Ephesians 5:5-6
For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul doesn't just list sins; he equates covetousness directly with idolatry, highlighting that our deepest desires reveal who we truly worship. This connection makes it clear that having your heart set on possessions, rather than God, disqualifies you from His kingdom, not just as a rule, but because you're fundamentally serving a different master.
Paul is contrasting the impure behaviors he just condemned with the holy walk he's calling believers to. He's emphasizing that genuine faith means turning away from sexual immorality and greed, which he equates to idolatry, because these sins actively exclude one from God's kingdom. Therefore, he warns that those who persist in such actions cannot expect to share in the eternal inheritance promised to Christ's followers.
Paul doesn't mince words here. He lists serious sins and then declares a stark consequence: no inheritance in God's kingdom. What makes these sins so serious that they carry this ultimate penalty?
Paul is reminding the Ephesians (and us!) that the kingdom of Christ and God isn't a free-for-all. It's a realm of holiness, and certain behaviors are fundamentally incompatible with its nature.
The Certainty of the Statement
Paul begins with "For you may be sure of this" (or "you know this"). This isn't a suggestion or a maybe. It's a declaration of fact grounded in God's character and the nature of His reign. These aren't suggestions for a better life; they are warnings about ultimate exclusion.
What Excludes?
Paul specifically names:
Paul equates covetousness with idolatry. This might seem surprising – how can wanting something be the same as worshipping a false god?
The connection Paul draws between covetousness and idolatry is profound and deeply revealing about the human heart.
The Core of Idolatry
Idolatry, at its root, is worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator. It's placing ultimate value, trust, and devotion in something other than God.
Understand the original words
eidōlolatrēs · Greek Noun
A state of being in which one worships or serves a created thing or concept rather than the Creator; it is the ultimate rebellion against the first commandment.
klēronomian · Greek Noun
The legal right or promise of receiving a share in the eternal blessings, blessings, and future glory associated with the rule and reign of God.
basileia · Greek Noun
The spiritual and future dominion where God is recognized as King; it refers both to the present reality of His rule in the hearts of believers and the future manifestation of His sovereignty over all creation.
apataō · Greek Verb
The act of leading someone away from truth through false teaching, persuasion, or trickery. In a biblical context, it often refers to being enticed away from the faith by unsound doctrine.
This passage directly parallels Ephesians 5:5 by listing various sins, including sexual immorality and greed, and stating that those who practice them 'will not inherit the kingdom of God.'
Galatians 5:19-21Similar to Ephesians 5:5, this passage explicitly lists 'sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, [and] greed' as works of the flesh, warning that 'those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.'
Colossians 3:5-6This passage functions as a strong conceptual parallel, directly equating covetousness with idolatry and stating that 'God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.'
Matthew 6:24This verse provides the theological underpinning for calling covetousness idolatry, as Jesus states that one cannot serve both God and money, highlighting the exclusive devotion required for true worship.
Revelation 21:7-8This passage describes the ultimate destiny of those who are cowardly, faithless, detestable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and liars, explicitly stating they will have their portion in the lake of fire, which is the second death.
barnesEphesians 5:5: "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
For this ye know - Be assured of this. The object here is to deter from indulgence in those vices by the solemn assurance that no one who committed them could possibly be saved. Nor unclean person - No one of corrupt and licentious life can be saved; see Revelation 22:15. Nor covetous man, who is an idolater - That is, he bes…
vincentEphesians 5:5: "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."
Ye know (ἴστε γινώσκοντες)The A.V. fails to give the whole force of the expression, which is, ye know recognizing. Rev., ye know of a surety.IdolaterCompare Colossians 3:5, and see on 1 Corinthians 5:10.
Paul doesn't just list sins; he equates covetousness directly with idolatry, highlighting that our deepest desires reveal who we truly worship. This connection makes it clear that having your heart set on possessions, rather than God, disqualifies you from His kingdom, not just as a rule, but because you're fundamentally serving a different master.
Paul is contrasting the impure behaviors he just condemned with the holy walk he's calling believers to. He's emphasizing that genuine faith means turning away from sexual immorality and greed, which he equates to idolatry, because these sins actively exclude one from God's kingdom. Therefore, he warns that those who persist in such actions cannot expect to share in the eternal inheritance promised to Christ's followers.
Paul is contrasting the impure behaviors he just condemned with the holy walk he's calling believers to. He's emphasizing that genuine faith means turning away from sexual immorality and greed, which he equates to idolatry, because these sins actively exclude one from God's kingdom. Therefore, he warns that those who persist in such actions cannot expect to share in the eternal inheritance promised to Christ's followers.
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Why Covetousness is Idolatry
Paul emphasizes this link to strongly deter believers from these sins, highlighting that the desire for earthly things can become a complete turning away from the true God.
kenois logois · Greek Adjective/Noun Phrase
Words lacking spiritual substance, truth, or divine authority. It refers to hollow philosophies or arguments that fail to honor God.
orgē · Greek Noun
The settled, righteous indignation and judicial judgment of God against sin. It is the manifestation of God’s holiness in reaction to rebellion and wickedness.
huious tēs apeitheias · Greek Noun Phrase
A Hebraism referring to people characterized by, living in, and defined by their habitual rebellion and disobedience against God’s revealed will.
"For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these thi…" — Paul doesn't just list sins; he equates covetousness directly with idolatry, highlighting that our deepest desires reveal who we truly worship. This connection makes it clear that having your heart s…
