Ephesians 5:32–33
32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Focused Thinking:
What is the mystery?
The mystery refers to the two becoming one flesh in the same way that Christ and the church become one.
The marriage of Christ and the church is best understood by the marriage of the husband and wife.
Christ is the groom and the church is the bride.
The husband is the groom and the wife is the bride.
Christ is head of the church.
The husband is the head of the wife.
Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.
Husband, love your wife and give yourself up for her.
Christ sanctified her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.
Husband, sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water with the Word.
Christ presented to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Husband, present to yourself your wife in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she will be holy and blameless.
What is Paul’s summary of the husband and wife’s responsibility in marriage?
33Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Husband, love your wife.
Wife, respect your husband.
A man’s greatest need is respect.
A woman’s greatest need is love.
Men never naturally love women the way women want to be loved.
Men love women the way men want to be loved.
Women never naturally respect men the way men want to be respected.
Women love men the way women want to be loved.
Men underestimate how much women need love.
Women underestimate how much men need respect.
What happens when love and respect isn’t present?
“Without love wives react without respect.”
“Without respect husbands react without love.”
Book Recommendation:
Love & Respect by Emerson Esserichs
Personal Application:
My response is my responsibility.
- We must quit blaming our spouses for our reactions.
The husband’s responsibility is love.
- My love motivates her respect.
The wife’s responsibility is respect.
- Her respect motivates my love.
Interactive Prayer:
Father, thank you for Karin. I pray that I can love her as You love me. I pray that I can love her with Your love. Thank you that after fifteen years of marriage we are still excited, loving it and working on it daily. Thank you for never allowing us to become content in our marriage. Thank you that I prioritize loving Karin and that she prioritizes respecting me. Thank you for teaching us these principles early in our marriage.
I pray that the standards of our marriage will inspire Mark and Annika as they pray for and pick their spouses. I pray that they would run the race for Christ and that they would find world class runners to run the race with them. I pray that You will protect Mark and Annika and their spouses in their purity. I pray that they will meet their spouses early and marry in or right out of college. I pray that Mark and Annika, as well as their spouses, will walk by the Spirit and bear the fruits of their Spirit for the duration of their lives. I pray that their marriages will be the holiest, healthiest and happiest part of their lives.
I pray for the marriages in our church. Help us help people have holy, healthy and happy marriages. Father, bless and anoint Andy in his teaching on marriage. Bless and anoint me and Karin as we teach on marriage. Protect the people in our church from divorce. Give us a strong counseling ministry. Help us do everything possible to care about marriages proactively and reactively.
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