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Thursday 6 April 2023

Ephesians 5:31-33 - This is a profound mystery

5:31-33

Paul then quotes from Gen 2:24. Jesus also quoted this verse. It is foundational in our understanding of marriage and of sexual relations. God created sex to be between one man and one woman in marriage. Any other expression is both sinful and harmful. Marriage is both a reflection of the relationship between Christ and the church, and is also very practical. Societies work better when marriage is honoured. Our society has already suffered much because of the devaluation of marriage, and as this trend continues the costs will become ever greater. So husbands must love their wives, and wives must respect their husbands. Does this mean husbands don’t need to respect their wives? Or wives don’t need to love their husbands? Of course not, such notions are idiotic. Rather it is that the greatest dangers in general for men is that they treat their wives as someone who is there for their benefit, someone to be made use of, not someone to be loved. For women the greater danger is not respecting their husband. So Paul is being very practical dealing with the issues that matter.


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