The Forty First Sermon, the Eighth on the Fifth Chapter - Ephesians 5:28-30

"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: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones." - Ephesians 5:28-

Seeing that the Holy Scripture exhorts us to be kind-hearted, meek, and patient with one another, and presents us with the example of God, who is reconciled to us in the person of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and shows us the love He has for us and His concern for our salvation through Christ's sacrificial death, it is clear that our hearts must be harder than steel if they are not moved by these truths. However, despite these exhortations, our stubbornness and corruption often render them insufficient. Therefore, to further convict us and shame us, we are directed to observe the natural order of things. Even without the Word of God or the teachings of Holy Scripture, if each of us were to reflect on our own condition, it would be enough to condemn us without the need for any other witnesses.

The heathens, who lacked faith in God and had no religion, could still recognise this fact. They knew that wild animals did not wage war against each other; for example, one wolf did not eat another. Bears and lions living in the wild had a certain instinct that prevented them from harming each other. While they lacked human discretion, they possessed a natural inclination that inclined them towards mutual cooperation, allowing them to coexist peacefully. Therefore, it is troubling that humans, who are supposedly created in God's image, often live more like dogs and cats, displaying cruelty, craftiness, and malice towards one another. Each person can be likened to a wolf or a fox when it comes to their treatment of their neighbours, as if there is nothing but cunning, malice, or outright cruelty among them. This is the reason why God tells us that we share one flesh and one kind, as Isaiah similarly argues to persuade us to help our neighbours and show them pity and compassion in their times of need. "Thou shalt not despise thine own flesh," he says, for even the stranger in the world is not entirely separate from us. Both they and we originate from the same source, and we should recognise them as our fellow human beings. Therefore, anyone who despises or scorns another person forgets their own identity and is unworthy of the honourable status assigned to them by God because they disrupt all order.

If this reasoning applies generally, it should have an even stronger influence on people when they are reminded of their own nature. They are linked by a much closer bond. For example, if someone were to say to a father, "How can you be so distant from your own son that you refuse to see him or speak with him, and you find it impossible to reconcile with him? How cruel is that? After all, he shares your blood. How can you be so blinded by anger that you fail to recognise that God has given him to you as if he were a part of yourself, and that through him, you have been blessed?" The holiest bond established by God among us is the relationship between husband and wife. This is why St. Paul asserts that a man cannot love his wife without loving himself. Conversely, if he despises or hates his wife, it is as if he is in conflict with himself. Is such a situation even possible? Earlier, he urged husbands to fulfill their responsibilities, pointing to the example of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He has argued that the Son of God gave Himself up to death to cleanse His Church, which, though poor, miserable, and full of filth and uncleanness, received His pity. After suffering what was necessary for our salvation, He left us a visible sign of the grace He purchased for us. In baptism, we have a tangible reminder that the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is our cleansing. Can we contemplate all these things and not be moved to gentleness?

Indeed, if we first consider that we are wretched creatures, full of nothing but misery, so much so that we could be compared to vermin, full of corruption and loathsome impurities, can we have any pride left to commend ourselves or trample others underfoot?

Now, if this applies to all people, as I mentioned, what should be the relationship between husband and wife? The bond God has established between them is such that the husband is, so to speak, incomplete without his wife, just as the wife is incomplete without her husband. They should each consider their own situation, as I mentioned earlier and will elaborate further. The husband is indeed the head, but the woman is the body. While the head may have preeminence and sovereignty over the body, this does not mean that it should despise or shame it, for the honour of the head extends to the whole body. However, since husbands are often not moved enough by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, which should remind them of their origin, and since even heathens and unbelievers understood marriage and respected it, there is no need for Holy Scripture to teach us in this regard.

These ignorant souls, who have natural understanding and walk as their mother has directed them, know that the wife is a part of the husband and that they are bound together inseparably. One should not forsake the other unless they want to tear themselves apart. If the blind can perceive this, what a shame it is for those enlightened by God's word, who have been taught this truth as part of their upbringing, as if by a father who watches over his children. If we remain ignorant of this truth, even though God has spoken to us intimately and shared His will with us, we are worse than infidels and deserving of greater condemnation.

Let us not harden our hearts or stop our ears to the advice given to us. Consider that since St. Paul has presented our Lord Jesus Christ as an example and reminded us of how we are linked to Him, it is only right, given this connection, that we should be willing to follow Him and emulate Him. This means showing compassion to those in distress, patiently bearing with our neighbors' vices and weaknesses, and helping those in need whenever we can.

