Speech (19-20): What are Spirit-filled people[1] like? Paul fleshes this out beginning with the Spirit’s impact on our speech.[2] Spirit-filled people edify others with their words, leveraging the lyrical/verbal tools available to them.[3] What’s more, there is music in their heart! They sing and make melody to the Lord, not merely with lip service, but with the heart. Lastly, they have a well-spring of continual (“always”) and comprehensive (“for all”) thanksgiving to God the Father. As children of the sovereign God who orchestrates all things, we are secure in His great love.[4] The Spirit’s filling deeply impacts our speech.

Submission (21): Spirit-filled people also order themselves under authority figures God has placed over them. Whether it is the government, church leadership, or household relationships,[5] the Spirit conforms them to Christ[6] and enables a willing submission. God Himself established these hierarchies and, therefore, those who truly understand the will of God (by the Spirit’s work!) embrace their God-given role in all such relationships. Speech and submission give us a yard stick for the Spirit-filled life. We ask ourselves, “Am I Spirit-filled?” If yes, thank God for His strength and grace. If not, confess it (it’s a command), yield to the Spirit and give Him your attention.

[1] Being Spirit-filled refers to the Spirit filling the believer with the knowledge of God’s will (cf. exposition & diagram of 5:15-18). This is distinct from His sealing (1:13) and indwelling (Rom. 8:9, 11) at conversion. And His filling impacts not only our individual lives but our relationship with God and one another.

[2] This is the first of four participial clauses that give a description of the Spirit-filled living that Paul mentions in 5:18. The first three descriptions have to do with our speech, and the last one with submission to authority.

[3] Paul points out the three forms of Christian lyrics known to the Ephesians: psalms, hymns & spiritual songs.

[4] This type of thanksgiving is also mandated (1 Thes. 5:18; cf. also Eph. 5:4). The New Testament basis for this is God’s sovereignty in redemption and His love demonstrated in Christ (Rom. 5:3-5; 8:28-29, 32-39).

[5] This last area is what Paul addresses henceforth: marriage (5:22), family (6:1), and household slaves (6:5). Rom. 13:1-4 speaks of submission to government and Heb. 13:17 speaks of submission to church leadership.

[6] Christ submitted Himself to authority figures above Him (Luke 2:51; Matt. 22:21; 1 Cor. 15:24, 28).