For the fruit of the Spirit - Instead of Spirit, Πνευματος, ABD*EFG, the Syriac, Coptic, Sahidic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Vulgate, and Itala, together with several of the fathers, read φωτος, light, which is supposed by most critics to be the true reading, because there is no mention made of the Spirit in any part of the context. As light, Ephesians 5:8, not only means the Divine influence upon the soul, but also the Gospel, with great propriety it may be said: The fruit of the light, i.e. of the Gospel, is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth. Goodness, αγαθωσυνῃ, in the principle and disposition; righteousness, δικαιοσυνη, the exercise of that goodness in the whole conduct of life; truth, αληθεια, the director of that principle, and its exercise, to the glorification of God and the good of mankind.

the fruit. See on

Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith...

goodness.

Psalm 16:2,3 O my soul, you have said to the LORD, You are my Lord: my goodness extends not to you...

Romans 2:4 Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering...

Romans 15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brothers, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge...

1 Peter 2:25 For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

3 John 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that does good is of God: but he that does evil has not seen God.

righteousness.

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Hebrews 1:8 But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Hebrews 11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live to righteousness...

1 John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

1 John 3:9,10 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God...

truth.

Ephesians 4:15,25 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ...

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Third Sunday in Lent
Text: Ephesians 5, 1-9. 1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Paul's Reasons for Temperance
'And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16. Redeeming the time, because the days …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Redeeming the Time
'See, then, that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.'--Eph. v. 15, 16. Some of us have, in all probability, very little more 'time' to 'redeem.' Some of us have, in all probability, the prospect of many years yet to live. For both classes my text presents the best motto for another year. The most frivolous among us, I suppose, have some thoughts when we step across the conventional boundary that seems to separate the unbroken sequence …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John