Discover with us the biblical teachings on a husband’s role and authority over his wife, as well as the right way for a husband to treat his spouse. The Scriptures emphasize that marriage is a precious gift from God, and there is no comparison to a devoted couple committed to love and matrimony.
When two individuals in a marriage love God and each other, they can overcome challenges and stay together until death. Prioritizing their marriage according to God’s teachings and laws brings joy and satisfaction. Today, we focus on how husbands should treat their wives within the marital relationship. According to the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33, wives should submit to their husbands as they would to the Lord.
The husband’s authority over the wife is comparable to Christ’s authority over the church, both as Savior and as his body. Similarly, just as the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands in all aspects. Husbands are encouraged to love their wives in the same way that Christ loved the church and sacrificed himself for her. This sacrifice is intended to sanctify and cleanse her through the word, presenting her as an immaculate and flawless being so that she may be regarded as holy and without fault.
Husbands are instructed to love their wives in the same way they love their own bodies. When a man loves his wife, he is essentially loving himself because no one despises their own flesh; instead, they nourish and care for it, just as Christ does for the church. This is because we all belong to Christ’s body. It is written that a man shall leave his parents and be joined together with his wife, resulting in the two becoming one flesh. This concept holds great significance as it pertains to the relationship between Christ and the church. Nonetheless, each individual should love their spouse as they do themselves while wives should show respect towards their husbands.
The Scriptures affirm the husband’s authority over his wife and her duty to submit to him. In today’s society, where equality is valued greatly, some may view this as unfair, believing that God gave husbands dominion over their wives. However, it is not God’s intention for husbands to mistreat or manipulate their wives. Any man who mistreats his wife acts foolishly and disobeys God’s commands. Furthermore, he deceives himself if he believes harming his wife will bring him any advantage.
When husbands treat their wives kindly and respectfully, they can anticipate receiving love and respect in return. If they fail to show love towards their wives, it may lead to disrespectful behavior from them, which further damages the marriage. However, when husbands show affection and wives demonstrate respect, the relationship thrives. Consequently, husbands can strengthen their marital bond by mastering the art of expressing Christian love towards their wives.
If a husband persists in loving his wife even when he feels disrespected, and if a woman persists in respecting her husband despite feeling unloved, they can collaborate to rebuild their marriage. It is essential for a wise husband to give heed to his wife so as to comprehend what she and all women require for happiness. Each woman yearns for closeness with her husband and the guarantee of his concern. Unfortunately, numerous husbands maintain an emotional gap from their wives, leading them to feel unloved. Wives desire husbands who are ready to openly communicate and disclose their thoughts and emotions.
When a husband chooses to isolate himself and become distant, his wife feels insignificant and unnecessary. The secrecy surrounding his life leads her to question his love and trust for her. Wives require reassurance that their husbands are loyal and not seeking companionship elsewhere. Additionally, they long to be the most important person in their husbands’ lives (second only to God), cherished and respected. Ultimately, the most vital action a husband can take is to deeply love his wife. According to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, true love demonstrates patience and kindness while avoiding jealousy, boasting, arrogance, or rudeness.
Love is not self-centered, irritable, resentful, or rejoicing in wrongdoing. Instead, it rejoices with the truth and bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends.
To love our partners and for them to love us back requires effort. Some people may be more challenging to love than others, making patience and kindness essential. Loving someone means putting aside selfishness and self-centeredness. If we are focused on ourselves, we cannot truly love another person. Love does not include envy, arrogance or rudeness.
Love is characterized by patience, forgiveness, and understanding. It requires us to overlook small issues and avoid constant irritation. Love is capable of enduring challenges and persisting in its beliefs and hopes for others. It demonstrates a willingness to prioritize the best interests of others above our own, regardless of the personal sacrifice it may require. Jesus exemplified this kind of love towards the church, and He urges husbands to exhibit the same love towards their wives. Expressing love towards one’s wife entails actively engaging with her, being emotionally present, and attentively listening to her. The happiest couples prioritize spending quality time together, engaging in meaningful conversations daily.
To express love and care for your wife, it is crucial to disconnect from technology and engage in direct communication. A wise husband values the act of sharing his life with his spouse and takes the time to actively listen and comprehend her. Neglecting to give attention to your wife indicates a lack of regard for her thoughts and feelings, which is an abusive rather than affectionate behavior. In James 1:19-20, James advises being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger because anger does not lead to righteousness. By embracing active listening and comprehension, much of the anger within our homes can dissipate. Devote your complete attention to your spouse, allowing her full expression without acting impulsively or impatiently.
To gain insight into her perspective, strive to understand her life. Follow the guidance of 1 Peter 3:7, which advises husbands to live with their wives in a compassionate manner and give them due respect. Acknowledge that women may have physical weakness but are equal heirs of God’s grace. By doing so, you ensure that your prayers won’t be hindered. Some husbands mistakenly believe that being the head of the household gives them the authority to dominate or mistreat their wives. This behavior goes against God’s intentions and harms a marriage. Instead, treat your wife with kindness and make sure she knows how important and valuable she is to you. Witness the joy on her face when you do so! As mentioned in Proverbs, finding an exceptional wife is like discovering something more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband relies on her, and he will not experience any lack of gain.” (Proverbs 31:10-11). A wise husband trusts his wife’s discernment and recognizes his good fortune in having her. It is completely foolish for a man to expect his wife to love him and fulfill all his needs while treating her unkindly. Husbands, love your wives. Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
The heart of a husband depends on his wife, who brings him abundance (Proverbs 31:10-11). A wise husband values his wife’s judgment and appreciates how fortunate he is to have her. For a man to expect unconditional love and fulfillment from his wife while treating her poorly is utter folly. Husbands must show love towards their wives. Jesus emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount that one should treat others as they wish to be treated because it aligns with both the Law and the teachings of prophets (Matthew 7:12).
