Here, Paul accentuates the beauty of the relationship between Christ and His church by comparing it to the traditional Jewish marital background. By looking at Jewish marriage, we can see many things about this special relationship between Christ and His bride, the church.
A. In that culture, being espoused was much stronger than being engaged.
It was actually being married. This is why Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, entertained thoughts about divorcing Mary. He was thinking of dissolving the bond that had been sealed.
B. After the angel assured Joseph of Mary’s fidelity, he advised him in the following words.
Noticed that she is referred to as his wife because they were already married. But a waiting period was required before the bride and groom actually started living together. It was during that time that Mary became pregnant.
C. After the espousal, the bridegroom would often depart to prepare a house where he and his bride would call their home.
This could take quite a bit of time to accomplish. The bride, therefore, was to have the patience to wait for her beloved and the loyalty to refuse any temptation to be with another man. She lived for the return of her husband and was always in a state of eagerness to hear the charming voice of the bridegroom.
D. Often times after two people are married, adultery takes place.
This is unfaithfulness to the marriage vows to keep oneself for the other. It is also possible for the bride of Christ to be guilty of spiritual adultery. It so happens that this was beginning to take place in the church at Ephesus. The angel of the church at Ephesus was told the following.
Have you let it slip to the extent that you are an unfaithful bride?
E. Once the house was finished, it was customary for the father of the groom to examine it, and if it met his approval, he would say, “Go and get your bride.”
The festivity that followed was not the marriage, since this had occurred previously. It was the marriage feast or supper. This is what the five foolish virgins missed in Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, Matthew 25:1-13.
F. Before the death of Christ, John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the bridegroom in John 3:29.
He did this, emphasising the fact that he was not the Christ. John explained that he was merely a friend of the bridegroom and that his joy was fulfilled in introducing the presenting Jesus, the true bridegroom.
G. As the groom would depart after the bride to prepare a place for them to live, so Christ has returned to heaven to prepare a place for His bride, the church.
It is this momentous occasion that we patiently wait as Christ’s bride.
H. No other event holds more meaning to us or produces as much eager anticipation as the return of Christ from heaven.
As we wait for Jesus, we must be characterised by loyalty and fidelity to Christ and His teaching. Remember that Christ wants to present his bride to himself as “a glorious church not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish,” Ephesians 5:27.
A. This is such a simple statement to make.
Yet, how profound it is. Paul said that husbands are to love their wives. In like manner, Christ loves his bride, the church. However, His love is greater than any love we have ever experienced here on earth.
B. To love is to do what is best for the other person.
Christ was the personification of this kind of love in that he did what was best for us, but which brought him great sorrow, pain and agony. He died on the cross for our sins. Paul said to the elders of the church in Ephesus the following.
C. The love that Christ had for his bride is so profound that we cannot fathom the depth of His love.
Surely anything that was loved so profoundly must have been of utmost importance. How can men say the church is not important? How disappointing it must be to Him when we do not put the kingdom first. He put us first.
D. Christ’s love for the church causes Him to protect His bride.
Every bride looks to her husband for security and protection, for she is the weaker vessel. Not weaker in mind or spirit, but physically. Peter instructed husbands to “dwell with them with understanding, giving honour to the wife, as to the weaker vessel,” 1 Peter 3:7.
E. As we walk in the light of God’s word, we are assured “the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7.
This is a continual process. His blood keeps on cleansing us of our sin as we walk in the light. Paul says, “He is the Saviour of the body,” Ephesians 5:23.
As long as we retain the word (the seed) in us, we cannot be harmed by Satan.
A. Here, the whole question of authority is answered.
There is no doubt as to who is the head. This is true in marriage and just as true in Christ’s church. In Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” To do something in the name of is to do something by the authority of.
B. A wife has no problem submitting herself to her husband because she knows he loves her and would do nothing to harm her.
She willingly submits because there is no danger. So it is with the bride of Christ. We willingly submit to Christ. There is no problem, for His commands are “not burdensome,” 1 John 5:3.
The great idea behind the church as the bride of Christ has to be the great and profound love that Christ has for us. With this knowledge of his profound love, how could we ever forsake Him? How could we ever do anything but love Him?
The bride seeks to please the bridegroom. Any moment now, the announcement may come from heaven “At midnight, the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” Matthew 25:6. May our expectation of His return produce within us purity, steadfastness and joy.