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As Christ Loves the Church
Marion Clark
Ephesians 5:25-33
Introduction
As we considered our particular passage on the responsibility of the husband, it strikes me that it presents a vital doctrine regarding the church's relationship with our Lord. To understand the relationship of a husband with his wife, we must understand that of the Lord with his church.
Text
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church
The Ephesians passage on marriage actually begins at verse 22 where wives are first told to ''submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.'' We regard the instruction to the wives as the radical and controversial portion of the text. But in the ancient world, it would have been the instructions to the husbands that provoked controversy. There was no question of who was the head of the marriage and the respect that the wife was to accord her husband. No, it is the expectation placed on the husband that would have shocked the hearers. It was commendable for husbands to be tolerant with their wives. They should be courteous and even kindly towards them. But wives were primarily seen to be the bearers of their children. If they proved to be good companions, that was a bonus. It might even be considered commendable for there to be real love between them, but the Scripture here expects all husbands to love their wives and, furthermore, takes the expectation to another realm when the model of Christ is brought into the picture. How then does Christ love the church?
He died for her: and gave himself up for her. Jesus himself said that there is no greater love than to die for one's friends. There is no greater way to show your love to your loved one. And this is what Christ has done for the church whom he loves. I'm not sure we grasp emotionally this truth about Christ's motivation. Christ died for us out of love - love for his Father and love for his church. He did not die begrudgingly. He did not walk to Calvary bemoaning his fate. Out of ...
Marion Clark
Ephesians 5:25-33
Introduction
As we considered our particular passage on the responsibility of the husband, it strikes me that it presents a vital doctrine regarding the church's relationship with our Lord. To understand the relationship of a husband with his wife, we must understand that of the Lord with his church.
Text
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church
The Ephesians passage on marriage actually begins at verse 22 where wives are first told to ''submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.'' We regard the instruction to the wives as the radical and controversial portion of the text. But in the ancient world, it would have been the instructions to the husbands that provoked controversy. There was no question of who was the head of the marriage and the respect that the wife was to accord her husband. No, it is the expectation placed on the husband that would have shocked the hearers. It was commendable for husbands to be tolerant with their wives. They should be courteous and even kindly towards them. But wives were primarily seen to be the bearers of their children. If they proved to be good companions, that was a bonus. It might even be considered commendable for there to be real love between them, but the Scripture here expects all husbands to love their wives and, furthermore, takes the expectation to another realm when the model of Christ is brought into the picture. How then does Christ love the church?
He died for her: and gave himself up for her. Jesus himself said that there is no greater love than to die for one's friends. There is no greater way to show your love to your loved one. And this is what Christ has done for the church whom he loves. I'm not sure we grasp emotionally this truth about Christ's motivation. Christ died for us out of love - love for his Father and love for his church. He did not die begrudgingly. He did not walk to Calvary bemoaning his fate. Out of ...
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