INTRODUCTION:

A. The great mystery, of the text, has to do with the unfolding of God’s scheme of redemption in the church.  This is seen as the phrase is used in the book of Ephesians.
 1. Ephesians 1:9.
 2. Ephesians 3:3,4,9.
 3. Ephesians 5:32.
 4. Ephesians 6:19.

Paul uses the comparison of the husband/wife relationship to teach important lessons concerning the church.  It is in this comparison that one finds valuable lessons concerning God’s virtuous woman.

C. Let us study this text carefully and glean the lessons that relate to the virtuous woman.

DISCUSSION:

I. THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN IS LOYAL (Ephesians 5:22-24,33).

 A. To her Lord (Ephesians 5:22-24).
  1. Her loyalty is seen in her submission.  Luke 9:23 shows that such loyalty affects:
   a. Her desire.
   b. Her direction.
   c. Her denial.
   d. Her daily activity.
   e. Her dedication.
  2. Submission to the Christ is not demeaning to the woman.
   a. She is not made a “second-class person” by such submission.
   b. Her submission to the Christ is a voluntary submission.  She is not forced to
                                                          obey the Gospel but does so because of her love for the Christ and her faith in     Him.
  3.            Her loyalty to her Lord furnishes the pattern for her loyalty to her husband.  “As” is  
                                            used seven times in this text. 
 B. To her husband (Ephesians 5:22-24,33).
  1. Her loyalty is seen in her submission (Ephesians 5:22-24).
   a. Colossians 3:18.
   b. Titus 2:5.
   c. I Peter 3:1,5.
   d. “Ill thrives the hapless family that shows
    A cock that’s silent, and a hen that crows:
    I know not which live most unnatural lives,
    Obeying husbands or commanding wives.” 1
   e. The woman is not made “second-class” when she
     submits to her husband.
    (1) God’s arrangement (I Corinthians 11:3) is being
      respected and honored.
    (2) Subjection does not imply inferiority.
    (3) Her submission to her husband is voluntary. 
      She married of her own free will and submission is 
                                                                        a part of God’s marriage arrangement.
    (4) “There is nothing more attractive than to see a
      woman fulfilling the role which God has assigned to her.  A full-length portrait of such 
    a woman is given in Proverbs 31 - an enduring
    memorial to the wife and mother who pleases the Lord” 2
                          f.   As is seen in Luke 9:23, submission defeats  selfishness, 
                                                which is the sin that wrecks most  marriages.
  2. Her loyalty is seen in her single affection (Ephesians  5:22).  
   “Your own husband.”  “Own” is used six times in 5:22-33. 
    This stresses God’s plan of one woman and one man for life.
   a. Titus 2:5.
   b. I Peter 3:1,5.
   c. Genesis 2:18.
   d. Proverbs 12:4; 31:11.
  3. Her loyalty is seen in her spirit (Ephesians 5:22,23).  She
    sees her submission to her husband as a part of her
    service to the Christ.
  4. Her loyalty is seen in the scope of her submission 
   (Ephesians 5:24).  She submits in everything that does not 
   violate God’s law (Acts 5:29).
  5. Her loyalty is seen in her sense of respect (Ephesians  5:33).

II. THE VIRTUOUS WOMAN IS LOVED (Ephesians 5:23-33).

 A. By her Lord.  The Lord’s love is seen in:
  1. The salvation He provides (Ephesians 5:23).
  2. The sacrifice He made (Ephesians 5:25).
  3. The spotless nature of the church (Ephesians 5:26,27).
  4. The support He offers (Ephesians 5:29).
 B. By her husband.
  1. The love of the husband for the wife is stressed three 
   times in the text (Ephesians 5:25,28,33).  The word Paul
    used is “Agapao.”  This stresses the high nature of the
   love expressed by the husband.
  2. The husband’s love is seen in:
   a. The pattern he follows (Ephesians 5:25-31).
    (1)  A pattern of the highest love.
     (a) “Gave himself” (Ephesians 5:25).
     (b) Love makes sacrifice pleasant (Genesis 29:20).
    (2) A pattern of holy love (Ephesians 5:26,27).
     (a) In some cultures, women were purified 
      before going in to their husbands (Esther 
      2:12-15; Ezekiel 16:7-14).
     (b) The home is to maintain purity.
    (3) A pattern of helpful love.  Christ nourishes and 
     cherishes the church (Ephesians 5:28-30).
     (a) “...a husband should feel that it should be
       one great object of his life to promote
      the salvation of his wife.  He is bound so 
      to live as not to interfere with her salvation, 
      but so as to promote it in every way  possible.
      He is to furnish her all the  facilities that she 
      may need, to enable her to attend on the worship 
      of God; and to throw no obstacles in her way.  He is
       to set her the example; to counsel her as  she needs
      counsel; and to make the path of salvation as easy 
      for her as possible.” 3
(b) Anything the husband does to help his 
      wife is but a way of helping himself.
    (4) A pattern of healthy love.  This kind of love will
      keep families together (Ephesians 5:31).
   b. The protection he offers (Ephesians 5:28,29,33).
    (1) I Timothy 5:8.
    (2) Malachi 2:14-16.
    (3) I Corinthians 7:33.
    (4) I Peter 3:7.
   c. The preparation he makes (Ephesians 5:31).
    (1) Genesis 2:24 - God’s original plan for marriage.
    (2) “He shall be glued or cemented to her; and as a 
     well-glued board will sooner break in the whole 
     wood than in the glued joint, so death  alone can 
     part the husband and wife; and nothing but death 
     should dissolve their affection.” 4

CONCLUSION:

Many great lessons, concerning marriage, the home, husbands and  wives, are found in our text.
        All of these are used in the context of instruction concerning man and his relationship with God and 
        especially as concerns the scheme of redemption.
B.    Our emphasis in this study has been upon the virtuous woman.
Let each woman surrender her life to the Christ in Gospel obedience  (Romans 10:17; John 8:24; 
        Acts 17:30; 8:37; 2:38).
Let each woman live faithfully the Christian life.  When she does,  she will fulfill her responsibility to God
       and the home.

ENDNOTES:

1.   Francis Quarles, as quoted by Adam Clarke, ClarkeÕs Commentary (Abingdon, Nashville, 1824), p. 463.
2.   William MacDonald, Ephesians:  The Mystery of the Church (Harold Shaw, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois, 1968), p. 125.
Albert Barnes, BarnesÕ Notes on the New Testament (Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974),
       p. 1006.
4.    Clarke, p. 464.
 

         James Rogers
         8231 Sharp Road
         Powell, TN 37849