Ephesians 5:18-33
A husbands love is not contingent on how he feels about his wife, what she does for him, or how she treats him. God’s command is to love, regardless of their actions. This is brought home in the story of Gomer and Hosea. God told Hosea to marry a prostitute named Gomer and take her as his wife. Despite the vast number of times she left him and slept with other men he continued to bring her back to him. He even had to buy her from an auction for slaves in order to redeem her and bring her back home. He loved her, he was doing his best to present her holy and blameless before the Lord, to nurture her and cherish her, while also cleansing her by the Word. He did all of this because God gave him a heart that was full of love.
Ephesians 5:23 and verse 25 take the picture one step further and show us how the relationship between a husband and wife is a picture of Christ and His church. We are the bride of Christ and He is the head of the church. He loves us despite all the times we fail, all the times we run from him, we disobey and continue in sin. There is nothing we can do to separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:39). Just as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for the church so husbands are called to give themselves up and love their wives.
In Genesis 3 the problem of sin enters the world and causes death and separation between mankind and God. It also causes separation between men and women. God approaches Adam first and asks him to give an account for what has happened. Adam, being the perfect man steps up to the plate and takes full responsibility for his actions and those of his wife. No, in fact Adam does the exact opposite. He dodges the question and passes it on to Eve and blames her for his sin! Adam fails test #1. God holds him accountable for his family even if he doesn’t want to take that role. The women, not wanting the responsibility either (it wasn’t designed to be hers in the first place, it was designed to be given to Adam as the leader and head of the family) sidesteps the question and blames the snake for being sneaky and crafty. Ultimately it is not Eve’s role to take responsibility for what happened, it was given first to Adam. He is the head, he is the one who is designed to love his wife, sanctify her, nurture her, cherish her, cleanse her with the Word, and ultimately present her before the Lord blameless and holy. By the blood of the Jesus Christ shed on the cross we are able to be presented to the Father holy and blameless.
The example has been set and the bar has been established. Husbands are called to lead their families in a Godly and Biblical fashion, take responsibility for their family ALL the time (even when things aren’t going well), and love their wife the same way they love their own body. If they are able to pursue these three things they will be able to fulfill the high calling God has blessed them with. The only way this can be done is through a growing and personal relationship with the Father, by the blood of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit as He convicts us of sin, guides us in all wisdom, and empowers us to love as Christ loves the church.
The Call For Husbands:
Verse 25-33:
1) Love your wife- 25
2) Sanctify your wife (daily sanctification Col. 1:22, Matt. 4:5, Rev. 22:11)- 26
3) Cleanse your wife with the Word- 26
4) Present your wife holy and blameless- 27
5) Nurture your wife- 29
6) Cherish your wife- 29