What does Ephesians chapter 5 verse 23 mean?

Answer 1

In the King James version

(I give the verse before and after to help with context.)

5 : 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

5 : 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

5 : 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 2

Eph 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

It speaks of position and authority. 5:25 is given as a reason for verse 24. Wives are to submit to their husbands as the church does to Christ, because God made man the head of the household, just as Christ is the Head (position wise, and authority wise) of the Church.

It is however not a one sided issue, which is why I included verse 26-29. The man, LIKEWISE, is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. He is to love his wife even as he loves himself, in other words, his wants does not come before hers, and her needs.Its an unconditional and sacrificial love, laying down your life for the wife, literaly if needbe, but certainly it means no more "running with the boys and leaving the wife at home". He is to be tenderhearted to his wife with his love, considerate, always mindful of doing best for the wife, even if it means personal sacrifice.

This isn't someone the wife would have difficulty submitting to, as she trusts that he truly loves her dearly, and will and does anything for her. Its a two way street, its not one or the other, its both, if either one is missing in a marriage, the end will likely be disaster, or at the very least a distancing and cooling off of the relationship, as the marriage turns cold.