Ephesians 5:21-33 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) 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. (24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (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."
I used quite a bit of Scripture this morning because it all points to the same subject. There have been those who want to use these passages to justify being a tyrant in the home. I think it is called "pick and choose" what you want to hear. There have been those who only read, "For the husband is head of the wife..." and stop there. When these verses are read as one - as they should be, then there should be absolute balance and harmony in the marriage. God said when He first instituted marriage, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) In today's passage, the Apostle Paul, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, also said, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." When read properly, God tells the husband to "love his wife as Christ loves the church, and gave Himself for it." That is a self-sacrificing love for the well-being of the other. Wives are to love their husbands, submitting to him out of that love and deep respect. Verse 21 speaks the sum of the marriage relationship: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." This tells us that the very heart and soul of every successful marriage is accomplished by having Jesus Christ at the very heart and center of every decision, word, and action toward one another. The ultimate example is seen in the manner in which Jesus Christ loves the church. That is to say, we are to love one another as Jesus loves us.
God give us Christian homes
Homes where the Bible is loved and taught
Homes where the Master's will is sought
Homes crowned with beauty Your love has wrought
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
Homes where the father is true and strong
Homes that are free from the blight of wrong
Homes that are joyous with love and song
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
Homes where the mother, in caring quest
Strives to show others Your way is best
Homes where the Lord is an honoured guest
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes
Homes where the children are led to know
Christ in His beauty who loves them so
Homes where the altar fires burn and glow
God give us Christian homes
God give us Christian homes!