Over the next two weeks, we will tackle one of the most controversial and misunderstood passages in the entire Bible! It is a passage that deals with marriage and the roles of men and women. In Ephesians 5, men are clearly given the greater responsibility when it comes to marriage. Many men have taken the words in Ephesians 5 and used it to dominate and control their wives. Other men have avoided God’s teaching and refused to lead their families, choosing instead to be passive avoiders of responsibility and true manhood. Our society has reinforced both of these false views of manhood in a variety of ways. 
Scripture is very clear, however, on the responsibility of men in a marriage. Men are to be the Spiritual leaders of their homes. Men are to “love their wives as Christ loved the church.” What does this mean? What does it really look like for a man to love a woman properly? How did Christ love the church? Jesus loved us selflessly. He gave Himself up for us out of a deep love, even in the midst of our sin and rebellion. He loved us with all that He had. This is what it means to be a leader. Taking hold of this responsibility is what it means to be a man.
The world’s handbook on marriage doesn’t work. It is creating spiritually passive men, and families that have no foundation or leadership. It’s time to get back to the One that made us. God ordained marriage. He knows how it works. When a man loves a woman as Christ loved the church, then everything changes.