by Jason Tsaddiq
The explanation of the context of Ephesians 5: 25-28 will offer the fact that Paul wrote this book to the church at Ephesus, probably between 60 and 64AD. Some sources say that the church was beginning to be exclusive – not allowing the Gentiles to be part of the church – and thus, the theme of the book could be Christian unity.
An outline of chapters four, five, and six in the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible notes show these main ideas: the unity of the believers, consistent Christian life, the home life, and the spiritual warfare. These concepts are very relevant to each other in relationship: one builds on another and they all intertwine with each other.
A statement of the meaning of these verses would notify the reader that Paul is giving instructions to men concerning their role in the home. (Could it be that exclusiveness was appearing in the home?) The first command for the husband is to love his wife. Paul even gave a “love example” for the men to follow – Christ as He lay down His life for the church. God saw His loved one’s need – the need of a Savior – so He sent His Son to die for mankind. God’s example is really the definition of love – seeing a need and doing something about that need.
Then Paul gave the reason for Christ’s loving and giving Himself for the church – to sanctify it, cleanse it, and “present it to Himself…holy and without blemish.” Verse 28 teaches that a husband should love his wife just as much as he loves his own body and that a man who wants to take care of himself, to honor himself, to love himself will definitely take these same actions with his wife.
The explanation of the conclusions of these meanings is quite simple: he is to follow Christ’s example of love.
The statement of the significance of this passage is overwhelmingly amazing! If a husband fails to love his wife as Christ loved/s the church, he is missing great blessings that could be his for obedience. He is also not recognizing the truth in verse 28 – since they are one, if he mistreats her, he is really mistreating himself. As a side note, verse 29 tells that “no man ever yet hated his own flesh,” yet how many men fail to love their wives as themselves, and thus are really hating themselves.
Another significance of this passage is the fact that a husband failing in this area is causing a major stumbling block in his wife’s life. He is stealing her marriage – she has a right (given to her by God) to be loved by a Godly husband. A husband failing to love his wife and to nourish her (a term in verse 29) is failing to help her in her sanctification process. As he is over her in leadership, he will answer to God for how well he loved her, taught her the Word, and helped her be holy and set apart.
Another significance of this passage is the fact that the disobedient husband is stunting the growth of the church for young men in the church and even in his own family will be watching his example. As he continues to disobey, others will follow his footsteps, sinning in the same manner. However, if a younger man chooses to do right in the home, having a father that blatantly disobeys will cause frustration, a provocation to anger.
A statement of this text’s application is overwhelmingly abundant! Loving another has almost no bounds. As he learns more about Christ and His example, the obedient-to-Scripture husband will meet the needs of his wife: her spiritual needs because he already has had his spiritual needs met by his devotional life; her physical needs because he is not lazy; and even her emotional needs because he realizes that his prayers will be hindered otherwise. If I Peter 3:7 is to be used in conjunction with this passage, then he must find out what her needs are. Granted, she has a part to play in answering his questions lovingly and fully but it is incumbent upon him to know her needs and then strive to meet them. What one wife needs may not be the needs of another so each husband must spend time with his own wife to discern how he best may fit her needs to accomplish God’s will for his life and for hers.