Ephesians 5:21-33
Verse 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
There would be no wives if there were no husbands. Though not a husband himself, Paul had been given insight through the Holy Spirit about the role. This isn’t the first time marriage had been used as an illustration of Christ and the Church. It is such a beautiful picture of the relationship between Christ and the Church, His sacrifice and love, the bride’s respect and submission. But do we actually live that way as the Church?
In this passage husbands are instructed to love their wives as Christ loved the Church. Our society likes to tell us that leaders get to focus on themselves and their wants but Christ lived out leadership in a very different way. Instead of trying to find people whom He could use to put His plan in action He did the hard parts Himself. It wasn’t just His sacrifice on the cross which is being referred to, Jesus suffered so much more than that for us.
When Jesus came to earth to be our Savior, He left His throne and glory behind. While roaming the land He had created, He left His status to be all we needed Him to be. This is the kind of love Paul is telling husbands they need to have for their wives. It isn’t about dying for them, even though the love could lead to that given the need, but it is about seeking to give them what they need.
Paul explained what wives need this love to look like. It is above the romantic love the world would like us to think makes a marriage, this love is working at revealing the truth of the Gospel to her. A husband is to love his wife so much he wants her to be washed in the truth of the Word enabling her to be presented to the Lord as blemish free. He isn’t the one saving her but he is making sure every effort is being made to help her grow to be more like Christ.
This is the love Christ has for His Bride. He isn’t about loving us in the sense of just wanting us to be happy, giving us anything and everything we want. But He is about giving us everything we need to grow more like Him. This love is about caring and feeding, loving and leading. Christ did it perfectly and He has called godly men to love their wives as He has loved the Church.
Making It Personal
Have you been more interested in God’s plans and leading or your own? How do you respond to His love? Is His love and care worth your submission?
Making It Personal Kids
What does it mean to you that Jesus loves you? How does He care for you? Do you know how He leads You to be more like Him?
Closing Prayer
Father, thank You for providing godly men to be leaders. Help us desire Your leadership in every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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