The Analogy of the Body
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:22-24
Originally preached Feb. 7, 1960
Scripture
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let …
Sermon Description
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the biblical view of marriage is not a sacrament or simply a legal union. The biblical view is a covenant union between a man and woman that reflects the relationship between Christ and the church. Because marriage is a picture of this relationship, Christians are not to marry someone who does not have faith in Christ. In this sermon on Ephesians 5:22–24 titled “The Analogy of the Body,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues that husbands are to care for their wives in the same way that Christ cares for His church, and that the wife is to submit to the husband as the church submits to Christ. This submission is to be seen in the broader context of a loving relationship where both seek the good of the other. This does not make the wife inferior or less than the husband as some claim. Nor does this mean that the wife has to do everything that the husband commands without exception. The wife is to serve God and Christ before any other. All believers are ultimately under the authority of Jesus Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul exhorts wives to submit to their husbands in Ephesians 5:22-24.
- Paul considers marriage in a Christian manner, unlike the world. Marriage is a privilege, not a joke.
- Paul exhorts all Christians to submit to one another in Ephesians 5. Wives submitting to husbands is one example.
- The first reason wives should submit is because of the order of nature. The husband is the head of the wife, as ordained by God in creation.
- The second reason is because of the relationship between Christ and the church. The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.
- Only Christians can understand the relationship between Christ and the church. Non-Christians cannot understand the Christian view of marriage.
- Christians should not marry non-Christians. A Christian marriage service is only appropriate for Christians.
- The relationship between husband and wife is like that between Christ and the church, an organic union.
- The wife should submit to the husband like the church submits to Christ. But the wife is not inferior, just different with a different role.
- The wife should not act independently of the husband. That would be like convulsions in the body acting apart from the head.
- The wife should not act before the husband or delay in acting. She should act in coordination with him, under his leadership.
- The wife should live to please and help her husband, enabling him to function as the head. She should say "love, cherish, and obey" in the marriage service.
- The wife should submit to her husband in everything, but not against her conscience, not to commit sin, not if he loses his mind, not to interfere with her faith, and not if he commits adultery.
- Practical helps for wives in trouble: remember why you married him, pray for him, apply 1 Peter 3:1-4, examine yourself before God.
- The relationship between husband and wife should be a privilege, like between Christ and the church, if viewed rightly. Wives will receive reward for suffering and submission.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 5:22-24
What is the biblical foundation for wives submitting to their husbands according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the biblical foundation for wives submitting to their husbands has two main aspects. First, it's based on the order of nature established by God at creation (which he covered in a previous sermon). Second, and specifically Christian, it's based on the relationship between Christ and the church: "The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church." This creates a deeper, spiritual foundation for marriage that goes beyond the natural order.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe a Christian should never marry a non-Christian?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that since the Christian view of marriage is based on the relationship between Christ and the church, a non-Christian cannot understand this view. He states, "The position you'd have would be this, that one of the people getting married would have this exalted Christian view of marriage, and the other would know nothing at all about it." This creates an inherent division and "the seed of discord" in the marriage from the beginning, as they cannot share the same understanding of their relationship.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean by "he is the savior of the body" in relation to marriage?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that while some commentators believe this phrase refers only to Christ's relationship to the church, he argues it has relevance for husbands as well. He points out that "savior" can also mean "preserver" or one who "looks after and safeguards." The husband is meant to nourish and cherish his wife as he would his own body, protecting and providing for her. This is supported by verses 28-29 where husbands are told to love their wives as their own bodies, nourishing and cherishing them.
Does a wife's submission mean she should be completely passive according to the sermon?
No, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explicitly rejects this interpretation. He states: "It seems clear to me that it doesn't teach a mere and a sheer passivity. The wife isn't to be entirely passive. It's a misinterpretation of this picture to say that the wife should never speak, never give an opinion, be mute or dumb and utterly passive." Rather, what the wife should avoid is independent action apart from her husband, just as the body doesn't act independently of the head.
What are the limits to a wife's submission according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies several limits to a wife's submission: 1. She should never act against her conscience 2. She should not allow her husband to make her commit sin 3. She is not bound to obey if her husband loses mental balance or becomes insane 4. She should not allow her husband to interfere with her relationship to God 5. In cases of adultery, which breaks the marriage relationship, she is no longer bound to give him obedience in everything
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones distinguish between conscience and opinion in marital submission?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones makes a crucial distinction between conscience and opinion. He states, "I am saying that the scripture always exhorts us to obey our conscience in all circumstances. But that isn't always the same as holding onto your own opinion." He uses the example of Alison Scott, who refused to attend her husband's church over a theological dispute. Lloyd-Jones argues this was putting "opinion in the place of conscience" and she should have submitted to her husband in this matter, as it was not a violation of conscience but merely a difference of opinion.
What is the relationship between marriage and the church according to this sermon?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, marriage is meant to reflect the relationship between Christ and the church. He calls it a "mystical union" that is "comparable to that between Christ and the church and the church and Christ." This means marriage is not just a legal contract but an organic, vital unity. The relationship between husband and wife demonstrates to the world the same harmony, coordination, and loving submission that exists between Christ and His church, making marriage a powerful testimony of spiritual reality.
What advice does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give to Christian wives in difficult marriages?
For Christian wives in difficult marriages, Dr. Lloyd-Jones offers several practical suggestions: 1. Remember why you originally married your husband and try to recapture that 2. Feel sorry for your husband and pray for him 3. Follow Peter's teaching in 1 Peter 3 about winning unbelieving husbands through godly conduct 4. Cultivate "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" 5. Go to the limits of submission (short of violating the principles he outlined) 6. Examine whether you can honestly go before the Lord with your current attitude
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.