Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 5:25-33”
Categories: Ephesians“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.”
--- End of Scripture verses---
Christ “gave Himself up” for His bride, the church (verse 25). God expects husbands to follow the example of Jesus and to sacrifice themselves for their wives. Jesus always put the needs and wellbeing of His beloved before His own self. He often sacrificed food and sleep in order to serve His future bride, and ultimately gave up His own life in order to save and “sanctify her” (verse 26). Marriage is not always easy. It takes a lot of love, patience and hard work. If we as husbands make the effort to follow in the example of our Savior, that is the kind of “headship” that our wives can willingly and lovingly submit to.
Husbands are to “love their own wives as their own bodies” (verse 28). Unfortunately many people treat their bodies poorly and even subject them to some forms of physical abuse. But, ideally, I think most of us would prefer to pamper and protect and nourish our bodies so that they can be rested, safe, healthy and sound. We should love our wives and treat them tenderly and kindly so that they can flourish and prosper in a rough, harsh, unforgiving world. When we consider the fact that the Lord binds a husband and wife together in the union of “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24), it is not difficult to understand that when a husband loves his wife he actually “loves himself” and loves his own body!
It is sad to have to point this out, but it is significant to notice that a husband is to love “his own” wife (verse 28)! There is no excuse for a husband to be unfaithful to his wife! Ever! Period! End of story! It doesn’t matter how “unloved” he may feel, or how “unattractive” he may find her to be! The marriage bonds are forged by God between 1 man and 1 woman 4 life! “And He answered and said, 'Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, "FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH"? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.'” (Matthew 19:4-6)
SACRIFICE gentlemen!
Finally a friendly public service announcement for the wives: few things are more important to a man in a marriage than that he feel respected by his wife. What Paul said at the end of verse 33 was not an incidental comment. It was very purposeful, impactful and meaningful. Ladies if you do not show your husband respect it will make his job as leader, provider and protector much more difficult than it has to be. If you like to poke fun at your husband by “jokingly” mocking him and ridiculing him in the presence of other people, he may be a good sport and laugh and play along with you, but I can assure you that he doesn’t like it! And private respect is just as important to him as public respect, and maybe even more so. If the things that he does for you and has to say to you are insignificant to you, he doesn’t feel respected or loved. Respect and love are inseparable!
Please read Ephesians 6:1-4 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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