Husbands and Wives

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 3, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 22.

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Husbands and Wives

Chapter 5, Verses 22-33, A.R.V.

Questioning the Text

1. What are wives enjoined to do?

"Wives, be in subjection unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Verse 22.

2. What is the husband said to be?

"For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, being Himself the Saviour of the body." Verse 23.

3. What example of subjection is given?

"But as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their husbands in everything." Verse 24.

4. What is the husband's duty toward the wife?

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself up for it." Verse 25.

5. Why did Christ give Himself for the church?

"That He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the Word, that He might present the church to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Verses 26, 27.

6. What conclusion is therefore drawn?

"Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his own wife loveth himself." Verse 28.

7. What evidential proof is given of this?

"For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as Christ also the church." Verse 29.

8. What are Christians declared to be in their relationship to Christ?

"Because we are members of His body." Verse 30. 9. What scripture is quoted to show the relationship between husband and wife, and Christ and church?

"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh." Verse 31.

10. What is this called? and what application is made?

"This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church." Verse 32.

11. What practical application is made of all this?

"Nevertheless do ye also severally love each one his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she fear her husband." Verse 33.

Note and Comment

She should look to her husband, as the stronger one and the proper one to lead, for help and comfort and counsel. We know no other normal plan, no other regulation, no other setting forth of the true relationship between husband and wife, than that given in the word of God. We believe if the man is a normal man, and the woman is a normal woman, such relationship as that will be natural. The love of the wife on the part of the husband will be whole-hearted, spontaneous, helpful, kind, tender, uplifting, respectful. The love of the wife toward the husband will lead her to do everything in her power to be to him a help. One of the great examples that God has given us of this (see 1 Peter 3:6) is Abraham and Sarah. We are told there that "Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord;" but in reading the history of Abraham and Sarah, we find no quarrels, no demands for lordship or ladyship, simply a happy, normal married life, so far as they themselves were concerned. We find Abraham seeking her counsel and following it; and at one time when he did not wish to follow it, the Lord was on Sarah's side, and told him that she spoke truly, and he ought to follow it. All these matters will be settled by the husband's being a noble, strong, manly man, who will do what is right, and regard his wife as a help meet from the Lord, his own equal, and one who stands in her sphere as he does in his, preeminent. The Spirit of God in the heart of each one will fully settle the matter, and settle it in the right way.