‘Nevertheless do you also severally love each one his own wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she fear her husband.’ Paul does not want the practical lesson to be lost, and applies it at the end. Each husband must love his wife as he loves himself, and each wife must hold her husband in godly reverence. read more
Ephesians 5:22 to Ephesians 6:9 . Subordination in the Fear of Christ.— The principle is illustrated by the relation ( a) of wives to husbands, ( b) of children to parents, ( c) of slaves to masters. The writer does not attack existing social institutions— slavery, the patria potestas, the dependent position of women. He accepts the relationships as they exist in the world he knows, and seeks to interpret them in the light of the gospel (p. 649 ). If he enforces upon wives, children, and... read more
Nevertheless; q.d. Setting aside this mystery; or, to return to my former exhortation. Love his wife even as himself; as her that is one flesh with him. Reverence her husband; or fear, yet not with a servile, but ingenuous fear, and such as proceeds from love. read more
CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTESEphesians 5:22. Submit yourselves.—Same word as in previous verse; neither here nor there does it involve any loss of self-respect. The wife’s tribute to her husband’s worth is submission—the grace of childhood to both parents equally is obedience.Ephesians 5:23. Christ is the head of the Church.—Defending her at His own peril (“If ye seek Me, let these go their way”); serving her in utmost forgetfulness of self (“I am amongst you as he that serveth”); “Giving... read more
DISCOURSE: 2121THE MARRIAGE UNIONEphesians 5:21-33. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he... read more
Shall we turn now in our Bibles to Ephesians, chapter 5.Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children ( Ephesians 5:1 );Now, the therefore immediately points you back, back to the last verse of chapter 4 where we are exhorted to be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us. Paul's topic here is God's forgiveness as our example of forgiveness. "Be ye followers of God," or follow the example that God has established for us in... read more
Ephesians 5:1-2 . Be ye followers of God as dear children, for children are expected to walk in their father’s steps. He sends us rain and fruitful seasons, he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good; and if we act otherwise, men will not acknowledge us for the sons of God. In all good offices the Saviour forgot himself, and went about continually doing good. Nay more; he gave himself for us, an eucharistal oblation and sacrifice, a sweet savour of unexampled love. What can words add... read more
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ver. 33. Nevertheless ] q.d. But that I may return to my former discourse, from the which I have somewhat digressed for your satisfaction. See that she reverence ] 1. In heart, as Sarah did Abraham, and she is crowned and chronicled for it, 1 Peter 3:6 ; 1 Peter 2:1-25 . In her speeches both to him, and of him, as the spouse in the Song of Solomon 3:1-11 .... read more
let: Ephesians 5:25, Ephesians 5:28, Ephesians 5:29, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7 reverence: Ephesians 5:22, 1 Kings 1:31, Esther 1:20, Hebrews 12:9, 1 Peter 3:2-Joshua : Reciprocal: Genesis 18:12 - my Esther 1:17 - despise Romans 13:7 - fear to 1 Corinthians 7:2 - let 1 Corinthians 14:34 - they are Ephesians 5:15 - See Ephesians 5:24 - in Colossians 3:18 - submit 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - See Titus 2:5 - obedient 1 Peter 3:1 - ye Revelation 19:10 - See read more
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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33
Husbands and Wives Are A Pattern of Christ and His Church (5:22-33). In this passage there is a constant movement from the husband wife relationship to that of Christ and His church. In one sense it is the former which is the main theme, for both opening and closing verses refer to it. But Paul’s illustrative application of the idea to the Christ-church relationship leads him on to an expansion of that relationship as he exults in the wonder and glory of it, so that it too becomes a main... read more