Colossians 3:18-19 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
‘Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.’ Submission will always fall under that which is lawful and right, not in things criminal and wrong. If a husband is sinful and demands his wife to leave off the things that save the soul, she is not under obligation to him. Her God and her soul must come first (Matt. 22:37; Luke 14:26-27). Obedience to the husband in all things is based upon him loving his wife, as Christ does His body (Eph. 5:25, 28, 33).
‘Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.’ Husbands are warned in Ephesians 5:28 that they must love their wives as their own bodies, for he that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does to the members of His body, flesh and bones.
Eight commands for husbands: To be head (taking lead, not rule) of the wife (Eph. 5:23). To love their wives as Christ loved His body (Eph. 5:25). To love their wives as their own bodies (Eph. 5:28, 33). To nourish [Greek: ektrepho] bring up, care for, protect (Eph. 5:29; 6:4; Rev. 12:6). To cherish [Greek: thalpo] to foster, warm in one’s bosom (Eph. 5:29; 1Thess. 2:7). To be joined as one flesh (Eph. 5:30-31). To leave his parents for their wives (Eph. 5:31), not cling to his father and mother and never stand on his own feet to become the head of his home. To cleave to their wives (Eph. 5:31; Matt. 19:5).
Living the Word 