MARRIAGE AS BASED ON CHRIST AND THE ASSEMBLY
J. Strachan
I just want to say a word about what Paul says here, “I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly”, and the bearing that it is intended to have on our practical relationships as husbands and wives. Our brother and sister have entered into this relationship today, for them it is a fresh experience; many of us have previously entered into the relationship, and there are others who may be contemplating the relationship. I desire to say a word as to this great truth of Christ and the assembly and how it is intended to have a very practical effect on our lives. I think we should value the fact that we have been privileged to be recovered to this great truth. We think of the wonderful character of Paul’s speaking of Christ. How great his knowledge was of Christ! He says, “I speak as to Christ”. Then how great his knowledge was of the assembly too, entrusted with the ministry of it, as he was, so he says, “I speak as to Christ, and as to the assembly”. These things filled Paul’s heart and mind and his life; these things were his life. It is very fine to see how this great truth is entwined in the scripture with the practical relationship of husband and wife. I think it is intended that it should be entwined in our lives practically so as to affect us in our lives and help us to fill out these relationships in a way that is pleasing to the Lord.
It says that “a husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the assembly” and “even as the assembly is subjected to the Christ, so also wives to their own husbands in everything”. The assembly has a very special place, “subjected to the Christ”, subjected to such a One. Then that is to be worked out in the way of submission. That enters into the exercises of the wives, who are to submit themselves to their own husbands.
Note that, dear brethren, how the word own comes into this section. Then “even as the Christ also loved the assembly”, husbands are to love their own wives. Note that word ‘own’ again, dear brethren, husbands are to love their own wives, “even as the Christ also loved the assembly”. That is the pattern that is to govern us in our practical relationships. Paul brings the highest levels of the truth to bear on the everyday relationships of life. Think of the advantage of that, in being able to work things out in the intelligence of what is so precious to the heart of Christ.
So it is, “as the Christ also loved the assembly, and has delivered himself up for it, in order that he might sanctify it, purifying it by the washing of water by the word, that he might present the assembly to himself glorious, having no spot, or wrinkle, or any of such things; but that it might be holy and blameless”. You think of the wonderful service of Christ in His love for the assembly. The word ministered to us as coming from Christ is an evidence of the love of Christ. Husbands are to “love their own wives as their own bodies—he that loves his own wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as also the Christ the assembly”. Our brother has already referred to how Christ nourishes and cherishes the assembly. Husbands are to take their lead from that. Wives are to take their guide from the assembly. Husbands are to take their lead from Christ, and work things out as governed by this wonderful truth that we have been brought into. It says, “Because of this a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be united to his wife, and the two shall be one flesh”. They are united, two entities becoming one flesh. The unique character of this bond is to be preserved amongst us, this thought of two being united and becoming one flesh.
So he says, “This mystery is great, but I speak as to Christ and as to the assembly”, and then he continues.
“But ye also, every one of you, let each so love his own wife as himself; but as to the wife I speak that she may fear the husband”. I think it is very beautiful how the truth of this glorious matter is entwined with the practical relationships of life. It is intended that we should set ourselves to work things out in this relationship of husband and wife as patterned on the great truth of Christ and the assembly. Well we are privileged to have the truth. I believe, dear brethren, our responsibility is to work it out at this level. Submission on the part of the wives, love on the part of the husbands would reach that end. I feel we can be confident that our beloved brother and sister will seek to operate at this level. May each one of us be encouraged to take things up at this level, and seek to work them out as governed by the Lord and with His help. May the Lord bless the word.