Nourish and Cherish

Paul now turns his attention to the men of the young Ephesian church. His words are as countercultural to them as his message to the women. Husbands are to love their wives in the same way Jesus loves his church. This is sacrificial love. It is a revolutionary concept for the Greco-Roman world because in their culture, marriage is often for status, not for love, and commitment is relative to a man’s power and influence. Other than providing material needs, a man is not required to do more. Paul tells the Ephesian men this isn’t what God requires. God requires men to live out his great love...