in 1971. When Paul lays down these instructions to husbands and wives in Ephesians chapter 5 he also informs us that these duties are symbolic in nature. For this reason, we will undertake our study of Ephesians 5:21-33 in three segments. This is evident in Paul’s teaching concerning the conduct of the Corinthians at the Lord’s Table. His love is an active love that does not suppress but serves and glorifies his beloved. 128 This expression, “summing up” is a rendering of the verb form of the same term which, in its noun form, means “head.” Thus, the Berkeley Version renders the verse this way: “In keeping with His kind intent as He personally planned for the arrangement by which the times should reach maturity, and everything in heaven and on earth should come to a head in Christ.”. In the light of our text, we dare not think this way any longer. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. careful in our marriage relationship, to carry out God’s desire and plan faithfully. In this play there are many characters, but among them there is a hero and a villain. Starting in Ephesians 5:21-6:9 Paul addresses Christian Relationships . In each of the three pairings, the first partner is responsible to be submissive or obedient ( Ephesians 5:22; Ephesians 6:1; Ephesians 6:5). in regard to natural marriage, [to be supplied] out of Moses; it expresses the Apodosis, viz. While there may be practical benefits to a man leaving his parents and cleaving to his wife, Moses does not bother to mention them. wives-pink husband or husbands - blue Christ- yellow 5:26-27; cf. While men did not grasp this truth, it was nevertheless indicated in the Old Testament in a variety of ways. 23 The husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of his called out people. 32. We were, as sinners, worthy only of Christ’s eternal wrath. Listen to Pastor Robert Furrow as he continues his commentary on Ephesians, talking today about how husbands and wives should treat each other in marriage. I believe that self-sacrifice is a form of submission. Epistles: Ephesians 5 – Christian Life and Marriage. 132 See also 1 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Peter 1:10-12. Like communion, marriage is a divine institution. If wives are to submit to their husbands “in the same way” that Christ submitted Himself to wicked men, then surely we cannot deny that our Lord did submit Himself to men. It is one thing to speak of the submission of our Lord to His Father’s will (see John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:28; Philippians 2:8). The reason is given in the preceding verses. Amen” (Romans 11:36). But let us not adopt the thinking of the world in which we live toward these matters. I was beginning to see where this program was headed, and I was right. Think about this. Ephesians 5 and 6 deal with relationships for life; Submission; Paul is writing about mutual submission in which we submit to one another in the fear of God. Headship involves sustenance, and Christ is the Sustainer of the church (Colossians 1:17; 2:19; see also Ephesians 4:15-16). Finally, I would say to you that the values assigned to our roles by our culture are opposite to those assigned by God. The Meaning of Marriage Ephesians 5:22–32 September 12, 2017. Nevertheless — As if he said, But though there be such a mystical sense in the marriage of Adam and Eve, or in the union subsisting between a man and his wife; though it be a striking emblem of the union between Christ and his church, yet the plain, literal sense especially now concerns you. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to glory. These primates are our closest ancestors. He himself is the Savior of that body. The heavenly reality is one of headship and submission. What is it that you have replaced God’s symbols with, which brings about persecution for your identification with Christ and the proclamation of His glorious gospel? Wives, submit to your ... of marriage, even before the creation of the world. And thus we cannot understand the importance of the duties of the husband or the wife without grasping the reality which Christian marriage is to symbolically communicate. These phrases show the extent and commitment of Jesus’ love. Read Ephesians 5:21-6:9. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. In this sense, being one with Christ was anticipated in the Old Testament Scriptures, but not comprehended, and thus, a mystery, a great mystery. In Paul’s words, it was a mystery. 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 fulness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1:22-23, emphasis mine). 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 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 should be holy and blameless. They began as one flesh through the creation of Eve. Scripture: Ephesians 5:25. John Piper Oct 19, 2012 3.4K Shares God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him Learn more about Desiring God I am sad to say that those who have set aside divine duties have not replaced them with anything which challenges and contradicts the world, the flesh, or the devil. Chocolate syrup might taste delicious on vanilla ice cream, but it would hardly replace the wine (or grape juice) as the symbol for Christ’s shed blood. Apr 18, 2016. a. Those who seek to do so fail to get the point that while we are all equal in our standing before Christ, our roles differ when we are required to symbolize the submission of the church to Christ. Have you received the salvation which this text calls on Christians to symbolize by their relationship as husbands and wives? The remaining part of this article will spell out some of the practical implications of the teaching on marriage in Ephesians 5. 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? Christ is the Head of the church because He has brought it into existence; the church originates in Christ (Colossians 1:16-18). In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully. Let me attempt to illustrate what I mean. What are you doing which boldly and dramatically reflects the headship of Christ over His church, and the submission of the church to Christ? 