“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
My Notes
What Does Ephesians 5:2 Mean?
Paul commands believers to walk in love — not as an abstract principle but modeled on a specific example: as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. The standard is Christ's sacrifice, and the nature of that sacrifice is described as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
The phrase "walk in love" means to live your entire life — every step, every decision — with love as the operating principle. Walking implies continuous, daily motion. Love is not an occasional act. It is a way of moving through the world.
"Gave himself for us" makes the love concrete. Christ's love was not sentiment. It was self-donation. He gave himself — his body, his life, his everything.
"A sweetsmelling savour" echoes Old Testament sacrificial language. The aroma of a burnt offering rising to God and pleasing him. Christ's sacrifice was not just effective for sinners. It was beautiful to God.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it practically mean to 'walk in love' — to make love the basis of every step?
- 2.How does Christ's sacrifice being described as a 'sweetsmelling savour' change your view of the cross?
- 3.Where is love costing you something right now — and how does that reflect Christ's example?
- 4.What would your daily life look like if you genuinely used Christ's love as the standard?
Devotional
Walk in love. Not stand in love. Not sit in love. Walk. Move through your life with love as the foundation of every step.
As Christ also hath loved us. The standard is not human love at its best. It is Christ's love — the kind that gives itself away completely, expecting nothing in return. That is the measuring stick Paul holds up.
An offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Christ's death was not just a transaction for your sins. It was an offering that pleased God. There was beauty in the sacrifice — something that rose to heaven and smelled sweet.
That means your love — when it genuinely mirrors Christ's — carries the same fragrance. When you give yourself for someone else, when love costs you something real, when you sacrifice not for applause but for the person in front of you — that offering rises to God. And it is sweet to him.
What would your life smell like to God today? Is there a fragrance of self-giving love? Or something else?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And walk in love,.... To God; to which the saints are obliged, not only by the law of God, which requires it, but by the…
And walk in love - That is, let your lives be characterized by love; let that be evinced in all your deportment and…
And walk in love - Let every act of life be dictated by love to God and man.
As Christ - hath loved us - Laying down…
Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the…
walk On the metaphor, see above on Eph 2:2. It is just in the stepsof actual life that Divine grace is to shew itself,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture