The Epistle to the Ephesians Christ and the Church—Ephesians 5:28-30 J. Doan—Holly Hills—July 26, 2009 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives

The Epistle to the Ephesians

Christ and the Church—Ephesians 5:28-30

J. Doan—Holly Hills—July 26, 2009

28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;

The word “so” connects this verse with verse 25, where husbands are exhorted to love as Christ loved.Verses 25-33 show a parallel between Christ's love for the Church and a husband's love for his wife. In fact, they are the same love.

So . . . what? The NIV translates “so” as “in the same way.”What is the “way” Paul speaks of here?

The love Paul speaks of has four distinct aspects, or expressions.

HHBC--Ephesians 2009





Verses 26 and 27 describe this love as sanctifying.The analogy laid out here is more than just a pattern to follow.

We looked at the first two expressions last week.Verse 25 describes this love as sacrificial.

The only basis by which a husband can love his wife is the fact that Christ first loved the church.Throughout this discussion on marriage, Paul assumes both spouses are believers.






In God's eyes, the married couple is one unit.Just as in God's eyes, the church is one body—the body of Christ.

In verse 28, we see another expression of this love--caring.Is it natural for an individual to care for their body?

Paul's statement here is pregnant with meaning. In instructing husbands to love their wives as their own bodies, he reminds them that their wives are part of their own body.






-Non-Biblical Psychology Alert-Does a man have to “love” himself before he can love his wife?

This type of love is far more than a code by which to live.This type of love extends from an understanding of each person's position in Christ.

Paul's statement about men loving their own bodies is descriptive, not prescriptive






McCalley:Christ does not love the church as though it were His body; He loves the church because it is His body.

Again, this is not a code by which to live. This is a description of the love we have in Christ.

Husbands are to understand that he and his wife are united together in Christ.The last part of the verse indicates that to love your wife is to love yourself.






Wives were considered a piece of property. They were expected primarily to give the husband children.

For the times in which Paul wrote, husbands were not expected to love their wives.

As believers, we do not borrow marriage practices from the world.Any idea the world has of a strong marriage will fall far short of the Biblical idea.





29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also {does} the church,

The idea is that it is natural for a person to take care of their own body.

Paul expands on the analogy of verse 28, showing what it means to love your wife as your own body.

A husband's love for his wife will express itself in that he takes care of her.The provision extends far beyond material things.The word translated “nourish” is the same word used in 6:4.






The word translated “cherishes” means to take tender care of.

Husbands are to care for the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs or their wives.

Peter reminds husbands that wives are the “weaker,” or “more vulnerable” person.Christ is extremely gracious and tender in His complete care of the church. So ought husbands to be to their wives.Notice that in this caring, husbands do far more than just giving their wives bacon.






A strong desire of many women is to feel safe and secure.

Embedded in the idea of caring is that of providing security.

Notice the sequence. A husband first must demonstrate sacrificial love for his wife. She needs to constantly see that he loves her selflessly and deeply.Once that sacrificial love is established, the husband is to see that his wife growing in her knowledge of the Word.After having sacrificed and sanctified his wife, the husband is to see that he cares for her in every area of life.






This is another wonderful positional truth. Christ's care for the church is totally unconditional.

Paul reminds us here of Christ tender care for the church.

An “orthodox” variant on the prosperity gospel teaches that the more we are faithful to Christ (and the church) the more God will materially bless us.The nourishment and tender care of Christ for the church is regardless of our condition.Paul gives the reason for this care in the next verse.





30 because we are members of His body.

Some manuscripts add to this verse the phrase: Out his flesh and out of his bones.

As McCalley noted, Christ cares for us because we are His body.

The emphasis in this verse in on the fact that Christ is intimately concerned with our well-being.This same tender care, and the basis for this tender care, will be reflected in the husband's care for his wife.

Documents

The Epistle to the Ephesians Christ and the Church—Ephesians 5:28-30 J. Doan—Holly Hills—July 26, 2009 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives