22 The wives! to your own husbands subject yourselves, as to the Lord, 23 because the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ 'is' head of the assembly, and he is saviour of the body, 24 but even as the assembly is subject to Christ, so also 'are' the wives to their own husbands in everything. 25 The husbands! love your own wives, as also the Christ did love the assembly, and did give himself for it, 26 that he might sanctify it, having cleansed 'it' with the bathing of the water in the saying, 27 that he might present it to himself the assembly in glory, not having spot or wrinkle, or any of such things, but that it may be holy and unblemished; 28 so ought the husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies: he who is loving his own wife—himself he doth love; 29 for no one ever his own flesh did hate, but doth nourish and cherish it, as also the Lord—the assembly, 30 because members we are 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 to his wife, and they shall be—the two—for one flesh;'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ephesians 5:22-31
Commentary on Ephesians 5:22-33
(Read Ephesians 5:22-33)
The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, which includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them. The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant, notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, that he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin, by those influences of the Holy Spirit, of which baptismal water was the outward sign. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle till they come to glory. But those only who are sanctified now, shall be glorified hereafter. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, are spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. It was a kind of type, as having resemblance. There will be failures and defects on both sides, in the present state of human nature, yet this does not alter the relation. All the duties of marriage are included in unity and love. And while we adore and rejoice in the condescending love of Christ, let husbands and wives learn hence their duties to each other. Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects would be avoided.