Ephesians 5:25-33

 A Focus on the Family

Guys, if you want your wife to follow Ephesians 5:22-24, you better be following Ephesians 5:25-33. If you aren’t, then you don’t deserve the submission described in these verses. The words given to husbands in this passage were radical, controversial, and extremely progressive for the first century. Each region was different but, on the whole, women did not have many rights in the first century. In most marriages, a wife was seen more like property than a partner. It was common for a man to have a mistress. So, for Ephesians to tell husbands to love their wives as they love themselves is revolutionary. 

The analogy given makes this principle even more profound. Love your wives like Christ loved the church. Christ loved the church so much that he died for the church even when the church didn’t deserve that type of love. Christ loved the church unconditionally. Husbands, without condition, you are to love your wife. 

Verse 33 concludes how husbands and wives are to treat one another. Love your wives and respect your husbands. If you will mutually submit to one another as verse 21 says, you will fulfill verse 33. Show love and respect. This is the key to having godly marriages.