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Ephesians 5:25-32

“How do I love thee…?”

Now the tough stuff…•This section of Paul’s letter is even tougher on the husbands•The husband has more responsibilities and accountabilities to the Lord as I mentioned•We must understand God’s intent for marriage•Marriage is a human object lesson of the divine relationship between Christ and Believers

“25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for

no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 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.”

Ephesians 5:25-32, NASB

A. “As Christ loved the church…”•V25, notice the difference from last week?•The Greek word for ‘love’ is ‘Aga-pa-o’ like 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NASB

A. “As Christ loved the church…”•V25, notice the difference from last week?•The Greek word for ‘love’ is ‘Aga-pa-o’ like 1 Corinthians 13:4-7•Loving like Christ means living forgiveness•The Lord wants husbands to love their wives with this love that seeks the highest good of the other, even at the price of one’s own good as Jesus did for us• Impossible you think? NO- If you love HIM first, it will overflow onto her--

B. Sanctify, Cleanse her w/Word•Vs 26-27, Sanctify means ‘set apart’•The love of the husband for his wife ought to be cleansing her so that both are becoming more like Christ•Unfortunately today wives are often more spiritually mature than their husbands•Husbands, you cannot sanctify and cleanse your wife unless you yourself first sanctify and cleanse yourself with the Word

C. Love her as yourself•Vs 28-29, I think marriages fail so often because husbands fail to fulfil their Scriptural duties to their wives•If we concentrate on loving our wives as He loved the Church, He would transform our marriages; and as a result our families, churches and even America•That means all of this is on us Husbands

D. “Leave and Cleave…”•Vs 30-32, Adam and Eve had it made in Eden; No stories of home…•Adam gave part of himself to get a bride•Christ gave all of Himself to purchase His •United are spouses as one flesh– like A&E•But our union with Jesus as Believers is closer, and unlike marriage here, eternal!

E. More to think about…•Peter echoed Paul in his first epistle•There are 5 commands and one warning in the verse from 1st Peter (added numbers for your understanding)

“Husbands, likewise, (1) dwell with them (2) with understanding ,(3) giving honor to the wife, (4) as to the weaker vessel, and (5) as being heirs together of the grace of life, that (6) your prayers may not be hindered.”

1 Peter 3:7, NASB

E. More to think about…1. Dwell with them (not house share, life)2. With Understanding (the better you

know her, the better you can demon- strate your love for her

3. Giving honor to your wife (godly husbands will make her feel honored, not a slave)

4. As the weaker vessel (better word, fragile)

E. More to think about…5. As being heirs together of the grace of

life (A godly husband realizes that his spouse is not only his wife, but his sister in Christ. Part of their inheritance in the Lord is only realized in their common bond. Heirs together “reminds husbands that even though they have been given great authority within marriage, their wives are still equal to them in spiritual privilege and eternal importance. They are ‘Joint Heirs.’

E. More to think about…6. The warning from God– “that your

prayers may not be hindered” The failure to be a godly husband has spiritual consequences. It can and will hinder prayer. The Greek word ‘hindered’ is “ekkopto”, which means “to cut out, cut off ”Matthew 5:30 says…

“…if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell…”

Matthew 5;30, NASB

E. More to think about…6. The warning from God– “that your

prayers may not be hindered”• The failure to be a godly husband has spiritual consequences. It can and will hinder prayer. The Greek word ‘hindered’ is “ekkopto”, which means “to cut out, cut off ”•God literally cuts off your prayer line– He can’t even hear you then…

Take Home…1. Be the priest of your family2. Love your wife first and make all other

earthly relationships – children, work, favorite sports, hobby, newspaper, etc., secondary

3. Love for your wife should be unconditional

4. Don’t try to fix everything (Just Listen)5. Listen well with full attention (Mentally

present)