Purpose! Newsletter - April 2025

Updated: Jun 3

Husband and Wife

Ephesians 5:21-33:

21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

A little grammar review

Last month, our closing scripture, Ephesians 5:20, ended in a semicolon. To wit:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Now, a semicolon is used to join two independent clauses that share a connection but also work as separate sentences. So our first verse this month is a transitional verse. It is connected to the previous study of walking circumspectly but it also introduces a new topic. Verse 21 says, Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. While submitting to one another seems to take us in a different direction, it is in line with walking circumspectly, to be watchful and discreet, cautious, prudent: guarded, vigilant, careful, and to be aware of what is going on around us, as we defined last month. It becomes even more important when we get to the following verses concerning the marriage relationship, that of husband and wife interactions. We certainly need to be all of the above when it comes to having a healthy marital relationship. Amen?

Now on to the matter at hand.

So, let us deal with the word submit in all of its Greek nuances.

To arrange under, to subordinate; To subject, put in subjection; To subject one's self, obey; To submit to one's control; To yield to one's admonition or advice; To obey, be subject.

This word was a Greek military term meaning "to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader". In non-military use, it was "a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden".

The word submit then, actually means what we think it means and which some in our society don’t like, even among Christians, especially among some of the sisters. Oh, oh.

Like the old radio preacher used to say, Don’t you turn that radio off!

In his wisdom the Apostle Paul first presents a general submission as regards the whole body of Christ.

21Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

No one is superior to any one else and no one is to have control over anyone else. We defer to one another as required for peace and harmony. In regard to the saints Paul speaks to attitude in Romans 12:3:

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Family Matters

Let us move on to more specific situations that require the right attitude and approach.

The husband and wife dynamic. And by the way, we speak strictly to a man and a woman union.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Paul gives a good reason and explanation for this directive.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

The husband’s divine role in regard to the wife, is parallel to Christ’s role in regard to the church.

Head-Greek-kephalē- Metaphorically, anything supreme, chief, prominent; of persons, master, lord: a husband in relation to his wife. That requires no further explaining.

Today it is said the man is the head of the house. That is not the scripture. He is the head of the wife. Under his godly leadership the wife has a most important role in overseeing the home. And the scripture does not prohibit her input, counsel, and insight that might benefit the husband as the head. It behooves the husband to consider her wisdom on matters because she and the children will be affected by the husbands actions and decisions. God can utilize her to present a perspective not seen by her head. I know. Headship over the wife does not constitute dictatorship. As we will see going forward.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Wives submit, husbands love.

It is difficult to resist love. When the love of a husband is in kind to the selfless love of Christ for the church, the Christian wife’s surrender is greatly facilitated. The level of wifely submission is in proportion to the love she receives. The onus is on the husband to be like Christ so the wife can submit as unto Christ. The wife is not expected to give herself to a mean and nasty husband. She should not have to struggle to

fall in line under a cruel dictatorial partner. Her submission should flow as the result of Christ-like love. The “I’m the boss” syndrome is eliminated. A loved wife will accept her kind husband’s leadership.

Let us consider the next two verses and see the Lord’s plan concerning the church and how that applies to the husbands role.

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The Lord Jesus loved the church and gave himself for it with purpose. He intends to set it apart, and cleanse it by means of the water of the word. Speaking of the husband, in Christlikeness, he is capable of setting his wife apart, to elevate her, to free her from faults, guilt, and insecurities, to purify her and to consecrate her, (this is the word cleanse, katharízō, in the Greek), so as to receive her unto himself as his glorious wife without fault, by his words. Imagine if every husband put that into effect. The words a husband speaks to his wife can perfect her or destroy her. Be Christ-like sir, and speak kindly to your wife. You have a part in making her your ideal wife. Hallelujah!

So, a man must love his wife as Christ loved the church. That is a tall order. But read on.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

Then, a man’s care for his wife must be at the level of his care for his own body. No man ever hated his own flesh. Again our example is Jesus. He loves his body, the church. We are his body, flesh, and bones. As he cares for the church a man must care for his wife for in marriage he becomes one with her, physically and hopefully spiritually.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

For all this to take place a man must leave his parent’s home and be joined to his wife. The leave and cleave principle. (Genesis 2:24) Mommy’s and Daddy’s boys are disqualified. Basement dwellers who refuse to leave home can’t make it. Men wanted.

Observe: Three ways for a husband to love his wife.

Even as Christ also loved the church. 5:25

As their own bodies. 5:28

Even as himself. 5:33

In conclusion.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Understanding human marriage as it should be enables a better understanding of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Amen.

The Grand Finale

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Reverence: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.

It takes two. -By PJ Flores-

Greek references are from Blue Letter Bible.

Jesus is Alive! Resurrection Sunday April 20, 2025

We collected a special offering for Bibles in the Telugu language for our ministry partners in Tenali, India in December 2024. They received the Bibles and distributed them to five churches that lost their Bibles in the floods from last summer’s rainy season. They also found a new area to minister in and will be distributing Bibles there as well. Thank you for giving to share the Word of God in India. Blessings! -SAF-