Furthermore, considering that man and wife are mentioned here, those who are married should reflect on the severe judgment awaiting them if they are not moved by the teachings presented here. On one side, heathens will testify against them on the last day, and on the other side, the natural order instructs them on what they should do. If they do not live in harmony and friendship, as prescribed here, they willfully oppose God and forget themselves, becoming worse than brute beasts.

Furthermore, they should know that since marriage is a symbol of the sacred union between the Son of God and all the faithful, they should hold it in even greater reverence. Despite the many disputes that have arisen, they should strive to quell them and consider that since our Lord Jesus Christ reigns over them, it signifies that marriage was blessed by God the Father in such a way that the Son Himself confirmed this blessing through His death and passion. He reconciled us to God, illustrating that a husband and wife are as one in a living image, though still in obedience to God. They are both to serve Him in harmony, until they are so united in perfection that they cleave to Him completely.

However, even though such admonitions carry great weight, very few take them to heart. The world bears witness to this, for one can examine households one by one, and where can one find such companionship that resembles the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church? Nowhere. Instead, husbands and wives are often at odds, and even if they have some fondness for each other, the slightest provocation can set them against each other. They forget or, to be truthful, they never even consider the principles outlined here. The love between them is spurred by their lusts and not founded upon their understanding of their duties.

Husbands don't contemplate how they should bear with their wives, guide them in the fear of God, and love them as helpers, making their lives easier, so that they may walk as they should. Similarly, wives do not humble themselves before their husbands, striving to please them, realizing that they are given to be a support rather than an impediment. There is no talk, no inkling of any of this. When all is considered, I must say that the common and most typical state of affairs in every household is that one will encounter profanity, cursing, blasphemy, swearing, malice, and harm. Although some women may behave devilishly towards their neighbors just as they do towards their husbands, if the husband has any wealth or possessions through her, he must unconditionally take her side and support her cause, be it right or wrong. One can see this perversion nearly everywhere.

Furthermore, every man complains about his wife, saying, "I cannot live with her. She is a wild beast. There is nothing in her but pride and stubbornness, and I cannot speak to her without her replying with fury."

Surely, in many cases, men shape their wives as they know, more about what I speak of. Men, as if in defiance of God, support their wives in unjust quarrels or do not hesitate to yield to their undeserved demands, causing harm to themselves. Whatever I say, if a man observes everyday life carefully, he will find that there may be a form of fondness and an excessive attachment. But as for well-ordered friendship, which relies on God and is rooted in His Word, it is rare. Hardly among a hundred households will one find a husband and wife so well-matched.

Nevertheless, we are without excuse if we do not learn from this teaching. Each of us must struggle against our unruly affections. If a man does not have the wife he desires, he should understand that God intends to test his patience through her. He should also remember that he has behaved worse towards our Lord Jesus Christ, the husband to whom all of us are married. Therefore, let him not be harsh towards his wife, considering that he himself deserves to be humbled. In short, every man should keep this doctrine in mind so that when a husband does not find everything he desires in his wife, he can think to himself, "Yet I am bound to her, and not only to my wife, but also to God, the master of marriage, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, who is a mirror and living image of it for us. Therefore, I am bound to do my duty towards her, to love her, and to bear with her, even if there are faults in her."

However, this does not mean that a husband should foster and nurture his wife's faults. Just as we must warn and counsel one another, there should be no such estrangement or disconnection that a husband cannot point out anything lacking in his wife, rebuke her, and make every effort to guide her onto the right path. Nevertheless, as long as we are married, the established order set by our Lord remains inviolable. Therefore, we should not focus on the individual qualities of the persons involved. Even if a woman has a rough and severe husband who treats her harshly, she should always remember that he is her husband, and that God joined them together because she was deserving. She should also examine her own sins and pray to God to remove that rod and treat her more gently.

On the other hand, when a husband does not have a wife to his liking, he should think in the same manner, "My wife does not fulfill her duty, I cannot live with her. But marriage, who ordained it? God did. Therefore, if I neglect my duty and retaliate against my wife or show stubbornness without considering my responsibilities, I am not contending with a mortal creature. I am fighting against God and attempting to dismantle what is naturally inviolable."

So, let each of us apply this doctrine to his own life. Let not only married couples but all people, in general, understand that we cannot alienate ourselves from one another, becoming unkind, merciless, and impatient toward each other. We must not act like mindless creatures without reason or regard for our origin and purpose in this world. This is the essence of what we need to keep in mind.

