Making Melody in your heart; Ephesians 5:19

Thayer Definition delineates the Greek (psallo^G5567) from a historical development-gw*:
1) to pluck off, pull out [my comment: Nothing to do with music];
2) to cause to vibrate by touching, to twang [nothing to do with music];
2a) to touch or strike the chord, to twang the strings of a musical instrument so that they gently vibrate [playing strings];
2b) to play on a stringed instrument, to play, the harp, etc. [musical instrument only];
2c) to sing to the music of the harp [to sing and play with an instrument]; [wiktionary.org/wiki/psallo specifies: "to play, or sing to, a named instrument[sic] (such as the cithara or other instrument)"].

*2d) in the NT to sing a hymn, to celebrate the praises of God in song

It is interesting that those that would add their choices of what music to use in service to the God of the Bible God often quote Ephesians 5:19 which passage clearly rebuts their doctrine. Remember when Jesus criticized the Pharisees for adding to God’s commands: “It is useless for you to worship me, when you teach rules made up by humans" (Matthew 15:9, CEV).ⁱ The Bible warns “that in us ye might learn not to go*ⁱⁱ beyond the things which are written” (1 Corinthians 4:6, ASV).

Context: Being Acceptable to God. Ephesians 5’s context is dealing with this subject; i.e., “Proving what is acceptable to God.” “Walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Provingⁱⁱⁱ what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8b-10). For if we “walk in the light” that Jesus is in, John tells us His blood will cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Please notice the clarity in which Ephesians 5:17-21 speaks of the acceptable music to the Lord.

1. These instructions are communicated to us grammatically in the imperative mood. That means that these instructions are required of us. They are commands. They are not negotiable. They are God’s commands delivered to us from the Holy Spirit through one of the Lord’s apostles. They please the Father. Earlier, in the epistle (2:8), the apostle asserted that we obtain God’s favor through this faith.^iv

3. We are commanded to understand God’s will (Thayer: “will, choice, desire, pleasure”, etc.). Surely our purpose must be to please God and not our own fleshly pleasures.

4. We are commanded not to let the carnal pleasure of intoxication rule us (passive imperative). Filling our bodies with intoxication is carnality (compare with 1 Corinthians 3:3). By the way, this passage condemns any social drinking.

5. The grammar has verb participles in verses 19 to 21 modifying the verb “filled” (in spirit). We are commanded to let ourselves be filled with four or five actions (passive imperative). Compare this to the command to let ourselves be baptized which in Acts 2:38 is also passive imperative.

1st. Utter, literally voice with our mouths psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to the plural, yourselves; "speak" in Greek means “with the mouth” and not play.

2^nd & 3rd. We are to sing and "make melody" to the Lord with (or in) our hearts ("a primary preposition denoting [by implication] instrumentality "; i.e., the "how" means of the "making the melody" ^vi ). It must be by making music in our minds and this requirement (our "singing" (praise) and "playing" melody) is to be directed to God; it is personal between one and His God; hence, in the heart (mind). Compare this "singing" with Colossians 3:16 which specifies "to the Lord."

4th. We are to give thanks “always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”^vii

6. We are commanded to use our mouths to utter psalms, hymns, and spiritual odes. One of Thayer's definitions is "to use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts." Whatever these words mean requires our mouths. Would not anything else be adding to God’s acceptable Will?

7. If the verb psallo is to use accompaniment with the singing voice then the "instrument" is specified in the dative case. We have two prepositions in the dative case here. One is the target of the music and the other is the instrument to accompany the singing. But it is not a harp or piano. The "will of God" and the "Holy Spirit" specify in this context. We are commanded to sing and play the melody (strum) in/with our hearts (Strong: the thoughts or feelings (mind)). Figuratively, the “strings” of our hearts. The Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) translation has "sing to the Lord and make music in your heart to him."

8. We are to be constant in giving of thanks to God, the Father. The word for “thanks” in Greek is “good grace, favor.” If you have received God’s grace, express your grace of gratitude to Him.

9. We are to submit to one another in the fear of God. The text will continue listing specific relationships in mind. Harmony is acquired by submission to speaking the same things (1 Corinthians 1:10).

This is an important passage concerning our community worship and service to our God, the Father, and to the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is communicated by the Holy Spirit to whom we should respectfully be grateful.

iThe Pharisees are mislabeled as “legalists” pertaining to the Law. What Jesus condemned them for was their following the additions their “elders” had made to the Law. Jesus told the people to obey them when they spoke from Moses (in his seat) but not to follow their commandments which had actually nullified Moses.

ii “GO”; “think” (KJV). Strong’s: “to interest oneself in (with concern or obedience)”.

iii “Proving”; Strong’s: “to test (literally or figuratively)”. Thayer’s: “to recognise as genuine after examination.”

iv “For by grace are ye saved through [Greek: the] faith; and that not of yourselves” (Ephesians 2:8).

vIn English participles can be components of multipart verbs, or they can function as adjectives or nouns. In Greek they

can be adverbial and modify verbs.

vi Thayer's Greek Definitions (for Strong's G1722) "a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively)." Hence, the heart is the "instrument" of making the melody. Just using one's mouth is not enough to please our God.

vii “Giving thanks”: (Strong’s) “to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards); specifically to say grace at a meal” The word “thanks” is a nuance of grace. It’s what I call the golden circle.

#1: "MISINTERPRETING EPHESIANS 5:19"