Ephesians 5:3-7
God's holy people must not partner with the impurity, greed, speech, and deception that belong outside Christ's kingdom.
3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;
4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.
5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.
7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.
God's holy people must not partner with the impurity, greed, speech, and deception that belong outside Christ's kingdom.
Paul warns the church that those who walk in Christ's love must reject sexual immorality, impurity, greed, filthy speech, foolish talk, coarse joking, and deceptive teaching, because such practices are improper for God's holy people and incompatible with inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Ephesians 5:3-7 follows immediately after 5:1-2, where Paul commanded believers to imitate God as dearly loved children and walk in love as Christ loved them and gave Himself up as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Verses 3-7 now clarify what the walk of love is not. Love is not sexual immorality, impurity, greed, obscene speech, foolish talk, or coarse joking. This passage also develops the old-self/new-self contrast from 4:17-24 and the speech ethics from 4:25-32. It prepares for 5:8-14, where Paul will describe believers as light in the Lord and command them to expose the fruitless works of darkness. It also anticipates 5:15-21, where wise walking and Spirit-filled worship replace foolishness and corruption.
Ephesians 5:3-7 addresses believers living in a Gentile urban environment where sexual immorality, impurity, greed, coarse speech, and idolatrous desire could be socially normalized and even religiously tolerated. In Ephesus, with its temple culture, commerce, public entertainment, household structures, and social networks, the call to avoid even the appearance of these sins as characteristic of the church would create sharp moral distinction. Paul does not treat these sins as merely private failings. They threaten the holiness of God's people, distort love, grieve the Spirit, contradict kingdom inheritance, and belong to the disobedient life under God's wrath. Thanksgiving, not corrupt joking or greedy desire, must mark the speech and worship of the redeemed community.
Walking in Love, Light, Wisdom, and Spirit-Filled Order
Because believers are loved by God, made light in the Lord, and filled by the Spirit, they must walk in love, holiness, wisdom, worship, and Christ-shaped household faithfulness.