“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Ephesians 5:25
The uniqueness of this Love is evident in the expression “as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it”
It assumes a need in the wife and a duty in the husband. A weekness in the woman and a responsibility in the man .
We men then it would seem are many things in this relationship , including , but certainly not limited to, A covering , that is we are responsible as the head therefore we will be held to blame before God for any shortcomings in our wives ,especially if they stem from our lack of sacrificial care and patience .
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”
Ephesians 5:23
Note the potential , promising results of Ephesians 5:25
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
Ephesians 5:26-28
Look throughout the scriptures and see how far this headship responsibilities can cover.
Adam and Eve
Note that in ADAM all die ( 1 Corinthians 15:22)
Not in Eve who was deceived but through Adam did destruction fall upon man, Adam could have shielded her but instead he yielded to her. He could have interceded but instead he condescended. This was illustrated in the law of daughters and wives under the covering , protecting authority of their fathers and husbands in Numbers chapter 30.
The women’s rights movement and the suffragettes would faint dead away at these verses and God would be branded anti woman!
But did not God make us and does he not know us better than we ourselves?
Marriage is not a partnership it is a relationship.
Christians are not Partners with Jesus : though through obedience and love they can be and often are fellow laborers together with him.
He is always Lord and we are always the sheep of his pasture.
Without him we can do NOTHING.
But through his husbandry we can me made and nourished into vessels fit for the masters use.
HUSBANDS : we must be more in love with the LORD to fulfill this calling, more separated , more Fundamental in the faith. We are Helpless without Him and he has enabled us to do what ever he has called us to to do , so
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; ...,,,,Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
Ephesians 5:20-33 KJV