Read: Ephesians 5:22-33
I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
This is surely among the most misunderstood passages in all of Scripture. It is the passage that’s used at most Christian weddings, without the users and those to whom it’s shared; having a proper understanding of the reference. Actually, in the context of our culture and how we understand weddings and marriages; it is to the secondary interpretation that we mostly allude. The passage is really in reference to Christ and His Church primarily.
I hear a fellow preacher, a friend of mine say; “the message to the Church today is ‘pre-marital counseling’,” and that is a most profound statement in my opinion. The message to the Church is to prepare for the “marriage” that is out ahead - becoming the bride.
Verse thirty-one of our text is a direct quote from Genesis 2:24 and then verse thirty-two relates the previous verse directly to Christ and the Church. When we examine this passage more closely, it begins: “For this reason…” What reason it is that a man is to leave his father and mother, and what does this have to do with Christ and His Church? Going back to the Book of Genesis and it becomes very obvious.
Gen. 2:18, “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Gen 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 2:23
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
The man and the woman were created to rule, to have dominion over the newly restored earth. Neither could have fulfilled this apart from each other, therefore, it is for this “reason”- that of rulership. This is what marriage typifies, we must leave mother and father and be joined together as one flesh so they could rule (have dominion). This will be fulfilled in Christ and His Bride when they replace Satan and the fallen angels as the rulers over this earth and will themselves be inextricably linked together.
For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (Eph. 5:30).
I SPEAK CONCERNING CHRIST AND THE CHURCH
This is surely among the most misunderstood passages in all of Scripture. It is the passage that’s used at most Christian weddings, without the users and those to whom it’s shared; having a proper understanding of the reference. Actually, in the context of our culture and how we understand weddings and marriages; it is to the secondary interpretation that we mostly allude. The passage is really in reference to Christ and His Church primarily.
I hear a fellow preacher, a friend of mine say; “the message to the Church today is ‘pre-marital counseling’,” and that is a most profound statement in my opinion. The message to the Church is to prepare for the “marriage” that is out ahead - becoming the bride.
Verse thirty-one of our text is a direct quote from Genesis 2:24 and then verse thirty-two relates the previous verse directly to Christ and the Church. When we examine this passage more closely, it begins: “For this reason…” What reason it is that a man is to leave his father and mother, and what does this have to do with Christ and His Church? Going back to the Book of Genesis and it becomes very obvious.
Gen. 2:18, “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”
Gen 1:27-28
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen 2:23
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
The man and the woman were created to rule, to have dominion over the newly restored earth. Neither could have fulfilled this apart from each other, therefore, it is for this “reason”- that of rulership. This is what marriage typifies, we must leave mother and father and be joined together as one flesh so they could rule (have dominion). This will be fulfilled in Christ and His Bride when they replace Satan and the fallen angels as the rulers over this earth and will themselves be inextricably linked together.
For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (Eph. 5:30).
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