Happy Home Part 2

Introduction

To the wives: submit. 3 verses.

To the men: die. 9 verses.

The Command

v. 25a

Love. Such a simple, little four letter word.

But, what kind of love are we talking about?

The Greek translation of the OT - erav. “Desires the other for itself”

Philein - friendly love (Sometimes combined with the word for brother - philadelphia).

Agapan - most common. As a verb and as a noun 247 out of the 286 of the ESV.

What we find here - as

Agape = an unconditional love.

“A love that is a choice to be satisfied with someone, often where the higher lifts up the lower, elevating the lower above others.”

When God’s love for mankind is described, the biblical authors use “agape.”

The Example

vv. 25b-27

Jesus sets the example to us for love.

Our example is one of selfless and sacrificial love.

Jesus died for the church.

Jesus sanctified the church.

Jesus saw the best in the church.

Husbands,

Are you sacrificing yourself for your wife?

Who matters more?

Husbands,

Are you spiritually leading your wife?

What role does faith play in your family?

Husbands,

Are you supportive of your wife?

When you see her, what do you see?

Song of Solomon 4:7 ESV

7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.

Even beyond physical beauty, the call is to see the spiritual beauty!

The Explicit Command

vv. 28-30

“In the same way” or “ought to” is “Thus, husbands owe to love their wives.

You never finish loving your wife.

The image is that you love the other at least as much as you love yourself.

The evidence of this is the mirror. Every guy in here looked at least once in the mirror.

Some to fix your hair, some just to see the beauty of your bald head.

You nourish and cherish your own flesh (v. 29).

Provide and protect your wife.

Just as we are members of the body of Christ, you and your spouse are one.

Which leads to next...

The Scriptural Model

vv. 31-32

Paul points back to the Scriptural model for marriage.

One man and one woman for life.

A high standard for marriage.

Much of this began in 1969 when California enacted a “no-fault divorce” policy. Then spread across the US.

Picture of Marriage / Divorce

Marriage vows matter.

Who you marry matters.

The Summary

v. 33

Husband - love your wife.

Wife - respect your husband.

Different words reflecting the ways the different genders are wired.

Men and women are different and it’s understandable that what they look for in a relationship would be different.

Conclusion

Ephesians 5:21 ESV

21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Lift up your spouse.

Physically.

Emotionally.

Spiritually.