22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Ehesians 5:22-33 ESV
“This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Ephesians 3:32
In Ephesians chapter 3, through Paul, God revealed that the Church is God’s hidden mystery through the ages. Later in his letter, Paul used various personal relationships to explain further this wonderful mystery and how Christians should be transformed and live out this grace after receiving this blessing. It is amazing how God speaks more deeply about the relationship between Christ and the church through our human relationship on earth. Allowing this profound mystery to live in us vividly through the various interpersonal relationships that we can see, feel, and touch. This mystery is not far from us.
The first relationship Paul presented here is husband and wife. This is the first human relationship that God established since the creation of the world. God commanded and gave the gift of marriage between one man and one woman. It is not only to grant us the extraordinary blessing of a family – to be fruitful and multiply in number but also to reveal the union between Christ and His bride, the church. Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her, and the church submits to Christ as the head of the church. Likewise, the husband should love his wife as Christ loves the church, and the wife should submit to her husband as the church submits herself to Christ.
The world constantly attempts to twist and redefine the meaning of marriage and alter the roles of husband and wife. But no matter how the world reshapes the marriage relationship, it does not change the union of Christ and the church and the truth that stems from God’s wonderful marriage plan. This is the unshakable truth – Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for her, and the church submits to Him. Christ and His church have become one body, as husband and wife. What an intimate connection and close relationship that no one and nothing can separate!
To those who received the blessing of marriage, may your union manifest the beautiful union and relationship between Christ and His church.
And to every brother and sister in Christ, may your relationship with Christ be deepened and strengthened, and you may submit to Him and honor Him as the church submits. He loves you and gave Himself up for you.
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