Instruction
Scripture: Ephesians5:22-33
Paul has been writing about the Christian walk and
describing behaviors and influences that are opposed to God’s will, much as
darkness is opposed to light. Those works of darkness bring division into our
relationships and would have us put ourselves over others rather than
submitting to them. In this reading, Paul looks at the central human
relationship: marriage. He gives a picture of submission and sacrifice as key
to marriage, but also makes clear that this is a picture of what Christ has
done for us. The function of this passage is to teach about the relationship
between wife and husband when it is in Christ’s love. More importantly it
describes Jesus’ passion for the church and how He lovingly saved her.
Teaching
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for
her….” Too often people read the first quote and forget the second. The
relationship of wife and husband in Christ is one of submission and sacrifice.
This is God’s design that the woman would willingly lift up her husband and his
needs over her own, and that man would sacrifice himself and his needs for the
sake of his bride. Their love is to be turned to one another.
Paul goes on from the husbands’ sacrificial lives to talk
about how Jesus gave Himself up for the sake of the church. The church’s
splendor is revealed in how deeply He loves her, what He was willing to do to
cleanse her, and how He made her His own. In this way the institution of
marriage is seen in its fullest meaning as The Man, Jesus, left His Father in
heaven, to be united to His bride, the church, uniting us with Himself.
Life
In a world where we often focus more on what is broken in
marriage than what is good and right about it, Ephesians 5 might sound a little
outdated and idealistic. As God’s people we see this as a revelation of His
plan for how marriage works. This passage shows us that marriage is very
important to God, for this is the picture He gives us of His relationship to
His people; husband and wife.
This is also a beautiful description of Jesus’ motivation
for saving us. People sometimes ask how the Father could sacrifice His Son as
He did when Jesus died on the cross. There is more to it than that. Jesus went
to the cross with the express purpose of loving, saving, and purifying us. What
is more He unites us to Himself in an eternal union as we become the body of
Christ.
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the themes of Confession and Thanksgiving.
Lord Jesus, please forgive us for the mess we have made of
marriage in this world. We have made marriage a place where the sexes battle
and each seeks his or her own pleasure instead of submitting and sacrificing
ourselves for one another. In doing so, we have given the world a false witness
regarding this loving gift and have brought dishonor on the picture of Your
love for us. Please forgive us.
We thank You for the blessing of marriage and the gift of
love that You give to husband and wife therein. Thank You for revealing Your
love for us and for cleansing us by Your sacrifice. Amen.
Comments