If we contemplate the prophet's reasoning carefully, we would be more moved by this exhortation presented here. No one ever hated his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it. If each person considered the care they have for their own body, how tenderly they care for all parts of it, and how they ensure nothing is lacking, they would realise the importance of doing the same for their neighbours. This applies to all people and even more so to fathers and children, husbands and wives, and all who are bound together by our Lord in close bonds. If anyone responds with excuses, saying, "I am not like that," I reply that they are not truly human. For, as I said before, God has created and preserved us in such a way that we are all part of one body. Although there are many fingers and many sinews in a human body, it does not hinder them from being one entity. Nor is it a reason why one member should not benefit another as well as itself. It is unnatural for the body to become divided and factionalised, and it is impossible for it to happen. Therefore, if every one of us is so focused on their own benefit that they, in the meantime, harm others through pride or cruelty, failing to show compassion or bear with anything or forgive, is this not a sign that we have forgotten our own nature?

To better grasp this doctrine and be more fearful, let us consider Saint Paul's words: "No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it." Do we need a teacher to instruct us in this? Does God need to send angels from heaven? Must we make great efforts to learn this skill of self-care? No, we are naturally inclined to it. Every one of us already takes great care of themselves, as evidenced by their preservation of their own well-being.

In summary, the more one demonstrates self-love, the more severely they will be condemned by God for failing to do the same towards others, even towards their own flesh and blood. And when these disorders exist among us, where parents treat their children harshly and mothers are cruel to their children, or husbands are so rough with their wives that it discourages them and drives them to sorrow, causing them to give in to disorderly behavior, and when women are stubborn and resistant to good order, we need no other evidence to condemn us.

Our self-centeredness and unkindness are enough to demonstrate that we are not worthy of enjoying the benefits that God bestows upon us in this transient life. Since we are overly attached to it and care for it more than we should, we are all guilty, and there is no one who can open their mouth to defend or excuse themselves.

St. Paul, after instructing us about what we should know and how to judge our own nature, returns to the topic at hand. Those who claim to be members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, or who are persuaded by His example to live in harmony and agreement with their spouses, must understand that if a man truly loves himself, he will also love his wife. God has ordained marriage in such a way that a wife must be like the body of her husband. Therefore, if a man loves himself, he must love his wife as well, for she is bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. This is the way it should be, as opposed to a monstrous kind of love. It is crucial to remember this point.

When Paul previously used the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, he mentioned how Christ spared not Himself but shed His blood to cleanse us from our filth and uncleanness. We were defiled and stained before God, but our Lord Jesus Christ found a way to restore us to His favor, doing so by shedding His own blood. In addition to that, Paul now presents another reason to strengthen the argument, which is that we are bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh. In saying this, he teaches us that when men fulfill their duty, it is for their own benefit. They come to experience the immeasurable and infinite grace of God, which is reflected in every man, according to his station, through marriage. In marriage, we see the union between ourselves and our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, what St. Paul intended was to soften the hardness of our hearts by showing that we cannot fully enjoy the grace purchased for us by our Lord Jesus Christ unless we live in harmony with one another, according to the image of love that He demonstrated in His death and passion. However, before delving further into this, let us examine why Paul is saying that we are the bones and flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is making it clear that Jesus Christ, who descended from the lineage of Adam and is called the seed of David, is part of our human lineage. Although He was conceived in a miraculous manner in the womb of the Virgin Mary, He took on human flesh and became truly human. By referring to Himself as the Son of Man, He signified that He had taken on a common human nature to become familiar with us. As the apostle says in the Epistle to the Hebrews, He is not ashamed to call us brothers. However, we must understand that Jesus Christ, despite being born of the seed of Abraham, needed to share our nature in order to fulfill what was promised. He could not mediate between God and us without being of our nature. He had to clothe Himself in our body and have a soul to represent Himself in the person of all men. Thus, Jesus Christ became our flesh and took on our body, making Him bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh. While His conception was miraculous through the Holy Spirit, He still became truly human to serve as our mediator.

So, when St. Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as the second Adam, he is making a comparison between the grace of reconciliation through Christ and the deadly fall caused by the first Adam. The first Adam's transgression made us enemies of God, resulting in our inability to approach Him without being justly thrust back. Sin created an insurmountable division, as God, the source of all righteousness, could not tolerate our iniquities and corruptions. However, the second Adam, Jesus Christ, came to remedy this situation. He is referred to as the second Adam because, just as the first Adam's sin created enmity between us and God, the second Adam's sacrifice and grace reconciled us to God. In Christ, we are restored and made new. It is through His divine power and the work of His Holy Spirit that we become bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh, not through our own human nature. Thus, we are linked to Him in a new and second creation.

