Eph 5:22-33 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eph 5:22-33: 5:22-33 Christian wives are to submit to their husbands , showing them respect. Equally important, Christian husbands are to love their wives (see Col 3:18-19 ). Christian marriages become a reflection of the union and relationship between the Lord and the church. 5:22 Submission is part of the life to which the wives’ Christian commitment calls them (see 1 Cor 11:3-10 ; 14:34-35 ; Col 3:18 ; 1 Tim 2:11-12 ; Titus 2:5 ; 1 Pet 3:1-6 ).

Summary for Eph 5:22-33: 5:22-33 ^a Christian wives are to submit to their husbands, showing them respect. Equally important, Christian husbands are to love their wives (see Col 3:18-19 ^b). Christian marriages become a reflection of the union and relationship between the Lord and the church. 5:22 ^c Submission is part of the life to which the wives’ Christian commitment calls them (see 1 Cor 11:3-10 ^d; 14:34-35 ^e; Col 3:18 ^f; 1 Tim 2:11-12 ^g; Titus 2:5 ^h; 1 Pet 3:1-6 ⁱ).
Summary for Eph 5:23-24: 5:23-24 ^j a husband is the head of his wife: To be the head is to have authority (see 1 Cor 11:3 ^k).

• Christ is the head of the church: See Eph 1:22 ^l; 4:15 ^m; Col 1:18 ⁿ; 2:10 ^o, 19 ^p.
Summary for Eph 5:25-33: 5:25-33 ^q Christian husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church—that is, sacrificially, for Christ gave up his life for her (5:2 ^r; cp. Col 3:19 ^s; 1 Pet 3:7 ^t).
5:26 ^u washed by the cleansing of God’s word: The church has been cleansed by the message of good news. God has forgiven the sins of his people through Christ’s sacrificial death (John 15:3 ^v; cp. Titus 3:5 ^w; 1 Pet 3:21 ^x).
5:27 ^y a glorious church without a ... blemish: The church’s sins have been forgiven through Christ’s sacrifice, and her life is purified by the Holy Spirit. As a result, the church stands holy and without fault before God. Cp. 1:4 ^z; 2 Cor 11:2 ^aa; Col 1:22 ^ab; Rev 19:7-8 ^ac; 21:2 ^ad.
Summary for Eph 5:28-29: 5:28-29 ^ae Husbands should prize and cherish their wives, for in marriage the two have become one (see 5:31 ^af).
5:31 ^ag The unity of husband and wife should motivate the husband to care for his wife.
5:32 ^ah it is an illustration: Both the unity of husband and wife and the unity of Christ and the church are a great mystery (see study note on 1:8-10).
5:33 ^ai Paul summarizes his teaching on the relationship between husbands and wives (5:22-33 ^aj). Christian marriages should be marked by love and respect.