Ephesians 5:21-33 Jesus Followers Walk As Imitators Of Him In Marriage Part Two

Ephesians 5:21-33 Jesus Followers Walk As Imitators Of Him In Marriage Part Two


Ephesians 5:21-33
…submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. [22] Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. [23] 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. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, [26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, [27] 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. [28] In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. [29] For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. [31] “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” [32] This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. [33] However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

BIG TRUTH:
JESUS FOLLOWERS WALK AS IMITATORS OF HIM IN MARRIAGE

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.
Ephesians 5:31-33


Big Idea:
Walking in love reframes our relationships. (5:22-6:9)

Big Idea:
Submission is the context for walking in love within our relationships. (5:21-22; 6:1, 5)

  • Submission is repulsive to our old nature, which longs for independence and control. (Rom 1:21; Jer 2:13)
  • Submission is a healthy gift from God that flows out of the identity and unity that we have in Jesus. (Eph 4:1-6)
  • Submission to one another is the overflow of our submission to Jesus. (Eph 5:21, Gal 2:20)

Big Idea:
Wives imitate Jesus by submitting to their husbands. (5:22)

Colossians 3:18
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Titus 2:4-5
and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Big Idea:
Wives reflect the relationship between Jesus and His church through their submission to their husbands. (5:23-24)

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Big Idea:
Husbands imitate Jesus by sacrificially loving their wives. (5:25-28)

Big Idea:
Husbands reflect the love of Jesus for His church through laying down their lives for their wives. (5:25, 29)

How Do We Practically “Walk In Love” In Marriage?

  • Wives…
  • Christlike submission is “to the Lord.” (5:22)
  • Christlike submission is for “the building up” of your husband. (4:12-13)
  • Christlike submission is “in everything.” (5:24)
  • Christlike submission is expressed through “respect.” (5:33)
  • Husbands…
  • Christlike love is centered on “Christ.” (5:25)
  • Christlike love is for the “building up” of your wife. (4:12-13)
  • Christlike love is “nourishing.” (5:29)
  • Christlike love is “cherishing.” (5:29)
  • Christlike love is as one “loves himself.” (5:33)

Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Mark 12:30-31
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ [31] The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

1 Peter 3:1-5
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2] when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—[4] but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. [5] For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,

Ephesians 5:31-33
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.



Jesus followers are called to walk in sacrificial love as imitators of Christ who loved us and gave himself up for us. Marriage is the first relationship where this takes place.
Marriage is designed by God and exists to be a picture of the gospel for a watching world to see.

Walk in sacrificial love, forgiving one another and yielding your will to build up others as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1-2).
Walk in joyful submission and sacrificial love toward your spouse for the glory of Jesus.

Feel the weight and privilege of reflecting the gospel as you walk in love within your marriage.

Long to walk according to your calling. Be imitators of God. Seek to walk in love as Christ loved you.
Desire to build up your spouse to become more like Jesus.