Beth-El Baptist Church

9/20/2008

Greg Tomlinson


What is so special about marriage being a picture of Jesus and the church?


With divorce such a major event within the church and in the culture in general, many see Paul's describing of the relationship between Jesus and the church to be like that of a marriage. This difficulty can be amplified as the world takes a look at the many denominations and infighting within Christiandom itself.


  1. What is the context of Paul's association of Jesus and the church as a marriage?

Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 4:11-20

1 Corinthians 11:1-12


The primary context is in Paul's discussing the the necessity of the wife to submit to her husband in the same way and essentially to the same degree that the church is to be in submission to Jesus Christ. The husband is to love his wife in the same way and to the same degree that Jesus Christ loves for the church. What Paul is giving is the ultimate illustration of what a true marriage ought to look like. We are not to look at our human marriage relationships in order to understand the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church but we are to look at the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church in order to understand what our marriages ought to look like.


  1. What is meant by the husband being the head and the wife submitting?

Husbands:

Ephesians 5:25-27 Colossians 3:19

1 Peter 3:7


Wives:

Ephesians 5:22 Colossians 3:18

1 Peter 3:1-6


Relationship:

Numbers 30:6-16 cmp John 14:15, 26 Acts 13:1-2; 15:28


The husband is to love his wive with the attitude of completely willingly sacrificing himself for the sake of his wife. This describes his attitude toward all decisions that he makes are to be for the true benefit of his wife and it may not be what he wants nor what is best for him. It may not be what the wife desires, but it is what the wife needs. A major part of that leadership has to do with the Word of God. It ought to be a daily part of life with your wife to work through the scriptures together, as though her knowledge of the scriptures and her obedience to them is dependent upon the husband.


Likewise the wife is to submit to her husband with the attitude that the decisions he is making is truly for her best interest, even if she disagrees with him. The idea is to accept his position of leadership and responsibility.


  1. Is there any relation between the Jesus/Church relationship and the God/Israel relationship?

Isaiah 54:4-6 Jeremiah 3:20

Isaiah 50:1 Jeremiah 3:8-9

Romans 7:1-4 cmp Hebrews 9:15-17


The relationship between national Israel and God was often illustrated as a relationship of a husband and wife, with God as the husband. This is shown by the use of adultery to describe Israel's following after other gods and by the giving of a bill of divorce to Israel. Note though that Paul describes the continuance of a marriage until the death of the spouse at which point the living spouse is free to remarry. In this picture, the God if Israel (husband) is killed (Jesus) which then closes off the requirements of the Old Testament. The relationship between Israel and God is no longer held by contract. The uniqueness in this case is that the “husband” died, but he rose from the dead. His death terminated the relationship with Israel so that he could be married to another, the church.


  1. What are the ramifications to me as a Christian regarding this relationship?

James 4:7-11 1 John 3:16-17, 23-24; 4:7-12

Luke 6:46-49; 17:7-10 Ephesians 4:32

John 13:34-35; 15:12-15; Romans 6:16-23; 12:1-2; 13:8-10

1 Peter 1:22-23 Proverbs 31:10-12


As a Christian, we are married to another. We are married to Jesus Christ. As a result of our being married to Jesus Christ we are to submit ourselves to Jesus Christ and His commandments. We are to understand that what Jesus says in His word, all of it (Old and New Testaments) are given to us in order to know how to live. We are to live lives within the boundaries established by Scripture, the very Word of God, the Words of Jesus Christ. Our lives are to always be lived in such a way that we are doing good for the name and the cause of Jesus Christ. Look at how you treat your spouses, children, neighbors, coworkers, and even your enemies (those who hate you and those that you “hate”) and evaluate whether or not your treatment of them brings honor and glory to Jesus Christ. Remember the law of forgiveness “and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32).