Ephesians 5:23,Ephesians 5:24,Ephesians 5:32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 5:21-33

Here the apostle begins his exhortation to the discharge of relative duties. As a general foundation for these duties, he lays down that rule Eph. 5:21. There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another, condescending to bear one another's burdens: not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. Paul was an example of this truly Christian temper, for he became all things to all men. We must be of a yielding and of a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

5:22-33 Wives, be subject to your husbands as to the Lord; for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church, though there is this great difference, that Christ is the Saviour of the whole body. But, even allowing for this difference, even as the Church is subject to Christ, so wives must be subject to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for the Church, that by the washing of water he might... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

The situation was worse in the Greek world. Prostitution was an essential part of Greek life. Demosthenes had laid it down as the accepted rule of life: "We have courtesans for the sake of pleasure; we have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation; we have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately and of having a faithful guardian for all our household affairs." The woman of the respectable classes in Greece led a completely secluded life. She took no part in public life; she... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

In Rome the matter was still worse; its degeneracy was tragic. For the first five hundred years of the Roman Republic there had been not one single case of divorce. The first recorded divorce was that of Spurius Carvilius Ruga in 234 B.C. But at the time of Paul, Roman family life was wrecked. Seneca writes that women were married to be divorced and divorced to be married. In Rome the Romans did not commonly date their years by numbers; they called them by the names of the consuls; Seneca says... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

In this passage we find Paul's real thought on marriage. There are things which Paul wrote about marriage which puzzle us and may make us wish that he had never written them. The unfortunate thing is that it is these things which are so often quoted as Paul's view of marriage. One of the strangest chapters is 1 Corinthians 7:1-40 . He is talking about marriage and about the relationships between men and women. The blunt truth is that Paul's teaching is that marriage is permissible merely... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

Sometimes the emphasis of this passage is entirely misplaced; and it is read as if its essence was the subordination of wife to husband. The single phrase, "The husband is the head of the wife," is quoted in isolation. But the basis of the passage is not control; it is love. Paul says certain things about the love that a husband must bear his wife. (i) It must be a sacrificial love. He must love her as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for the Church. It must never be a selfish love.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife ,.... See Gill on 1 Corinthians 11:3 . Even as Christ is the head of the church ; all the elect; See Gill on Ephesians 1:22 . And he is the Saviour of the body; not "of our body", as the Ethiopic version reads, of that part of man, which is called the body; though that indeed is redeemed and saved by Christ, as well as the soul; but "of his body", as the Vulgate Latin version reads; that is, of the church, which is his body; see Ephesians 1:23... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:23

For the husband is the head of the wife - This is the reason which the apostle gives for his injunctions. See above. He is the Savior of the body - As Christ exercises authority over the Church so as to save and protect it, so let the husband exercise authority over his wife by protecting, comforting, and providing her with every necessary and comfort of life, according to his power. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:23

Verse 23 23.For the husband is the head of the wife. This is the reason assigned why wives should be obedient. Christ has appointed the same relation to exist between a husband and a wife, as between himself and his church. This comparison ought to produce a stronger impression on their minds, than the mere declaration that such is the appointment of God. Two things are here stated. God has given to the husband authority over the wife; and a resemblance of this authority is found in Christ, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:22-23

Relative duties. I. DUTY OF WIVES . "Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands." 1. Ground of subjection . 2. Manner and extent of subjection . II. DUTY OF HUSBANDS . Husbands, love your wives. As the husband excels in the governing qualities, so she excels in the lovable qualities. "For softness she, and sweet attractive grace." If it can be said that he has more power , it can be said that (by her pure and modest feeling, her deep tenderness and... read more

Ephesians 5:23,ephesians 5:24,ephesians 5:32

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 5:21-33

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 5:22-33

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:23

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:23

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:22-23

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