Let’s look at this portion by different sections. 

Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”  The Lord instructs husbands about how to love their wives.  We are to love our wives in the same sacrificial way in which the Lord loved the church.  We have here three tenses of love regarding Christ and His church.

PAST LOVE – He loved the church.

PRESENT LOVE – That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.

FUTURE LOVE – The He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle.

We are to have a sacrificial love for our wives that exists in the past, in the present, and in the future.

Ephesians 5:28-29, “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”  Next, we are taught that a man should love his wife the same way that he loves himself.  In the normal person, there is a natural care for our health and wellbeing.  A normal person will feed and care for himself.  This nourishment and care reflects the love of the Lord for the church for He nourishes and cares for us.  So should a man behave towards his wife.

Ephesians 5:30 says, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”  All believers are members of the body of Christ, which is the church.  1 Corinthians 12:27 states it plainly, “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”  This oneness with the Savior should dictate to men how they ought to love and respect their wives.  Notice that we are not told to react to our wives’ behavior.  Husbands are to simply love their wives no matter how the wife treats her husband.  We are members of the body of Christ, we ARE the body of Christ, as such we should exercise tender care, protection, and love to the wife the Lord has given to us.  They are, indeed, gifts from God and should be cherished with love that is not earned, just like the Lord loved us without us having to earn His love.

Ephesians 5:31-33 tells us, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”  The family unit led by the father and mother is a sacred institution.  It is a type, or picture of Christ and His church.  The spiritual union of Christ and the Church, signified by the marriage union, is a great one, and of great importance. 

Christ’s love and tender care of His church is an example of how men should treat their wives.  This is a high standard, but this is what the Lord calls us to do, it is what He empowers us to do, and it is what will please our wives and honor our Savior.  (387.6)