Ephesians 5:21, 25-27

[NOTE: I have intentionally repeated verse 21 here because the command to submit to one another applies to all the ensuing applications. Unfortunately, our society has distorted the instructions to wives and husbands. So I chose to include this verse before discussion either the exhortation to wives or that to husbands.]

5:21

Submit – yield, give preference to; this does not suggest a lower value on me as the submitter; rather with my full value intact, I choose to give preference to you, to let go of my rights for the sake of yours.

to one another – two-way street. I submit to you; you submit to me. The trick is in submitting without keeping score. If I keep a running tally of who submitted last time, then I’m not really submitting.

out of – as a result of, evidence of, motive

reverence – respect, recognition of worth. Our submitting to each other somehow reflects on Him. Conversely, my pride or clinging to my rights reflects poorly on Him.

for Christ – the Anointed One

5:25

Husbands – tender leaders

NLT inserts “this means” – clarifies that this is how submission will look in a Christian husband

Love – showing preference for the needs and desires of my wife through my actions and attitude. This counterbalances the exhortation to wives. She is urged to submit to—yield to the rights and leadership of—her husband. At the same time, I am told to love her—to act on behalf of her needs and desires. These seem to contradict each other. But in fact they function in a dialectical tension. Each of us seeks the best for the other rather than scheming for my own advantage.

your wives – my wonderful gift from God

just as – another comparison. Previous verse draws on the same imagery: i.e., the relation between Christ and the church (ideally) sets the standard and example for the relation between the husband and wife. Specifically, tis means each seeks the well-being of the other.

Christ loved – surprisingly this is in the past tense; don’t know what if anything is to be made of that detail

the church – aka the bride of Christ

and – His love was not really known as love until he…

gave himself up – I’m tempted to preach here. But in fact, I still struggle with this. How do I give myself up and provide leadership at the same time? There must be something about the way in which Christ gave himself up and still provides loving leadership. There must be a pattern or example for me. At first thought, this phrase seems to refer to his crucifixion. But God the Son gave himself up also by surrendering His rights to be called equal with God (Philippians 2). Perhaps that is the example for me to follow. I can surrender my rights in order to effect the best for my wife.

for her – Christ did not simply surrender His rights. More than that, He did this for His bride. On her behalf, for her benefit

5:26

to – first of 2 intended consequences of Christ giving himself up. By extension, recommended as 2 worthwhile goals for me to seek to effect for my wife, as I give myself up.

make her holy – righteous, godly, clean, set apart, owned by God for His service

cleansing – remove all dirt, scrubbing, scouring, burning or searing a diseased area

her – the church, the bride of Christ. But I have to keep in mind that Paul will apply all of this to my relationship with Nancy: Somehow my giving myself up for her will lead to her being made holy, cleansed…

by – the means of achieving the cleansing and holiness

the washing – scrubbing, bathing

with – agency

water – Is he thinking of baptism? I don’t see any other interpretation

through – means or agency

the word – Scriptural teaching connected to baptism. NLT = “washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” Granted, this omits reference to water which is almost certainly in the Greek. But perhaps Paul was not thinking baptism. Maybe he was thinking that the Word of God would have the effect of bath water in making the bride of Christ holy and clean. Wow! I could go for some time on the power of God’s word to affect change. It has certainly done that in my life. But increasingly—or maybe persistently is a more accurate word—Americans think our puny minds can pass judgment on God’s word. Over the years, His word has gradually been able to bend and mold my stubborn will. The only reason is because He graced me to submit to the authority of God’s word. I do not pass judgment on God’s word; it passes judgment on me. The extent to which a church—local, denominational, national, universal—allows God’s word to pass judgment on us will directly determine the degree to which that portion of the bride of Christ is being made holy, cleansed by the washing through the word.

5:27

and to – Second of 2 intended results of Christ loving the church and giving Himself up for her

present her – A couple thoughts occur: First, the imagery used employs the context of a wedding. In other words, Christ gave himself up so that when He consummates the marriage at the marriage supper of the Lamb, His bride will be holy, cleansed, radiant, etc. But I am already married. It is too late to present my wife on our wedding day in comparably glowing terms (although she was indeed radiant and beautiful and pure!). Still, Paul challenges me to give myself up—not as groom but as husband—in order to facilitate my wife Nancy becoming all that God can make of her.

Second thought: This takes me back to the puzzle I have already mentioned. What is there about my giving up of myself that effects these changes in my wife? And I suppose there is another question lurking inside that one: Why did it not work in my first marriage?

to himself – In every culture I know of there comes a time for some kind of ceremony, which we call marriage. And in those ceremonies, there comes a moment when the groom sees his bride. Assuming his love for her is pure, then as she approaches him, she appears to be the most beautiful creature on earth. Of course, when the mortal groom espies his mortal bride he masses a finite assessment on her beauty. But when the eternal Groom presents his bride to himself, his eternal perspective renders absolute Truth. And He will proclaim her holy, cleansed, and radiant—in fact not opinion.

as – in the appearance of

a radiant – glowing, sparkling, gleaming; a radiant bride glows from within

church – called-out community. Christ is still in the process of making the church holy so that He can present her radiant

without – not having either of these

stain – spot that has not been removed; not referring to stain on our reputation or our history; but no stain, no spot, on the church’s character

or wrinkle – sign of aging; if the church shows no sign of aging, then she has joined Christ in being immortal. Is this what Paul means?

or any other – whatever other fault or imperfection might be imagined

blemish – the church will be perfect. Don’t get me started on how far we have yet to go on that goal. But then, Paul is not talking about the humanly created, social organization called “Christianity.” He is referring to the fellowship of believers that transcends the lines of denomination. But even among this supra-denominational fellowship of believers, this bride has a long way to go before she is free of any fault. Certainly true as long as I am part of this bride.

but – contrast, instead of the negatives—stain, wrinkle, or blemish—this bride is characterized by the positives:

holy – set apart for God’s ownership and use. I can never be called ‘holy’ in my own right; I am only ‘holy’ in relation to God. He along is Holy in character; I am holy as He attaches me to Himself.

and blameless – difference between perfection and blamelessness. The former says we do everything in exactly the right way, never make a mistake or miss the mark. The latter suggests that our performance, our actions, may fall short of our intentions or motives. Christ is creating a bride, the fellowship of believers, set apart from the world, whose only motive is to glorify God in our lifestyle. Still got a ways to go on that one!