Paul had just told the Ephesians how to walk through life in a loving way, in the light, and in wisdom. Now he prescribes how God wants things to work within a Christian family.
Read Ephesians 5:22-33.
In a Christian home, the husband and wife have specific responsibilities. The wife must submit herself to her own husband’s leadership in every area. She should do this in the same way that every Christian submits to the leadership of Jesus, who is the Head of the Church. The husband must love his wife in the same way that Christ loves the Church. How did Jesus show his love for the church? He gave himself up for her so that each Christians would be (1) sanctified (set apart), (2) washed clean by God’s Word, and (3) made holy. If Jesus did all that for each Christian, each husband should follow Jesus’ example and love his wife as much as he loves his own body. Do you know anybody who hates his own body? Everybody treats himself kindly and does what is best for himself. That’s the way a husband should treat his wife. And that’s the way Jesus (the Head) treats the Church (his Body). In verse 31, Paul quotes Genesis 2:24 where a husband and wife are to become one flesh. Obviously, this doesn’t mean that they become a two-headed monster or a big piece of meat. But they are to leave their parents and be so close that they are like one person. It’s difficult to understand, but so is the mystery of Jesus being the head and Christians being the Body. Even so, a Christian husband must love his wife and a Christian wife should respect her husband.
- What two people does Paul address in these verses?
- How should a Christian wife treat her husband?
- How should a Christian husband treat his wife?
- Jesus gave himself for the Church so each Christian would be:
a. ____________________________________
b. ____________________________________
c. ____________________________________ - Multiple Choice: What does it mean that a husband and wife should become one flesh?
a. They become a two-headed monster.
b. They become one piece of meat.
c. They become so close that they are like one person.
