Ephesians 5:33

"However, let each man of you [without exception] love his wife as [being in a sense] his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband [that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly]." Ephesians 5:33

Husband and Wife... we focus one more time on the two issues that Paul has said each must really make special effort to apply in marriage. With the Amplified really expanding the definition for the Wives "being subject" here in this last verse of chapter 5... I thought it might be helpful to follow with the definition of "love" (I Cor 13:4-8a) for Husbands to have right here also.

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self- seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]."

Again, we have all been asked to love and be subject to one another... in fact, Paul says, that through Christ's regenerative power and the work of The Holy Spirit, that we "will" manifest both in our walk. But for the husband, we see that extra focus or attention to love his wife, and for the wife to be subject to her husband is very important. It is God's love for His people that He has given us this Word. We end here with a picture of God offering us a way to overcome part of the curse (the fall of man) that "we" (mankind) brought onto itself. It has everything to do with love, because everything God is, is love. Our ultimate relationship with Him will enable the power, and wisdom, and love necessary to experience a marriage like His example of the marriage to His Church.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 6:1 next time.

I love you.