John Chrysostom on Eph 5:25: "Husbands love your wives, as Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her." :
You must care for [your wife], as Christ does the church. Even if it is necessary to give your life for her, even if you must be cut into a thousand pieces, even if you must endure any suffering whatever, do not refuse it.
Even if you do suffer this, you will never suffer as much as Christ did. For you are doing it for one with whom you are already joined, but he did it for one who rejected him and hated him. Just as he took the one who had rejected him and hated him and spat on him and despised him, and laid her at his feet, not with threats or violence or fear or anything like that, but with great kindness, so you must behave in a similar way toward your wife. Even if you see her looking down on you and despising you and holding you in disdain, you will be able to lay her at your feet by showing great care and love and affection for her. For nothing has greater power than these bonds, especially between husdand and wife…Even if you suffer in some ways because of her, do not criticize her, for Christ has done nothing of the sort.
You must care for [your wife], as Christ does the church. Even if it is necessary to give your life for her, even if you must be cut into a thousand pieces, even if you must endure any suffering whatever, do not refuse it.
Even if you do suffer this, you will never suffer as much as Christ did. For you are doing it for one with whom you are already joined, but he did it for one who rejected him and hated him. Just as he took the one who had rejected him and hated him and spat on him and despised him, and laid her at his feet, not with threats or violence or fear or anything like that, but with great kindness, so you must behave in a similar way toward your wife. Even if you see her looking down on you and despising you and holding you in disdain, you will be able to lay her at your feet by showing great care and love and affection for her. For nothing has greater power than these bonds, especially between husdand and wife…Even if you suffer in some ways because of her, do not criticize her, for Christ has done nothing of the sort.
2 comments:
Now read it with "Pastor" in the place of "husband" and "Church" in the place of "wife".
Love the post and Matthew's comment as well.
Post a Comment