Ephesians 5:21, New International Version

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

In Ephesians 5:21-33, the Apostle Paul paints a beautiful picture of marriage as a reflection of Christ’s relationship with the Church. Far from being a mere partnership or legal contract, marriage is presented as a sacred covenant, marked by love, sacrifice, and mutual submission. Paul’s words offer both husbands and wives a divine blueprint for how to honor God through their union, illustrating that Christian marriage is ultimately a living testimony of the gospel.

Paul begins with the call for mutual submission: "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ" (v. 21). While the following verses address the specific roles of husbands and wives, this foundational principle makes it clear that both partners are called to serve and honor one another. For wives, this submission is described as a reflection of the Church’s submission to Christ (v. 22-24). It is not about inferiority but about willingly honoring her husband’s leadership as part of God’s design.

For husbands, the command is even more profound: "Love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (v. 25). This love is not based on dominance but on self-sacrifice. Just as Christ laid down His life for the Church, husbands are called to lay down their lives—both figuratively and, if necessary, literally—in devotion to their wives. This means leading with humility, protecting with gentleness, and cherishing their wives as their own bodies (v. 28-29).

Paul goes on to reveal that marriage is a mystery pointing to Christ and the Church. The union of husband and wife is meant to reflect the unity, intimacy, and covenant love between Jesus and His bride, the Church (v. 31-32). Just as the Church is united to Christ in love and submission, so marriage is designed to mirror this divine relationship. When a Christian marriage models sacrificial love, it becomes a visible testimony of the gospel.

Ultimately, Ephesians 5:21-33 calls Christian couples to see their marriage as more than a human relationship—it is a spiritual calling. Wives are called to respect their husbands (v. 33), and husbands are called to love their wives with Christlike devotion. When lived out in obedience, this kind of marriage glorifies God, strengthens families, and reveals the beauty of the gospel to the world. Let us pursue marriages that reflect Christ’s sacrificial love and the Church’s devoted reverence, bringing glory to God in every aspect of our covenant.

(All scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version)