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1:16-18). As a woman must accept the proposal of her husband to be, so you must accept God’s offer of salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians, Paul makes it clear that we are saved by grace, not by our works (Eph. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, are spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. But how can one who is the supreme leader of the church (its head) also be submissive to it? The scripture for that talk was Ephesians 5: 21-33, our first reading today. 22 What! Col. 1:21-22). Both Chrysostom and John Paul II make it abundantly clear that both husband and wife are to submit to one another in the Lord but the husband is the one who initially loves and the wife the one who is loved. 133 Greeting one another with a holy kiss may be an example. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5, Verses 22-24 ¶“ 22 Women, submit to your own men, as to the Lord. John Piper is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. We must first argue that we dare not set aside that which our Lord has instituted, and which His church has continued to practice, from New Testament days onward. This is the submission which I see emphasized in Ephesians 5:25-27, it is the submission of love. Dan and Kimberly, you have come together today to give thanks for, and to participate in, God’s wonderful gift of marriage. Each has a symbolic role to play, and to ignore, reject, or distort their symbolic duties is a serious matter. 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. 130 Note the rendering of the King James Version: “… that in all things He might have the preeminence.”. Note the different groups who have the responsibility of subjection and to whom. Some attempt to use this text in Galatians to undermine the New Testament teaching on submission, particularly the submission of the wife to her husband. And, further, let me remind you that in order to achieve our salvation at Calvary, Jesus took on a role which was beneath Him. Implications of Ephesians 5:21-33 for the Marriage Relationship ; 1. The inference was now becoming clear: we should learn from the peaceful primates, and model our conduct after them. Having spoken as directly and forcibly as I can concerning our duties and responsibilities to carry out our symbolic roles, let me also remind you that these roles are not a reflection on us as persons, but rather are a reflection of Christ and His church. (3) Christ is the head of His church as its Consummation. The gist of what I saw (which was not the program in its entirety) was that some primates, such as the chimpanzee, have a very aggressive and somewhat violent demeanor, while another species manifests a disposition which personifies (dare I use this term?) In Genesis chapter 2, God created Adam. ... Ephesians 5:29–30. respecting the spiritual marriage; now, in turn, vice versa, Ephesians 5:31 here expresses the Protasis, and allows the Apodosis to be supplied: comp. Ephesians 5 Commentary 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep (1 Corinthians 11:17-30). Bob was born and raised in a Christian home i... More, Happy New Year: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives, 4. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In other words, the headship of Christ is evident in the salvation which He accomplished at Calvary. Directions to a contrary behaviour, and to relative duties. The natural marriage, wherein "a man leaves father and mother (the oldest manuscripts omit 'his') and is joined unto his wife," is not the principal thing meant here, but the spiritual marriage represented by it, and on which it rests, whereby Christ left the Father's bosom to woo to Himself the Church out of a lost world: Ephesians 5:32 proves this: His earthly mother as such, also, He holds in secondary account as … As they passed by two by two it became apparent that every male animal had its female counterpart. To submit to one another requires us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Unknowingly, they believe Paul’s teaching to be a mere reflection of his culture, and not a timeless teaching, independent of the culture of that day, and of our own. A Husband’s Manual for Marriage. The headship of our Lord is not contrary to the cross; it is the consequence of it. When God created marriage, He has a specific purpose in mind. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. We are to regularly remember the Lord’s death at communion because He instituted it, He commands it, and the New Testament church devoted itself to a regular observance of it. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Do you think it demeaning to hold a position of service? The duty of husbands is to love their wives. Four of the elements of Christ’s headship are drawn together by Paul in Romans, where he writes, “For from Him [origin] and through Him [sustaining] and to Him [consummation] are all things. His words indicate that there is one fundamental reason. Jesus submitted Himself to wicked and sinful men, so that by so doing He could become the “Shepherd and Guardian” of our souls (2:25). I believe most Christians fail to understand the responsibilities of Christian husbands and wives in the light of the biblical basis which underlies and necessitates them. We are all given a role to play, but a subordinate role does not imply an inferior relationship to Christ. The duties which Paul sets down are not a reflection of Paul’s narrowness and chauvinism, as some would say, but the teaching of our Lord Himself, pertaining to matters of great importance. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 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