Whenever you hear a sermon on Ephesians 5:22-33, what is the lesson on? The majority of the time, the sermon is on the roles of husbands and wives in marriage. It is important that we examine this text to see these things, because this is one of the best texts to find out the roles of husbands and wives. But when we examine this text, I believe that we see that the roles of husbands and wives is an application of the main reason for the passage. We see the main point Paul is trying to make in verses 32-33:
"This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, 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" (Eph 5:32-33).
The main point of this text is to emphasize the relationship not between husbands and wives, but between Christ and His bride, the church. He uses the husband wife relationship within this text to show the relationship between Jesus and His people.
BRIEF OUTLINE
•Christ’s Selfless Love For His Bride – verses 25-27
-The bride's response-love
•Union/Oneness between Christ and His Bride – verses 28-31
-The bride's response-purity
•Christ’s Headship of His Bride – verses 22-24
-The bride's response-submission & obedience
CHRIST'S LOVE FOR HIS BRIDE
The Greek word for agapaō (v)/agape (n) definition- Jesus Christ! A love that chooses to be devoted to the good and well-being of its recipients, whether they are deserving of it or not. It is not based on emotions. At times it goes against natural inclinations. His love wasn't given to the bride because she was worthy of it (Romans 5:6-8). Imagine going out of your way to try to get a woman who is your enemy to marry you! He truly went out of the way to win the heart of His bride. He loved His enemies, US!
He willingly, purposely, & sacrificially gave Himself for her! His love was selfless, a love of sacrifice:
What was He willing to do for His wife? He was willing to leave Heaven, become a bond-servant, and to die for us (Philippians 2).
Why did He give Himself? A purifying love. He is the savior of the body (v23) Jesus died for His bride so she could be cleansed and sanctified sanctify her and cleanse her. It was for her salvation, so she could be cleansed, sanctified, & perfected! He desires His bride to "come down the aisle" without spot; pure and white! Beautiful and glorious!
THE BRIDE'S RESPONSE: LOVE IN RETURN
1 John 4:19 - we love Him because He first loved us.
Matthew 22:37 – Love w/ ALL our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
We must fully devote ourselves to obeying the husband. We must forsake all else, give our hearts to no other, being willing to sacrifice all for Him (Romans 12:1-2). We must show adoration to the one who loves us so much! Our hearts must belong to Him!
ONENESS OF CHRIST AND HIS BRIDE
Just as there is oneness between a husband and wife, so also there is with Christ and His church. Jesus left His father in Heaven to come to this earth, and His mother here on earth when He died on the cross so He could be joined with His wife and become one with her. We are one with the Lord (John 17:22-23, 1 Corinthians 6:17). We were united with Him at baptism.
There is such a oneness between Jesus and His bride that if you show love/hatred to the bride, it is as though you are doing it to the Husband!
Matthew 25:34-40 – Jesus takes what is done to His bride personally. If you serve the least of His brethren, you do it for HIM. IF you do not serve the least of these, you do not serve HIM!
Acts 9:4 - "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
Also in this "oneness" that Christ has with His church brings with it the idea that He treats the church as His own body, providing what is needed for His body to be nourished and cared for. According to Ephesians 4:15-16, Jesus, the church’s head, provides for the body’s growth. He gives us as His people all that we need to make this happen. He cares for and cherishes the church that He is one Spirit with (1 Corinthians 6:17).
THE BRIDES RESPONSE: PURITY
God is # 1 (no flirtation with the world- James 4:4 – spiritual adultery) We are in a union in which we must not unite ourselves with another. There is no neutrality. We cannot love two lovers. We must choose one or the other (1 John 2:15-17)
2 Corinthians 7:1- "let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
1 Corinthians 6:15-20 - Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God , and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
-we must flee spiritual adultery and sexual immorality!
-Purity for our husband!
-We must leave all to be united with Him!
-Christ can only have union with a pure bride!
-Paul's concern for the bride: that she would be presented to Christ on the last day pure and chaste! (2 Cor 11:2)
How bout this one: What would you do in this scenario? While your wife is on her way down the aisle, someone comes out of the crowd with a bucket full of mud, runs up to the bride and pours the whole bucket all over the bride? what do you think the husband would think about such a thing?
This should encourage us to treat our brothers and sisters in a certain way! For us to throw a stumbling block before another brother or sister in Christ, it is as though we are throwing a bucket of mud on the dress of His bride! He will hold us accountable!
CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE BRIDE (EPHESIANS 5:22-24) Christ is the leader in His home!
"He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Jesus' word is final. His decision stands and the church is to follow Christ, even when we do not understand or agree (Proverbs 3:5). But we do understand that His leadership is focused on the well being of those He leads. It isn't all about Him. It is sacrificial, looking to the needs of His wife whom He is devoted to.
THE BRIDE'S RESPONSE: SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.' " (Rev 19:7-8).
The "Christian"/member of the bride who sees and understands what Jesus has done and sacrificed for them; showing His perfect love, and is unwilling to submit to the husband, they are a fool!
We must submit even when it's difficult! If we only submit when we agree, that isn't submission at all! What do we do when it is difficult and when we do not agree? We remember that our husband knows what is best for us and has our best interests at heart, and we submit. We obey, calling Him Lord!
We must also encourage our brothers and sisters to submit also in everything (Matthew 28:20).
INVITATION
Have you been sanctified by the washing of water with the word? Submit yourself to the word of Christ, and be baptized. God will make you holy and unite you with His Son (Romans 6)
