That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
27. That he might present it to himself. He declares what is the design of baptism and of our being washed. It is, that we may live in a holy and unblamable manner before God. We are washed by Christ, not that we may return to our pollution, but that we may retain through our life the purity which we have once received.
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
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh,.... This is unnatural, contrary to the first principles of nature; see Isa 58:7; which the (u) Jews understand of one that is near akin, and there is none nearer than a wife: but nourisheth and cherisheth it; feeds and clothes it: even as the Lord the church; who never hated her, but nourishes and cherishes her...