that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
26. That he might sanctify, — or, that he might separate it to himself; for such I consider to be the meaning of the word sanctify This is accomplished by the forgiveness of sins, and the regeneration of the Spirit. Washing it with the washing of water.
All Christians owe one another mutual submission in reverence for God, yielding and not lording it over each other. Where this spirit rules, husbands and wives will discharge their duties well: the church's submission to Christ teaches wives their part, and Christ's love teaches husbands theirs.
AI summary
Commenting on Ephesians 5:21-33
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies,.... It is a common saying with the Jews, that a man's wife is "as his own body" (r); and it is one of the precepts of their wise men, that a man should honour his wife more than his body, , and "love her as his body" (s); for as they also say, they...