Ephesians 5:26

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:22-33

What husbands and wives owe to Christ. In exhorting the Ephesians to purity and enthusiasm of life, Paul is naturally led to the family institution and the relations to be found there. In the heathen world the relations between men and women were degrading. As Pressense says, in his most suggestive book, 'La Famille Chretienne,' "One found in the pagan family neither purity nor love. At the moment when Jesus Christ came, it had reached the last degree of degradation, and one can apply to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:22-33

Ideal marriage. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the Church: and he is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that he might present... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:22-33

Husbands and wives. I. CHRISTIANITY CONSECRATES AND ELEVATES THE UNION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE . 1. Christianity sanctions marriage . St. Paul, though an unmarried man, casts no slight on marriage. It is true that he discourages it under temporary trying circumstances ( 1 Corinthians 7:1 ), but it is also true that he plainly teaches, not only the lawfulness, but especially the dignity of Christian marriage in itself. The ascetic view of celibacy as a more holy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:25-27

Christ's treatment of his Church. St. Paul describes Christ's treatment of his Church as an illustration of the way in which husbands should behave to their wives. But that vision of the spiritual world which is the ideal of earthly marriage is so attractive that it arrests the apostle's attention on its own account. It may well do the same with us. I. WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR THE CHURCH . We are first directed to Christ's work for the Church in the past. He loved it and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:25-32

The union between Christ and the Church. The apostle unites, with an exposition of the duties of conjugal life, a very impressive statement of the nature of the union between Christ and the Church This statement is exceedingly important, quite irrespective of its supplying an illustration of the ground and measure of a husband's affection for his wife. There are three truths here exhibited respecting the union of Christ and his Church. I. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:25-33

The duties of husbands. As the duties of wives are comprehended in the single duty of subjection, the duties of husbands are comprehended in the single duty of love. The injunction is significantly repeated three times, as if to indicate that it was essentially needed to correct or qualify his sense of sovereignty or superiority over her. Consider three points. I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUSBAND 'S LOVE . 1. It is peculiar in its nature , unlike the love of parent or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 5:26

That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word. The immediate object of Christ was to cleanse her, and for this end he used the Word as a purifying agent, washing her by means of it. The difference between selfish and unselfish love is seen here: a selfish lover cares for his wife in his own interest—like Samson, desires to have her simply because she pleases him, and, in his converse with her, thinks, not of her good, but of his own enjoyment; but the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 5:26

That he might sanctify - The great object of the Redeemer was to purify and save the church. The meaning here is, that a husband is to manifest similar love toward his wife, and a similar desire that she should be prepared to “walk before him in white”.And cleanse it with the washing of water - In all this there is an allusion doubtless to the various methods of purifying and cleansing those who were about to be married, and who were to be united to monarchs as their brides. In some instances... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ephesians 5:26-27

Ephesians 5:26-27. That he might sanctify and cleanse it Might remove the guilt, power, and pollution of sin; with the washing of water In baptism, as the sign of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, which can only renew, sanctify, and cleanse the soul. See 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Titus 3:5. By the word The ordinary channel by which justifying, regenerating, and sanctifying grace is communicated; (John 15:3; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; John 17:17;) and by which we are made perfect,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:21-33

Christian relationships (5:21-6:9)People can have good relations with one another only as they consider one another. When they insist on their rights without considering others, they only destroy harmony and fellowship (21).In the next section Paul illustrates this principle in certain family and social relationships. In 5:22-33 he considers the the case of husbands and wives, in 6:1-4 the case of parents and children, and in 6:5-9 the case of masters and servants. In union with Christ, people... read more

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