Ephesians 5:18

Be not drunk with wine. Paul has been speaking of darkness and of the foolishness of unwise men, and there are few things more foolish than drunkenness. This evil is frequently condemned in Scripture (Prov. 20:1; Luke 21:34; 1 Cor. 5:11; Gal. 5:21; 1 Tim. 3:3). Paul is probably thinking of it not only as a gratification of appetite, but also as a social evil that glorifies wastefulness, emotional excitement at the expense of good sense, and reckless pursuit of pleasure. Anything that takes man’s reason from him means deterioration of soul and unfitness for the kingdom of God.

Excess. Gr. asotia, “debauchery,” “riot.” Compare the use of the word in Titus 1:6; 1 Peter 4:4; cf. Luke 15:13, where the adverb asotos appears. Debauchery, revelry, abandonment, excesses of every kind, follow indulgence in wine.

With the Spirit. Or, “in [your] spirit,” which may be considered as referring to the human spirit. The excitement of drunkenness is opposed by the joy and animation of the spirit. The seeking after an earthly stimulant is replaced by the spiritual enthusiasm of the human spirit energized by the Holy Spirit. Although it is true that soberness accompanies the work of the Holy Spirit, nevertheless, the effect of the presence of the Holy Spirit is seen in enthusiastic witnessing for the faith. On the day of Pentecost the demonstration of the Spirit in the words and acts of the disciples was scoffingly compared to drunkenness (Acts 2:13).