1. Wives, submit to your husbands (22-24)

The general principle for the human relationship is to 'submit to one another out of reverence for Christ' (21). For the marital relationship, the wife is to submit to her husband as the head of the family. Paul compares this relationship to Christ's headship of the church. As the relationship between Christ and the church is sustained by love and submission, so is the relationship between a husband and wife.

2. Husbands, love your wives (25-33)

As Christ loved the church, the husband should love his wife. Christ loved us when we were still sinners. He gave himself up for us to be holy and blameless. His love is unconditional and sacrificial. So Paul says, '…husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.' We take good care of our bodies with food, clothes, medicine, rest etc. Likewise, the husband should love and take care of his wife. The husband and wife are one flesh through God-ordained marriage, and it is 'a profound mystery.' To keep this profound mystery Christ-like, the husband must love his wife and the wife should respect her husband.


Application: Lord, thank you for your submission to God and your love for us. Help us imitate your example.
One Word: Do as Christ has done