“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” Ephesians 5:21-33
Paul begins this passage with a foundational command: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
Before he addresses husbands or wives specifically, he establishes mutual humility and submission.
When we counsel couples that are getting married, we’re sure to the point that marriage is NOT a 50/50 split of effort by each spouse to make it work. It’s each one giving 100%.
Husbands are called to love sacrificially — as Christ loves the Church. That kind of love shapes speech into patience, affirmation, and gentleness. Remember that Christ died for us. This is the example.
Wives are called to respect — which shapes speech into encouragement, trust, and dignity.
This passage is often debated, but its communication implications are clear: Christian marriage is meant to mirror Christ and the Church. And Christ does not belittle His bride.
Communication becomes sacred when we realize we are representing Christ in how we speak.
Something to ponder today: If someone observed only my words, would they see Christ reflected in how I speak to my spouse and/ or the opposite sex?
