Lesson 4889

 Lesson 4889) (06-19-25) Ephesians 5:22-33 

   “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” 

 

   Today’s lesson presents the relationship between Christian husbands and wives as a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Wives are instructed to submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord, and husbands are commanded to love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for it. The love between a husband and his wife is to be all encompassing. Paul emphasized the unity of marriage, stating that the two become one flesh, and he reveals that this union symbolizes the profound mystery of Christ's bond with His Church. Each husband is to love his wife as he loves himself, and each wife is to love and revere her husband above all else. ~