The Husband and the Wife: Their Roles and Relationship

1. Ephesians 5:22-33 The Husband and the Wife:Their Roles and Relationship

2. Ephesians 5:22-33 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.

3. Ephesians 5:22-33 (cont.) 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

4. Christ - The Head “as also Christ is head of the church” • Jesus is the source of authority for the church • He is head by virtue of His perfection, His resurrection, and His deity • The church is subject to Him

5. The Husband - Head of the Wife “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife” • Husband is source of authority for the home (Eph. 5:23) (1 Cor. 11:3) (Gen. 2:18) • Wife to be subject in all things (Eph. 5:24) (Col. 3:18) (Tit. 2:4-5) • “in the Lord”, “as to the Lord” (Col. 3:18) (Eph. 5:22) (1 Pet. 3:1-2)

6. Christ - The Savior “and He is the Savior of the body” • Jesus is the picture of sacrificial love • His grace has given us another chance • Compels the church to look to Him and follow

7. The Husband’s Sacrificial Love “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” • Sacrifices his will to the needs of his wife (Eph. 5:21) (1 Cor. 7:32-33) • Forgiving, kind, patient (1 Cor. 13:4-7) (Col. 3:19) • This type of leadership easier to submit to (1 Pet. 3:7)

8. Christ - The Guardian “that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, …holy and without blemish” • Jesus is the overseer of our souls • He desires our return if we go astray

9. The Husband’s Charge “Husbands, love your wives…that she should be holy and without blemish.” • Held accountable for treatment of wives (1 Pet. 3:7) (James 3:1) (Mt. 18:6-7) • Must lead in love, in truth, and by example (Josh. 24:16-18) (1 Cor. 7:15-16)

10. Christ - The Sustainer “but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” • Jesus provides us with compassionate care • The church should not be drawn away to the false promises of the flesh and the world

11. The Husband’s Providence “but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” • Husband kindly provides for wife’s needs (1 Tim. 5:8) (1 Pet. 3:7) and vice versa (Eph. 5:33) (1 Cor. 7:3-5) • Both spouses should find fulfillment in each other, and not be drawn to any other

12. The Commitment of Marriage “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” • Marriage is a serious, lifelong commitment (Mt. 19:3-6) (2 Cor. 6:11-16) • Let us be faithful to spouse in all things • for the church, for our children, for our own souls