ANSWERS
Read Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
1) Who is Paul giving instructions to?
>> Husbands and wives in the Ephesian church.
2) Why should wives be subject to their own husbands?
>> v23 – Husband is head of the wife just as Jesus is the Head of the church.
3) In what areas should wives be subject to their own husbands?
>> v24 – in every area.
4) How are husbands expected to fulfill Paul’s instruction to love their wives?
>> by modelling after the way in which Christ loved the church. This love is expressed through husband caring for his wife as he would his own body. Practically, it means taking care of his own body by nourishing and cherishing her (v29) and this would include providing protection, food, shelter etc.
5) How then are wives expected to respond?
>> v33 – respond by respecting her husband. This is a restatement of the wife’s role to be subject to the husband – through obedience in everything.
6) So Biblically, how should husbands and wives show love to each other?
Husbands / Christ – In Authority – PROVIDES (express love by Providing)
Wives / Church – Under Authority – SUBMITS or OBEY (express love by Obeying)
7) Do you think this formula for love works for any other relationships?
>> Parent - Child relationships
Parents – In Authority – PROVIDES (express love by Providing)
Children – Under Authority – SUBMITS or OBEY (express love by Obeying)
Read Ephesians 5:22-33
22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
1) Who is Paul giving instructions to?
>> Husbands and wives in the Ephesian church.
2) Why should wives be subject to their own husbands?
>> v23 – Husband is head of the wife just as Jesus is the Head of the church.
3) In what areas should wives be subject to their own husbands?
>> v24 – in every area.
4) How are husbands expected to fulfill Paul’s instruction to love their wives?
>> by modelling after the way in which Christ loved the church. This love is expressed through husband caring for his wife as he would his own body. Practically, it means taking care of his own body by nourishing and cherishing her (v29) and this would include providing protection, food, shelter etc.
5) How then are wives expected to respond?
>> v33 – respond by respecting her husband. This is a restatement of the wife’s role to be subject to the husband – through obedience in everything.
6) So Biblically, how should husbands and wives show love to each other?
Husbands / Christ – In Authority – PROVIDES (express love by Providing)
Wives / Church – Under Authority – SUBMITS or OBEY (express love by Obeying)
7) Do you think this formula for love works for any other relationships?
>> Parent - Child relationships
Parents – In Authority – PROVIDES (express love by Providing)
Children – Under Authority – SUBMITS or OBEY (express love by Obeying)