Paul the
apostle told the “husbands” in
the Ephesians church they were to “love their wives as
their own bodies”, and he declared, “he that loves his
wife loves himself”. In chapter five and verse twenty-nine of
his letter, Paul shared how men “nourish and cherish”
their “own flesh” “even as the Lord the church”
where we read:
For no man
ever yet hated his own flesh;
but
nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church:
The
verse begins, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh;” Paul
began with the word, “For” which means “as, because,
even, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and verily” “no man”
or “not any, aught, neither and never did a man” “ ever yet”
or “in past time, sometimes, any time and once” “hated”
which means “loved less and detested” “his own flesh”
or “body and flesh which covers the bones”. Paul used the idea of
“men” not “despising and detesting” their “own bodies”
to compare it to the way they are to be with their “wives”.
The
verse goes on to say, “but nourishes and cherishes it,
even as the Lord the church:” Paul
added, “but” which
is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “moreover,
nonetheless and nevertheless” “nourishes”
or “brings to maturity, cherishes or trains” “and
cherishes it” which means
“keeps warm, fosters with tender love and care”, “even
as” or “according as, just
as, in proportion to and in the degree of” “the Lord”
who is “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God” “the
church” which is “an
assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”.
The Lord Jesus “cherishes, brings to maturity and fosters with
tender love” His bride, “the church”.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we understand how people in
general do not “hate” their own flesh and bodies. Most men
are concerned with the care of their bodies, and Paul used this idea
as an example for the way “husbands” are to care for their
“wives”. The Lord “takes care of, trains, brings to
maturity, and cares for” His church with “tender love”.
“Husbands” are to “love their wives” in the same
manner. May the Lord help all “husbands” to emulate Jesus in
their “care” for “their wives”.
Next
time Paul shares how “we are members of his body”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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