“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”
My Notes
What Does Ephesians 5:26 Mean?
Paul describes Christ's purpose for the church: to sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. The church is being purified — washed, sanctified, made ready — through the word of God.
The imagery is bridal: Christ is preparing the church for presentation (v.27) — holy, without blemish. The washing is the preparation. The water is the word. The goal is a spotless bride.
"The washing of water by the word" connects Scripture to purification. The word of God has cleansing power. When you engage with Scripture, it washes you — removing impurity, clarifying confusion, purifying motive.
The sanctification is Christ's initiative: that he might sanctify. The cleaning is not self-improvement. It is Christ's work on the church through his word. He does the washing. The word is the water. You are the bride being prepared.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does the word of God function as 'water' that washes and purifies?
- 2.What is the difference between reading the word for information and being washed by it?
- 3.How does the bridal imagery describe the intimacy of Christ's relationship with the church?
- 4.Where do you need deeper engagement with Scripture to allow its cleansing work?
Devotional
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. Christ is washing the church. Not with literal water. With the word. Scripture is the cleansing agent. The word of God purifies what it touches.
The washing of water by the word. The word operates like water — cleaning, refreshing, removing contamination. When you read Scripture, hear it preached, meditate on it — you are being washed. The impurities of the world are rinsed away by the truth of God.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church (v.27). The washing has a destination: presentation. Christ is preparing a bride — and the preparation involves purification through the word. The goal is a church that is holy and without blemish.
The sanctification is Christ's initiative, not yours. He does the washing. He applies the word. He prepares the bride. Your role is to submit to the process — to let the word do its cleansing work rather than resisting it.
How regularly is the word washing you? Not how often do you read it — how deeply is it cleaning? The word that only informs does not wash. The word that penetrates, convicts, and transforms — that is the water that sanctifies.
Christ is preparing you. The word is the water. And the goal is presentation — a bride without spot, without wrinkle, holy and without blemish. Let the washing continue.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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sanctify and cleanseit] Better, again, her. And the pronoun is slightly emphatic by position; as if to say, "It was in…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture