How does Ephesians 5:5 connect with the Ten Commandments on idolatry? Ephesians 5:5—The Core Warning “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person—that is, an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” The Commandment Roots of Idolatry • Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before Me.” • Exodus 20:4-5 – “You shall not make for yourself an idol… You shall not bow down to them or worship them.” • Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet… anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Two of the Ten Commandments directly confront idolatry: 1. The 1st and 2nd forbid worshiping anything but the LORD. 2. The 10th forbids coveting, the inner craving that sets up idols in the heart. Greed = Hidden Idolatry Ephesians 5:5 calls the “greedy person” an idolater. Scripture explains why: • Colossians 3:5 – “Greed… is idolatry.” • Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters… You cannot serve God and money.” Greed places material gain where God alone should reign. It isn’t just wanting more; it is worshiping more. Visible & Invisible Idols Alike • Idols of wood or stone violate Exodus 20:4-5. • Idols of the heart—lust, possessions, status—violate Exodus 20:17. Both forms dethrone God, so Paul unites them in one word: idolater. Why Idolatry Bars Inheritance • 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 echoes Ephesians 5:5: idolaters “will not inherit the kingdom of God.” • Idolatry rejects the King, so it forfeits the kingdom. • A heart mastered by anything but Christ shows it has not embraced Him as Lord. Walking Out the Commandments in Christ Ephesians 5 continues with positive commands: • “Walk as children of light” (v. 8). • “Find out what pleases the Lord” (v. 10). • “Be filled with the Spirit” (v. 18). By the Spirit’s power, believers: – Treasure God above all (1st & 2nd Commandments). – Crucify covetous urges (10th Commandment). – Display gratitude, generosity, and purity that reflect the kingdom they will inherit. |
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