Continuing his discussion of the life of the Kingdom, Paul turns to the theme of family relationships, the relationships between spouses...
Continuing his discussion of the life of the Kingdom, Paul turns to the theme of family relationships, the relationships between spouses (vv. 22-28). At first glance, this theme is not directly connected with the apostle's preceding reflections: marriage is only a particular case of relationships between neighbors. And yet that is not quite so. Already from the time of the prophet Hosea, marital relations became the model by which relations between God and the human person, or between God and the people of God, were described. Likeness to marital relations became traditional both for Yahwism and for Judaism. And Paul, likening the relationship between Christ and the Church to family relationships, is clearly following this tradition.
But he goes still further: he likens marital relations themselves to the relationship between Christ and the Church (vv. 24-27). In doing so, the apostle refers to the story in Genesis about the creation of the human being (vv. 31-32), which speaks of a depth of marital relations that far surpasses any natural bonds conditioned only by the laws of nature, even bonds as deep as the relationship between children and parents (Gen 2:22-24).
Apparently Paul was trying to convey a simple thought to the readers of his letter: between people created by God in His image and likeness, there can in principle be no "nonspiritual" relationships conditioned by natural laws alone. Family relations were the clearest example in this case. It is precisely here that the natural, physical bond becomes especially visible, so visible that fallen humanity, often failing to notice spiritual realities, has often been inclined to reduce the whole meaning of relations between man and woman to it. On the one hand, such an approach inevitably leads to the destruction of the family, impoverishing marriage and often making it completely meaningless. But the "justification" of marriage so common in religious circles, by childbearing as its only purpose and as something conditioned exclusively by the need to continue the human race, also turns out to be a distortion of the idea of marriage as Paul understands it.
Marital relations, like all other relationships, need no justification before our still untransformed world and no grounds built according to its laws. Their only justification and their only basis is in the Kingdom. If they root those whom they bind in it, they are infinitely precious and absolutely justified in the eyes of God, and marital relations then also become an absolute value in themselves (vv. 31-33). But if this does not happen, they will never become part of the Kingdom, however powerful their natural foundation may be and however deep and strong they may seem to those whom they bind.
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5:22 In the following directions concerning relative duties, the inferiors are all along placed before the superiors, because the general proposition is concerning submission; and inferiors ought to do their duty, whatever their superiors do. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands - Unless where God forbids. Otherwise, in all indifferent things, the will of the husband is a law to the wife. As unto the Lord - The obedience a wife pays to her husband is at the same time paid to Christ himself; he being head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church.
5:23 The head - The governor, guide, and guardian of the wife.And he is the Saviour of the body - The church, from all sin and misery.
5:24 In everything - Which is not contrary to any command of God.
5:25 Even as Christ loved the church - Here is the true model of conjugal affection. With this kind of affection, with this degree of it, and to this end, should husbands love their wives.
5:26 That he might sanctify it through the word - The ordinary channel of all blessings. Having cleansed it - From the guilt and power of sin.By the washing of water - In baptism; if, with "the outward and visible sign," we receive the "inward and spiritual grace."
5:27 That he might present it - Even in this world. To himself - As his spouse. A glorious church - All glorious within.Not having spot - Of impurity from any sin. Or wrinkle - Of deformity from any decay.
5:28 As their own bodies - That is, as themselves. He that loveth his wife loveth himself - Which is not a sin, but an indisputable duty.
5:29 His own flesh - That is, himself. Nourisheth and cherisheth - That is, feeds and clothes it.
5:30 For we - The reason why Christ nourishes and cherishes the church is, that close connexion between them which is here expressed in the words of Moses, originally spoken concerning Eve. Are members - Are as intimately united to Christ, in a spiritual sense, as if we were literally "flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone."
5:31 For this cause - Because of this intimate union. Gen 2:24.