Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—
Summary: What does it mean to care for your body? A second look at this question reveals that Paul is right. Everyone does care for their body.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:29b – Caring for the Church”After all, no one ever hated their own body,
Summary: Language can be tricky. Paul uses an expression in this passage that can be misunderstood if we are overly picky about words.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:29a – The Meaning of Everyone”He who loves his wife loves himself.
Summary: Love is often misunderstood because our word for love does not distinguish between things and people. Paul is teaching us the difference.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:28b – Real Love”In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
Summary: Paul gives us husbands a lesson in caring for our wives.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:28a – Knowing Jesus”… and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Summary: Paul uses Jesus’ relationship with his church as a model for husbands to follow in their relationships with their wives.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:27 – Holy and Blameless”… cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Summary: Paul’s use of words always keeps us on our toes. In this passage he gives us something interesting to think about.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:26b – Power Wash”… and gave himself up for her to make her holy,
Summary: Understanding spiritual matters is a challenge for all of us. We are all born of the flesh first, and born spiritually second. Learning to “see” spiritually is a skill, like learning to walk physically.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:25b-26a – The Holy Within”… and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
Summary: Paul packs a pile of theology into today’s passage. What did Jesus do for his bride? Everything!
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:25b-27 – The Unholy Question”Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church …
Summary: Wrapping our heads around Christ’s love for the church is a tall order. To get the big picture, we need to step back and look at the whole story from Genesis to Revelation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:25a – Bird’s-Eye View”Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Summary: Paul uses the church as an example of unity, but in today’s world, that example leaves something to be desired.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:24 – Invitation to Love”