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
I’ve researched this phrase, and it must have been familiar to those he was writing to. Some think it came from Isaiah. Many others think it may have been from the writings of Jeremiah. Still, others believe it was taken from a song or hymn that would have been familiar to those people during that time.
I tend to agree with the latter. It seems it was a familiar chorus that would have been sung during a baptism. You can picture the symbolism here of the person coming out of the water. Awake sleeper and rise! However, the real point is, there is a stark contrast between the person who is asleep and the person who is awake. Remember, Paul is writing to Christians in the church!
Sleeping = Ignorant, Indifferent, Comfortable, Silent, Isolated, & Selfish
This is the condition of one who knows the truth but chooses to go to sleep instead of take up his or her spiritual armor and join the battle. Can a solider fight on the battlefield when his eyes and ears are closed? Of course, we know, the longer you sleep, the more soundly you sleep, and the better it feels!
“In His hands you lie and sleep, and if He but turn them you slide to rise no more.”
E. D. Griffin
“The man who is asleep does not care what becomes of his neighbors; how can he while he is asleep? And oh! Some of you Christians do not care whether souls are saved or damned. It is enough for them if they are comfortable. If they can attend a respectable place of worship and go with others to heaven, they are indifferent about everything else.”
Charles Spurgeon
Paul is urging the church to WAKE UP! What’s the greatest prayer for a drowsy person based on Paul’s writings?
always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Ephesians 5:20 NASB
No matter what we are dealing with, a Spirit-filled life is marked by thankfulness (joy) in all situations. We have been gifted with the ultimate weapon against anything that would come our way. We are saved by grace through faith. It’s a dose of fresh awakening from the Gospel. Giving thanks for what Jesus has done is a powerful force that brings clarity and sobriety.