St. Paul, as we shall see here, makes reference to the original creation of Eve, who was taken from Adam's side. Now, when we consider our first birth, which brings us into this world as mortal beings, we cannot boast about our flesh unless we are born of the seed of those who came before us. However, if we are born of that seed, we are cursed. It is true that Adam was initially created in the image of God, but that image was tarnished by sin. So, we are not worthy to be counted among God's creations, and God Himself has pronounced a harsh judgment upon us, expressing regret for creating mankind, as if He disowned us all. We are considered less worthy than worms, lice, fleas, and other vermin. This is the consequence of our connection to Adam's lineage – a state of condemnation and corruption.

Now, when we turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, we find restoration. Scripture describes us as new creatures in Him. It is evident that we are united with Him not by the order of nature, nor by common means, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. This union makes us members of His Body. The reason we are part of His Body is that God the Father has appointed Him as our Head. This is achieved through a mysterious power that we may not fully comprehend but accept by faith.

In this way, both aspects align perfectly: Jesus Christ is considered our bone and flesh because He took on our human nature, without which we would have no connection to Him. His willingness to be united with us as brothers is made possible by the work of His Holy Spirit, making Him our head and us the members of His Body. This elevates us to a heavenly state that transcends our former earthly existence, marred by corruption.

Now, you may wonder how it is possible for us to be of the bone and flesh of Jesus Christ when He is in heaven, and we are on Earth. Additionally, when each of us is born, it is a natural process involving human parents of the same race. How then can we be considered of the bone and flesh of Jesus Christ? This connection does not involve our physical substance – our skin, bones, or hair – coming from the body of Jesus Christ. Instead, it is based on the removal of the curse inherited from Adam and the outpouring of the grace of the Holy Spirit by our Lord Jesus Christ. Through this grace, we are enlightened and transformed.

Therefore, this connection with Jesus Christ is not of a physical nature but a spiritual quality. The usual course of human descent, as established by God from the beginning, continues, where people are born into the world through succeeding generations. However, Jesus Christ renews those chosen by God, who are members of His own body. He cleanses them of the corruption inherited from Adam. Then, He imparts to them a power by which, through faith, they acknowledge Him as their Head. They understand that they are all gathered together in Him, and His life is given to them, so they no longer live for themselves or the world, but Christ lives in them, as Scripture affirms. Therefore, there is no need for Jesus Christ to descend from heaven physically to make us His body's members, or for Him to diminish His own flesh to generate us from Himself. This transformation is accomplished through the wondrous power of the Holy Spirit. We do not draw anything from Christ's flesh or His body in heaven. Rather, our strength continuously flows from Him. Like trees draw their nourishment from their roots, and as the human body receives its strength from the head, we feel the virtue and force of the union between us and our Lord Jesus Christ. He remains in His full glory without hindrance, allowing us to benefit greatly from this connection.

Let us always remember that this internal awakening enables us to fulfill our respective duties. Through this, we taste God's grace, which pertains to the salvation of our souls. The matter at hand here is that husbands and wives should live in harmony with each other. When a husband contemplates the teachings presented here, he should be motivated not only to fulfill his obligations to God and his wife but also to reflect upon this state. He should consider it as a living image wherein he perceives that Jesus Christ is his head, that he belongs to Christ, and that Christ belongs to him. Therefore, Christ's life is his, and he is as though a member of Christ's body. This understanding should encourage husbands and wives to fulfill their respective roles. We must not be ungrateful if we fail to recognize how earnestly our Lord Jesus Christ works to win us and motivate us to serve Him willingly. He not only allures us through gentle and loving means but also draws us towards Him. Even in this world and in transient, earthly matters, He demonstrates the eternal salvation prepared for us in heaven. He purchased this salvation at a great cost, through the blood of His only Son, so that in the end, we may fully partake in its benefits and virtues.

Now, let us humbly kneel before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and seeking His grace to reform our hearts and lives. May we devote ourselves entirely to His service and obedience, recognizing the everlasting salvation that awaits us. We pray that God may extend His mercy to us in our weakness, granting us the strength to stand before His presence. Let us all say, "Almighty God, Heavenly Father, etc."

