Put On the New Self (Ephesians 4:17–32)
1 UST To return{ to what I said before}, it is as if God brought you back to life{ because he included you} when he brought the Messiah back to life.{ Because of this,} I want you to stay focused on what is in heaven, since the Messiah is there. He sits next to God the Father on the throne{ and rules everything}. BSB BSB: Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
2 UST I want you to desire what{ God has ready for you} in heaven, not what{ you could have here} on earth. BSB BSB: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 UST { You should think this way} because it is as if you have died. You are spiritually alive only because God has united you to the Messiah in close relationship with himself, and this cannot be seen{ on earth right now}. BSB BSB: For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 UST You are alive because God has united you to the Messiah.{ Therefore,} when{ he returns again to earth and} everyone sees him, at that time you will be with him. Then, everyone will see that you too have become glorious{ beings like him}. BSB BSB: When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 UST Because{ this is your destiny}, think of the desires you have to do evil things in this world as enemies that you must kill.{ The evil things that you might desire include} having improper sex, doing impure things, enjoying wrong emotions, desiring evil things, and wanting more than you need, which is the same as worshiping another god. BSB BSB: Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
6 UST Because people have these desires, God is angry with them and will punish them. BSB BSB: Because of these, the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7 UST You, just like them, used to have these desires to do evil things.{ That was} when you acted out these desires. BSB BSB: When you lived among them, you also used to walk in these ways.
8 UST But now{ that you have believed}, you must stop behaving in all evil ways.{ These evil ways include} acting in angry ways, being angry with others, desiring to hurt others, talking bad about others, and speaking shameful words. BSB BSB: But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 UST You must not tell lies to one another. You are not the person you used to be, a person who normally behaved in these evil ways. BSB BSB: Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
10 UST You are a new person now,{ a person} in whom God is working to make you know him more.{ You are now a person} who is like God, who turned you into this new person. BSB BSB: and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 UST Since{ you are all new people},{ it is not important} whether anyone is a non- Jew or a Jew, or whether anyone is circumcised or not, or whether anyone is a foreigner or an uncivilized person, or whether anyone is a slave or not. Instead, it is the Messiah who is most important, and God has united him to all{ of you}. BSB BSB: Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all. 12 UST God has chosen you, he has set you apart as his own people, and he loves you. Because of these things and because{ you are new people}, you must always behave properly{ towards others}.{ This includes} caring about them, being kind to them, not being proud, not behaving harshly, and taking a long time to become angry. BSB BSB: Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 UST You must not easily become irritated with one another. When you blame other people for the things they have done, you must forgive them. You should imitate how the Lord forgave you by{ forgiving one another}. BSB BSB: Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 UST Finally,{ what is} more important than everything{ I have said} so far is that you love one another. By doing this you will unite yourselves together, just as God has called you to do. BSB BSB: And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity.
15 UST You must make the peace which the Messiah has given you a primary factor when you choose what to do.{ You must do this} because God has chosen you to have peace as he unites you closely together, as closely as if you were one person’ s body. Also, you must give thanks to God. BSB BSB: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, for to this you were called as members of one body. And be thankful.
16 UST You must focus completely on the message about the Messiah as you think and act. You must teach and instruct one another very wisely using songs from the Scriptures, songs about Jesus, and songs that the Holy Spirit has given to you. You must thankfully and sincerely sing to God. BSB BSB: Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
17 UST Whenever you say or do anything,{ you should behave} in every situation{ as people who} represent the Lord Jesus. Also, you should thank God,{ who is our} Father.{ You can do this only} because of{ the work of} the Messiah. BSB BSB: And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Christian Households (Ephesians 6:1–4)
18 UST Wives must treat their husbands as the leaders{ in their families}, since this is appropriate behavior for those whom God has united to the Lord. BSB BSB: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 UST Husbands must love their wives and not treat them harshly. BSB BSB: Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
20 UST Children must obey their parents in every circumstance. This pleases God{ and is appropriate} for those whom God has united to the Lord. BSB BSB: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.
21 UST Fathers must not make their children angry. Otherwise, the children may feel like giving up. BSB BSB: Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
Serving with Honor (Ephesians 6:5–9; 1 Timothy 6:1–2)
22 UST Slaves must obey those who are their masters in this world in every circumstance.{ They should obey} not just when their masters are watching, which is how those who want to please only humans behave. Instead,{ they should obey their masters} sincerely because they treat the Lord with reverence. BSB BSB: Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.
23 UST You must do whatever work you have to do diligently, as if{ you were working} for the Lord instead of for merely human masters. BSB BSB: Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men,
24 UST { You must obey and serve in this way} because you know that the Lord will justly repay you by giving you what he has kept for you.{ Remember that} the Lord Messiah is{ the real master} for whom you are working. BSB BSB: because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
25 UST { You must remember who the real master is} because God will punish anyone who does wrong in proportion to those wrong actions.{ This is because} God does not judge people based on how they look or who they are but on what they have done. BSB BSB: Whoever does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.