Ephesians 5:31-33

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 5:31

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother ,.... These words contain the law of marriage, and are cited from Genesis 2:24 ; and declare what ought to be, and are a prophecy of what should be; and are observed against polygamy, and to stir up mutual affection; See Gill on Matthew 19:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery ,.... It has something mysterious in it; it is a figure and emblem of the mysterious union between Christ and his people: for so it follows, but I speak concerning Christ and the church ; or mention this law and institution of marriage, with respect to them; for the leaving of father and mother prefigured Christ's coming forth from the Father, and coming into this world in human nature, and his disregard to his earthly parents, in comparison with his people, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless, let everyone of you in particular ,.... The apostle returns to his former subject, and recapitulates the mutual duties of husband and wife, after he had enforced them from the instance and example of Christ, and his church; and would have every married person in particular take the directions and instructions given, to themselves: as that the husband so love his wife even as himself ; since they two are one flesh: and the wife see that she reverence her husband ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 5:31

Shall be joined unto his wife - Προσκολληθησεται· He shall be glued or cemented to her; and, as a well-glued board will sooner break in the whole wood than in the glued joint, so death alone can part the husband and wife; and nothing but death should dissolve their affection. See the notes on Genesis 2:21-24 ; (note). read more

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