So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. 3 Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is fitting among holy ones, 4 no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place, but instead, thanksgiving. 5 Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person, that is, an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Paul continues his exhortation to the Ephesians and in this passage, he emphasizes imitation of God, the rejection of immorality, and the consequences of such behavior.
Believers are called to reflect the divine image by living in a way that mirrors God's character. Since humanity is created in God's "image and likeness" (Gen. 1:27) and, through Christ, adopted as His children (cf. Eph. 1:5), they are invited to imitate God’s holiness, love, and mercy, empowered by grace. Christians are to “live in love,” following the example of Christ’s self-sacrificial love, most notably seen in his Passion and death on the cross. Paul’s reference to a “fragrant aroma” echoes Old Testament sacrificial language, where burnt offerings were described as "a pleasing aroma to the LORD" (cf. Lev. 1:1-17). This indicates that Christ’s sacrifice was both effective and pleasing to God. His love becomes the model for all human love, and believers are likewise called to offer their lives as spiritual sacrifices (cf. Rom. 12:1).
Paul contrasts behaviors such as immorality, impurity, and greed with the sacrificial love of Christ, which Christians are called to emulate. The Greek terms for these behaviors carry broad moral and ethical significance. "Immorality" (porneia) encompasses various sexual sins, while "impurity" (akatharsia) refers to moral corruption in general. "Greed" (pleonexia) denotes an insatiable desire for more, often linked to covetousness, as condemned in Exodus 20:17. Paul stresses that these vices should not even be spoken of among believers, who are consecrated to God and called to live in holiness.
Paul then prohibits sinful speech such as “obscenity or silly or suggestive talk.” These terms encompass a range of improper speech: "obscenity" refers to indecent or disgraceful language, "silly talk" involves frivolous or meaningless chatter, and "suggestive talk" implies speech intended to provoke improper thoughts, often linked to vulgar humor or innuendo. Paul labels such speech as "out of place" because it undermines the sanctity and integrity of Christian conversation, which should build others up rather than corrupt them (cf. Eph. 4:29). Christians are called to express gratitude to God, reflecting a life oriented toward Him rather than toward worldly desires.
Paul warns that those who engage in immorality, impurity, or greed have no share in the Kingdom of God. He identifies a greedy person as an idolater because greed elevates material wealth above God, making it a form of false worship. Persisting in such sinful behaviors excludes a person from the saving grace and blessings of the Kingdom, which are reserved for those who live in holiness.
Almighty God, help us to imitate Your love and holiness, as beloved children. Grant us the grace to walk in love, following Christ's example of self-sacrifice. Purify our hearts, that we may reject all immorality, impurity, and greed, and speak only words that glorify You. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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