The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 225

husband." . 'l'his_ express!ve phrase points to the closeness, exclusiveness, and specialty of the_ reln.t1onsh1p•. ~t Is thus a great mischief to unsex woman by denying or dis- regardrng the supenonty of man. 4. The similarity of the relation to that between the Ohurch and Ohrist. "As the Church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." As Christ is the Source of authority and direction to the Church, as he exercises both with meekness and gentleness, so is the husband to the wife. She is bound, therefore, to give him the obedience the Church gives to Christ, limited, of course, by the nature of the relation and the authority of God. She is not to ideniify her husband's claims with Christ, as if her Saviour could supersede or weaken the just authority of her husband over her. A religious wife loves and honours her husband all the more from the very intenseness of her love to Christ. Her very obedience, too, fashioned upon the obedience of the Church to Christ, becomes tributary to her influence over her husband. Christianity has lifted woman to a high place, but without unsexing her. The old pagan writer, Libanius, might well exclaim, "Oh what women these Christians have I "-T. C. Vers. 25-33.-The duties of husbands. As the duties of wives are comprehended in the single duty of subjection, the duties of husbands are comprehended in the single duty of love. The injunction is significantly repeated three times, as if to indicate that it was essentially needed to correct or qualify his sense of soverei~ty or superiority over her. Consider three points. I. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUSBAND'S LOVE. 1. It is peculiar in its nature, unlike the love of parent or child, friend or neig)i.bour. "He is to love his wife even as himself." 2. It is single, e:cclusive, and undivided in its object; for the husband is to devote to his one wife all the affection of his life. " Rejoice with the wife of thy youth" (Prov. v. 18, 19). This fact is the condemnation of bigamy and polygamy. 3. It is to be considerate and tender, excluding all bitterness. "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Col. iii. 19). Husbands are "to dwell with their wives according to knowledge" (1 Pet. iii. 7); that is, with a due consideration t-0 their condition as " the weaker vessel," and with a disposition to hide or bear with their weaknesses or infirmities. It is to be a love that will make it unnecessary for the husband ever to command his wife. Tho gos)_)lll counterpart of " Wives, submit your- selves to your own husbands," is not "Husbands, command your wives," but "lovo your wives." 4. It is to be mutual. The wife's love is presupposed, though elsewhere it is expressly commanded (Titus ii. 4). 'l'he husband is to love her as she loves him. The rightful confidence and sympathy of married life are impossible without mutual affection. All marriages of convenience or self-interest are thus condemned. Lo e must be the basis of marriage. 5. It is to be constant and lasting, notwithstanding all tho weaknesses or failings of the wife. II. THE METHODS IN WHICH THIS LOVE JS TO FIND EXPRESSION. 1. In providing for the temporal su,pport of a wife. The husband is to "nourish and cherish" his wife. Ho that provicleth not for his own is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. v. 3). 2. Ife m?J,St consult her liappi11ess and pleasure; for "he that is married is to caro that ho may please his wife" (1 Cor. vii. 33). 3. He mmt protect her life, her honour, her goo(l name; for she is" the weaker vessel." He must "give honour to the wife" (1 Pet. iii. 7). 4. He is to seek her spiritual welfare. He is to pray for hor and with her, remembering that she is an heir with him of the grace of life, "that your prayers be not- hindered." III. THE REASONS FOR THIS COMMA~"D. 1. The original law of marriage. " For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the twain shall become one flesh." The union implies such an identification of interest, pr~ perty, and relationship to the world ns to make them n_lmos~ oue person. 2: T~e wife is the husband's other self. She is not only one flesh with h1mse!f, but she _is his v_ery body. "No man ever yet hated his own flesh," except the fanatics of ascetic devotioo. 3. The help, comfort, a11d blessi11g she brings to him. She is given to him as "an help- meet • '' she is his companion. "Yet she is thy companion and the wife of thy cove- nant,; (Mai. ii. 14). 'l'he heart of the hu~band "safely trusts in her" (Prov. xii._ 4). 4. She is the wealcer vessel. A spirit of chivalry ought to surround her w1Lh the shield of protectinO' love. 5. She is "the glory of the man" (1 Cor. xi. 7)-his honour and ornament an°d delight. 6, J]is union with her is typical of the blessed union that exists EPflESIA~S. Q  THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [en. v. t-:,3,