Ephesians 5:21-33
Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21
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Ephesians 5:21–33 is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture concerning marriage. Verse 21 begins with this exhortation: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This reminds us that one of the fruits of the gospel is a willingness to serve one another. When God’s Spirit is at work in our hearts, we no longer live solely for our own needs and desires. Instead, we become attentive to the needs of others and are willing to serve them. When two people who are filled with the Holy Spirit enter into marriage, their relationship is transformed by the truth of the gospel and shaped by a spirit of mutual service.
Paul continues in verses 25–27:
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… that he might sanctify her… so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
True love desires the good of the other person. It does not leave someone trapped in brokenness or foolishness, but seeks their growth and flourishing. Jesus entered our lives to transform us, helping us die to sin and live in righteousness. Through His sacrifice and the shedding of His blood, He continues His work of sanctifying us. When two Spirit-filled believers come together in marriage, they are drawn not only to one another, but also to the work of God in each other’s lives. Marriage becomes one of the means through which God shapes, refines, and matures them.
Marriage involves commitment and sacrifice. Encouraged by the gospel, we learn to deny ourselves, serve our spouse, and follow the example of Jesus by valuing the growth and well-being of the other person above our own interests. Marriage is a covenant relationship, marked by faithfulness and devotion. It is a context in which we seek to extend to our spouse the same grace, patience, and love that Christ has shown to us.
At the same time, Scripture reminds us that marriage is temporary. There will be no marriage in heaven. Marriage ultimately points beyond itself to a greater reality.
Paul writes, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (v. 32).
Jesus knows His bride, the Church, completely. He came into the world to love us, save us, and care for us. Even when those He loved rejected Him and nailed Him to the cross, He remained faithful and carried His mission through to the end. In doing so, He demonstrated the greatest love the world has ever known.
Because of Christ’s example, even when our spouse falls short, we are called to strive to be faithful husbands and wives. We can love because Christ first loved us. We can forgive because Christ has forgiven us. His love surpasses even the deepest human love, enabling us to extend grace and forgiveness to one another. Through His grace, marriage becomes a place of healing, restoration, and renewal.
By the strength that Christ provides, we can experience transformation within our marriages. We can uphold the dignity of God’s design for the family, follow the example of Jesus, and serve one another in love. Christ has purchased us with His precious blood and given us new life. As His bride, we now spend our lives receiving His love and responding to it until the day He returns.
Reflection:
* Are we learning to follow the example of Jesus in our marriages by loving our spouse with self-giving love?
* When conflicts arise, do we choose forgiveness and reconciliation because Christ has first forgiven us?
* Are we serving one another in our daily lives so that our marriages become a testimony to the gospel?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You for Your Word, which teaches us to submit to one another and serve one another in marriage. Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself up for the Church. Help us to follow Your example by loving our spouses with sacrificial love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and continually renew our relationships so that our marriages may become a testimony to the transforming power of the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Click to read passage
Ephesians 5:21–33 is one of the most familiar passages in Scripture concerning marriage. Verse 21 begins with this exhortation: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” This reminds us that one of the fruits of the gospel is a willingness to serve one another. When God’s Spirit is at work in our hearts, we no longer live solely for our own needs and desires. Instead, we become attentive to the needs of others and are willing to serve them. When two people who are filled with the Holy Spirit enter into marriage, their relationship is transformed by the truth of the gospel and shaped by a spirit of mutual service.
Paul continues in verses 25–27:
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her… that he might sanctify her… so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
True love desires the good of the other person. It does not leave someone trapped in brokenness or foolishness, but seeks their growth and flourishing. Jesus entered our lives to transform us, helping us die to sin and live in righteousness. Through His sacrifice and the shedding of His blood, He continues His work of sanctifying us. When two Spirit-filled believers come together in marriage, they are drawn not only to one another, but also to the work of God in each other’s lives. Marriage becomes one of the means through which God shapes, refines, and matures them.
Marriage involves commitment and sacrifice. Encouraged by the gospel, we learn to deny ourselves, serve our spouse, and follow the example of Jesus by valuing the growth and well-being of the other person above our own interests. Marriage is a covenant relationship, marked by faithfulness and devotion. It is a context in which we seek to extend to our spouse the same grace, patience, and love that Christ has shown to us.
At the same time, Scripture reminds us that marriage is temporary. There will be no marriage in heaven. Marriage ultimately points beyond itself to a greater reality.
Paul writes, “This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church” (v. 32).
Jesus knows His bride, the Church, completely. He came into the world to love us, save us, and care for us. Even when those He loved rejected Him and nailed Him to the cross, He remained faithful and carried His mission through to the end. In doing so, He demonstrated the greatest love the world has ever known.
Because of Christ’s example, even when our spouse falls short, we are called to strive to be faithful husbands and wives. We can love because Christ first loved us. We can forgive because Christ has forgiven us. His love surpasses even the deepest human love, enabling us to extend grace and forgiveness to one another. Through His grace, marriage becomes a place of healing, restoration, and renewal.
By the strength that Christ provides, we can experience transformation within our marriages. We can uphold the dignity of God’s design for the family, follow the example of Jesus, and serve one another in love. Christ has purchased us with His precious blood and given us new life. As His bride, we now spend our lives receiving His love and responding to it until the day He returns.
Reflection:
* Are we learning to follow the example of Jesus in our marriages by loving our spouse with self-giving love?
* When conflicts arise, do we choose forgiveness and reconciliation because Christ has first forgiven us?
* Are we serving one another in our daily lives so that our marriages become a testimony to the gospel?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father God, thank You for Your Word, which teaches us to submit to one another and serve one another in marriage. Lord Jesus, You gave Yourself up for the Church. Help us to follow Your example by loving our spouses with sacrificial love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and continually renew our relationships so that our marriages may become a testimony to the transforming power of the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.