Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 55

Paul Parallels Marriage with Christ and His Church: Part 3 Exhortation to Husbands on how to Love their Wives

Ephesians 5:28-29 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church: KJV

Paul not only exhorts or to be real here commands men to love their wives just as Christ loves the Church, but now he tells them how they should love them or in essence the mindset that Christian husbands should have for expressing proper love to them. Paul’s exhortation here is not something that any could misinterpret or have differing opinions on, but it is clear and direct. The Christian husband is to so love his wife as he loves his own body. No born again man “in Christ” would despise his own physical body for it is the only one that he has, so in like manner his Christian wife is the only one he has as his helper, therefore, she should be treated like he would treat his own flesh for we know from the Scripture that this was and is the plan of God the Father from the very beginning as we see the first man’s (Adam’s) reaction when the Father brought to him the first woman, “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.’” (Genesis 2:20-23).

We see that the woman’s flesh was crafted and formed from the flesh of the man and this is Paul’s reason for exhorting Christian husbands to love their wives as their own flesh. Paul even goes own to strengthen his exhortation to the Christian husbands by declaring that true selfless, giving, guarding, intense emotional, and passionate love for his wife is the only true indication that this man loves himself, not in an arrogant manner filling himself with pride having an inflated ego, but having a confident sense of respect for himself and knowing how much he is loved by Christ Jesus our Lord, therefore, seeing himself humbly dependent upon Christ to function as he should in the world and to his wife and children. The love that Christ Jesus had for His future bride compelled Him to leave the Glories of Heaven and come into this sinful world of woe and put Himself into a weak human body, then suffer rejection, ridicule, and resentment from His own creation and die on a cross to join Himself to His Bride. The love our Lord Jesus has for His Bride compels Him to make intercession for her continually while protecting her from Satan’s assaults against her, then constantly loving and forgiving her as He washing her consistently with the water of His Word preparing her for the wedding marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). Note: “It is a common saying with the Jews, that a man’s wife is, ‘as his own body’; and it is one of the precepts of their wise men, that a man should honor his wife more than his body, and ‘love her as his body’; for as they also say, they are but one body; the Apostle seems to speak in the language of his countrymen.” (Dr. John Gill).

The idea Paul is putting forth here is summed up in his next statement and how true it is that no man of sanity hates his own body to the point where he would abuse it or treat it badly, well then, if he understands that his wife has come from his own flesh, then she is to be nourished and nurtured by him as he does with his own physical body. No matter the scars, warts, or any other such imperfections on his flesh every sane man cares for tenderly his body and attends to it with much time, effort, and love to make it as good and comfortable as possible, this is exactly Christian husband what you must endeavor to do daily for the “bone of your bone” and “flesh of your flesh” your wife which Christ Jesus our Lord gave to you. This is exactly what our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ does daily for His Bride “the Church” furnishing her with His unconditional love and everything down on the earth that is conducive to her physical and spiritual happiness, health, and holiness.

My own Personal Note: “The Christian marriage is unique and distinct from all marriages of non-Christians because Jesus Christ is a part of this union, therefore, it is the Christian husband’s responsibility to always place himself under the Headship of Jesus Christ submitting to His Authority, so that he will be nourished by the Holy Spirit internally is his inner man, then and only then will he be able to nourish his wife as he would his own flesh. This can only happen when the life of Christ is ruling and reigning supreme within the husband by him eating Christ Flesh and drinking His Blood moment by moment each and every day as our Lord Jesus said Himself with these words, “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.’” (John 6:53-57).

“This is the subject on which Paul had been speaking, and from which he had been diverted by the allusion to the Glorified Church. The doctrine here is, that a husband should have the same care for the comfort of his wife which he has for himself. He should regard her as one with himself; and as he protects his own body from cold and hunger, and, when sick and suffering, endeavors to restore it to health, so he should regard and treat her. Because she is one with him, and their interests are identified. Because, by this, he really promotes his own welfare, as much as he does when he takes care of his own body. A man’s kindness to his wife will be more than repaid by the happiness which she imparts; and all the real solicitude which he shows to make her happy, will come to more than it costs. If a man wishes to promote his own happiness in the most effectual way, he had better begin by showing kindness to his wife.” Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…