(Eph 5:28) “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:”   Imagine being able to truly love in such a degree that you can mentally and in practice truly put others first in every way! Jesus was a walking, talking, practicing example of this. I cannot help but to love Him for it! I pray He will help me to be such a man, and that you will want Him to make you such a person. 

 (Eph 5:27)  “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. Eph 5:28  So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”  We cannot expect godliness in our mate if there is not godliness in us. To love our wives as ourselves is to put them first in our lives rather than ourselves: to want what is best for them, spiritually as well as physically. Remember, because we are in this flesh, we mentally have life’s priorities backward. The flesh says the things of this earth first, which is reflected in how most professing believers live. Yet, God says, “The spirit first, seeking Him, looking for His return, thinking about heaven and the things of God first, then the world.

(Eph 5:27) “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.”  The church is not the building, but people. When you enter the presence of the church, visually you will see spots, plenty of wrinkles, and that which does not appeal to the eye. Oh, but what does our God see? He sees the removal of sin through the blood of His Son, souls without spot of wrinkle. He sees sons and daughters who seek to keep such out of their lives by time spent at His feet in His Word.  

(Eph 5:26) “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,”  There was a requirement of washing before the priest could offer sacrifices to God. They had to do this each time they began to carry out their duties for the day. Each day we arise, the Word of God is there to wash us so that we can carry out our spiritual duties of the day.

 (Eph 5:26) “That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,”  The emphasis is the using of God’s Word to sanctify and cleanse the Believer, and context – the wife by the husband. The Church is to teach the Word of God in order for the listener to hear and heed, thus through his conscience and the leadership of the Holy Spirit, sanctify – separate him or her from the conduct, the thinking, of this old rebellious world.  

(Eph 5:24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”   As the church is subject to Christ. Today it seems many churches are subject to the desires and thoughts of the pastor and congregation rather than to Christ. We need to go back to the Word of God and see what the purpose of the church is, then go from there. Everything we do should be based upon: “train them to go and see people born again (saved); baptize them; teach them” (Matt 28:20). Instead, most of the emphasis seems to have turned into, “How can we entertain them and make them happy once they are here.”  

(Eph 5:22) “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.”  Notice the context of the statement, Christ “….is the Savior of the body”. The husband is to seek to protect his wife in every area: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  It is his responsibility before God.

  (Eph 5:23) “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.”  This world’s mindset sees authority as power. Within the body of Christ, authority is not power but responsibility – servitude.  The greater the authority given, the more the individual is to serve. One in authority does not serve to get, but to give of self pleasing the Lord. He or she is not to look for reward. Each will find at the end of this life’s road oneself saying, “…..We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10). 

(Eph 5:22)  “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.” This verse was included lest one get confused over the previous verse and then not submit to one’s husband. People wish to dismiss such verses regarding submission because it goes against what they think or based upon society. The Bible is God’s Word with God’s plan. It is not to be changed by us simply because it does not fit which what we wish to think or obey. Concerns regarding abuse of this mandate are dismissed as the husband obeys the verses that follow this one.

(Eph 5:21)  “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”   Notice the words, “in the fear of God”.  How often in churches today do we hear the words, “fear God”, to the believer? How often do you and I think about fearing Him? Oh, we think of His love and His goodness, His blessings towards us, but not that we should fear Him! He is still God and He still hates sin, maybe even moreso that which is committed by those He freed from its clutches! Remember, He is your Father, born again child of God. It would not be a terrible thing to Him to take you home early!