The Husband's Duties
"Husbands, love your wives" - A Sermon from Ephesians 5:25-33
Originally preached March 27, 1960
Scripture
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or …
Sermon Description
What is the duty of a Christian husband? The duty of the husband in the Christian marriage is to build up his wife in the love of Christ. In this sermon on the command “husbands, love your wives” from Ephesians 5:25–33, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones confronts the fact that many Christians never think through the nature of a Christian marriage. Instead they simply adopt whatever is popular in culture at the time. The apostle Paul gives a conception of marriage that is understood in the beautiful metaphor of Christ and His church. From this is seen that the husband’s duties in the marriage is one of great significance and importance. As the head of his wife, the husband is to imitate Christ in His love of the church. There is a high calling, for this is a great privilege and responsibility for the husband. The husband is to live with his wife as his other half, not simply another relationship in his life. This is completely unique to the marriage relationship and demands the highest priority and care. It is the husband’s responsibility to put his wife above all others and to lead her in love and a spirit of gentleness. He is to help her love God and Christ Jesus more by having loving care and leadership in the marriage.
Sermon Breakdown
- The secret of success in marriage and the Christian life is to think and understand. Nothing happens automatically.
- As Christians, our conception of marriage must be positive. We must always be striving for the ideal of Christ and the church.
- The real cause of failure in marriage is self and selfishness. Submitting to one another in reverence for Christ is the solution.
- The husband must realize his wife is part of himself. He can't think or desire in isolation from her.
- The husband's thinking must include his wife. He can't think of himself alone.
- The husband must have no desires for himself alone. His wife is involved in all his desires.
- The husband must never be selfish. He must remind himself his wife is part of him.
- The husband's wife is not just his partner but his other half. She is his "better half."
- The husband must treat his wife as his own body. He nourishes and cherishes her as he does his own body.
- The husband must not abuse, neglect, or take his wife for granted. He nourishes and cherishes her.
- To nourish means to provide food, diet, and sustenance for growth and development. The husband considers what strengthens and pleases his wife.
- To cherish means to exercise, talk with, and protect. The husband brings his wife into his life and protects her weaknesses.
- If trials or illness come, the husband cares for his wife as he would his own body. He builds her up and aids her recovery.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.