What is the meaning of Ephesians 5:18? Do not get drunk on wine “Do not get drunk on wine” (Ephesians 5:18) is a clear prohibition, not a suggestion. Throughout Scripture the Lord repeatedly warns that intoxication clouds judgment and opens the door to sin. Proverbs 20:1 calls wine “a mocker” and strong drink “a brawler,” while Romans 13:13 urges believers to “behave decently… not in carousing and drunkenness.” God is not condemning the beverage itself; Jesus turned water into wine in John 2:1-11. The issue is losing control. Why the command matters: • Drunkenness places another substance in control, rather than the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:12). • It damages the witness of believers (1 Thessalonians 5:6-8). • It breaks fellowship with God, because “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). Practical application: keep alcohol, if used at all, within the boundaries of self-control, or choose total abstinence as many believers do (Daniel 1:8). which leads to reckless indiscretion The verse continues, “which leads to reckless indiscretion.” The Greek term pictures wastefulness, echoed by the prodigal son who “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Luke 15:13). When the mind is impaired, moral restraints loosen. Proverbs 23:29-33 describes how alcohol breeds sorrow, strife, and distorted perception. Hosea 4:11 adds, “Harlotry, wine, and new wine take away understanding.” Notice the progression: 1. Intoxication. 2. Loss of self-control. 3. Foolish, often immoral decisions. 4. Regret and destruction (1 Peter 4:3-4). The command protects believers from that downward slide. Instead, be filled with the Spirit The Holy Spirit offers a better influence: continual fullness rather than temporary escape. Acts 4:31 shows believers refilled and emboldened after prayer. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” What “filled” looks like: • Ongoing surrender, not a one-time event (Colossians 3:16 parallels by urging the Word to dwell richly). • Evident fruit—love, joy, peace, and the rest of Galatians 5:22-23. • Overflow in worship, gratitude, and mutual submission, the very behaviors Paul lists next in Ephesians 5:19-21. How to pursue it: • Daily confession and obedience (1 John 1:9). • Saturate the mind with Scripture (Psalm 119:11). • Pray continually, asking for the Spirit’s control (Luke 11:13). • Fellowship with Spirit-filled believers who spur one another on (Hebrews 10:24-25). summary Ephesians 5:18 contrasts two controlling forces. Drunkenness hands the reins to a substance that drags a person into reckless, wasted living. Being filled with the Spirit places life under God’s perfect leadership, producing holiness, joy, and fruitful service. The choice is clear: reject anything that dulls spiritual senses and actively seek the Spirit’s continual fullness every day. |
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