Marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33)

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 5:22-33

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

COMMENT

Just some observations about this passage...

• I believe these 2 paragraphs should be treated together, as they are interlocking and dependent on one another
• I come to this passage knowing that I am not a perfect person or husband. I imagine that for this reason, this passage is very intimidating to many preachers to take on.
• Gender issues aside, I have to believe that if the average were taken, males are stronger than females. Sure there are women stronger than some men, and men weaker than most women. But if the average of each were to be compared, in strength, size, and height, it would not be a fair contest. That is why we have an NBA and a WNBA. You don't see women playing quarterback for the Bears or Packers. Etc. It is why there is outrage when a man who identifies as a women wants to complete against women. So when this passage states that husbands are the head of the wife, it is a statement of placement, and not superiority. God decided this, and both in physical ability and God's plan, then man is the head. Wives should understand this and honor it.
• Headship in God's plan is not the same as headship as the world sees it. Consider Jesus, who as the head of the church sacrificed Himself for the church. 
• Therefore, while the head of the wife, it is in the realm of having the desire for the best possible world for the wife that the husband exists. As Christ is the protector of the church, so that the church might appear before God as whole and blameless, the husband should have to same desire. 
• A break down in one side or the other is very damaging to the relationship. If the wife does not submit to the husband, if she does not trust or honor him, it makes is very difficult for the husband to effectively function in his role as protector and provider. Think of it as the church not trusting in Jesus. No matter what He might do, the relationship suffers harm and is not what it could and should be. The same is true for the husband. If the husband abuses his role as head, it also damages the relationship, and it is not what it could or should be.

So I am off, seems I have some work to do...