Ephesians 5:21-33

Read Ephesians 5:21-33

Helpful Background Information: 

• This is the same sermon passage as last week, and that’s intentional! This week, we will examine another angle of this text. In Ephesians 5:21–33, Paul describes marriage not only as a covenant but also as a context for spiritual formation. He teaches that husbands and wives are to love and serve one another as Christ loves the church. This mutual submission (v. 21) is not about one person losing their identity but about both yielding to Christ’s authority. Marriage becomes a living illustration of the gospel, where each partner reflects different aspects of Christ’s love and the church’s devotion. In doing so, both are shaped by humility, forgiveness, and sacrificial service.

• When Paul says that Christ sanctifies the church by “washing her with the word” (v. 26), he points to a deeper purpose in marriage, the holiness of both parties. A godly marriage isn’t just about compatibility or happiness; it’s about becoming holy ever after. Through the daily choices to forgive, to listen, and to love selflessly, spouses become instruments of God’s sanctifying grace in each other’s lives. As both husband and wife draw nearer to Christ, they inevitably draw nearer to each other.

Reflection Questions: 

• Paul describes Christ cleansing the Church “by the washing of water with the word.” What might it look like for a husband and wife to help each other grow spiritually through God’s Word?

• How might conflict or disagreement in marriage become an opportunity for sanctification?

• How does focusing on Christ’s example of love give you strength to love others?

• If you are single, how can you pursue Christlikeness in your friendships and community in the same spirit that this passage teaches?