Witnessing people’s kindness and generosity towards non-family members, while disrespecting their own relatives, is surprising. It is crucial for both husbands and wives to apply the golden rule in their relationships with their spouses. If we could observe how we treat our families, it would undoubtedly be a shocking realization. Recording our words or capturing our actions on video would provide us with a perspective from our loved ones’ point of view. Regrettably, some individuals fail to acknowledge the difficulties they cause within their families. Hence, reflecting periodically on how we have treated our kin is beneficial for each of us.
Empathy involves understanding and sharing the emotions of others, seeing things from their perspective. It requires us to consider how we would feel in their situation and question our own perception. Jesus, during his Sermon on the Mount, also warned husbands about controlling their thoughts and gaze towards women who are not their wives. In Matthew 5:27-30, he stated: “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
If the act of gazing at other women becomes a hindrance for you, eliminate your right eye and cast it aside. It is more preferable to sacrifice a body part than to be condemned to hell. Similarly, if your right hand leads you astray, amputate it and discard it. It is better to relinquish a limb than for your entire body to suffer damnation. This conduct of glancing at other women is a detrimental pattern observed in numerous men. It signifies to their spouses that they are not the focal point of their attention and that there exists another individual who holds superior status.
In Job 31:1-4, Job acknowledged the importance of self-control and maintaining righteousness. He made a covenant with his eyes, ensuring that he would not gaze upon a virgin. He recognized that such actions would not be pleasing to God and questioned what he would gain from the Almighty by engaging in such behavior. Job understood that calamity would befall the unrighteous and that those who commit iniquitous acts would face disaster. He also acknowledged that God sees his actions and closely observes his every step. Unfortunately, many husbands fall into the destructive pattern of pornography, which involves looking at explicit images and videos. By doing so, they betray their spouses by directing their attention to someone other than their partner.
Both husbands and wives are engaging in the sinful behavior of watching pornography. This harmful habit can lead to emotional adultery and eventually physical adultery. The prevalence of pornography in videos, literature, and on the internet is causing numerous marriages to break apart. The term “pornography” derives from the Greek word porneia, which pertains to fornication and prostitution. To protect their marriages and honor God, wise husbands safeguard their hearts, eyes, and actions.
In a home, it is important for the husband to be both wise and a spiritual leader. One of the most crucial aspects of spirituality for couples is spending time together engaging in activities such as singing, praying, and reading the Bible. It holds immense significance when husbands and wives pray together privately on a daily basis.
Prayer provides an opportunity for husbands and wives to share their burdens with God the Father collectively. It allows them to express their concerns and needs in each other’s presence as well as in front of God. By praying together, two individuals foster spiritual intimacy and unity that strengthens their relationship.
Christian marriages that prioritize God as the center of the home, practicing love, patience, forgiveness, and obedience to God’s laws, seldom result in divorce. God’s ways are not only right but also the ultimate path to happiness and love within a Christian marriage. Husbands should strive to create a home that aligns with God’s desires. This involves having personal devotion at home, attending church regularly, and actively participating in God’s work. Without a doubt, God’s way is a way of abundant blessings.
Married Christians may not all be happy in their marriages. If you are unhappy and have unmet needs, there are steps to address this issue. Firstly, it is crucial to acknowledge and admit your pain to yourself and your spouse. Ignoring hurts hinders healing and meeting these needs. Many men struggle with understanding their wives’ thoughts; therefore, wives should clearly communicate their needs to their husbands. Both partners need to openly discuss their needs in a loving manner. It is important to understand that emotional baggage caused by unmet needs does not disappear with time. Husbands and wives must both recognize feelings of anger, bitterness, or resentment towards each other.
According to Paul in Ephesians 4:31-32, it is important to emphasize the significance of forgiveness and releasing negative emotions. This includes letting go of bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice once a fault has been revealed. It is essential for couples to demonstrate kindness, compassion, and forgiveness towards one another just as God forgave them through Christ. The ability to effectively address conflicts and navigate the process of apologizing and forgiving is crucial for any relationship. Despite facing disagreements, couples who are able to successfully overcome their issues are the ones who flourish.
Couples should learn how to communicate and solve problems to prevent a problem from destroying their marriage. 1 Peter 4:8 shows that love can cover many sins, illustrating God’s forgiveness as an example for us to forgive deep hurts. God sent Jesus out of immense love to die for our sins and purify us from unrighteousness. We obtain forgiveness by having faith in Christ as Lord and the Son of God, repenting from sin, confessing Jesus’ name before others, and undergoing baptism (Acts 2:38).
The generosity of God compels us to pursue goodness, similar to how the Lord pardons our sins. Consequently, we should also extend forgiveness towards others. I sincerely yearn and pray that nothing will obstruct your connection with God. Why not seize this chance to align your life with His wishes? Certain individuals may need to embrace the gospel, while others may require reconciliation with the Father.