The Forty Second Sermon, the Ninth on the Fifth Chapter

"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." - Ephesians 5:31-33

God orchestrates His works in such a way that we can perceive a profound wisdom in all His actions and glean valuable lessons from them. Take, for instance, what St. Paul references here: that woman was created from the substance of man. God could have created Eve in the same way He made Adam, but instead, He took a rib from man's side and formed woman from it. He intended for there to be a deep union between man and wife, so that a husband might think, "This is my flesh, this is my bone," and the wife, "From where did God give me life? He shaped me from a rib taken from man." Thus, we see that God's deliberate choice in creating man and woman differently had a purpose, serving as a continual reminder in marriage. It is a reminder that if a husband does not maintain a good and harmonious relationship with his wife, he disrupts the natural order of things. Similarly, a wife who does not quietly submit to her husband, recognizing him as her head, goes against this order.

St. Paul takes this concept further by applying it to the union between our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church. As mentioned before, marriage serves as a symbol of the connection between us and the Son of God. Therefore, he exclaims that it is a profound mystery—a secret we must pay close attention to. In the relationship between Jesus Christ and His Church, two aspects must be noted here. Firstly, we observe how God has united man and wife in an inseparable bond from the very beginning. Secondly, God intended to elevate us further. Since there is nothing within ourselves but various forms of wretchedness, we are to be joined to the Son of God, who is the source of all goodness. We are to draw our spiritual life from Him and derive all our strength and power from Him.

When St. Paul, after quoting this text from Moses, adds that this mystery is great because the Son of God has made us bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh, some have imagined it to be a prophecy of what has been said. However, there is no valid reason to support such an interpretation. The text should be taken simply as it is: God's way of instructing husbands and wives about their duties and responsibilities. Let that suffice. In this matter, certain individuals have greatly overreached themselves and displayed such ignorance that even little children could rightfully scoff at them. This is because the word "sacrament" was once commonly used to signify secrets, mysteries, and all things of high importance worthy of our admiration.

Therefore, the word "sacrament" was used here in translating this text. St. Paul refers to it as a great sacrament, meaning a great mystery or secret. This should pose no more doubt than when he says it is a great sacrament that God was manifested in the flesh. It is also a great sacrament that the gospel was preached throughout the entire world, and that the wretched Gentiles and unbelievers were included among the descendants of Abraham. In this text, the infinite goodness of our God is a sacrament, signifying something high and well worthy of our attention. Yet, some individuals have acted quite foolishly by asserting that matrimony, like baptism or the Lord's Supper, is a sacrament. They misunderstood the term "sacrament," assuming it implied a tangible element, like water in baptism or bread and wine in the Lord's Supper. They hoped to find something similar in marriage.

When we see such ignorance has pervaded the world and that even these renowned scholars needed to be corrected because they lacked the understanding they should have possessed through natural reason, we witness the severe judgment of God upon those who have corrupted true religion and distorted the Word of God according to their own whims. Therefore, we ought to thank God even more for delivering us from such confusion. Since there was such terrible disorder among those who claimed to be lights and pillars of the church and were esteemed as such, we should not fear separating ourselves from their company and assembly, for God has granted us the grace to disentangle ourselves from them. Let us remain steadfast in our course and proceed with sobriety. This serves as a warning for us to be vigilant, as true disciples of God, to distrust ourselves and not twist the Holy Scriptures to our own liking. Instead, we should handle the Holy Scriptures with reverence, seeking the true understanding guided by God's Holy Spirit.

Now, let us turn to St. Paul's intention. He undoubtedly cites Moses' account to demonstrate that a man should cherish his wife as if she were a part of his own body, an integral component of himself. This was intended to encourage wives to honor their husbands and to submit to them as commanded by God. The reason Eve was created from one of Adam's ribs was for God to establish such harmony between man and wife that no other bond in the world could compare. While a child ought to honor his father because he is of his seed and blood, the bond of matrimony is held in higher regard. The origin of this bond is not determined by human preference but by the pronouncement of Adam and the divine sentence. It is an unbreakable decree that a man should be joined to his wife, and in such a manner that if he must forsake either, his father would not be as near to him as his wife.

Yet, is it not the same as saying that God intended to break the yoke and permit children to rebel against their fathers and mothers once they are married? God does not alter any of the ordinances He has established. Therefore, one who has a living father or mother should continue to be subject to them, never ceasing to fulfil their duties as shown in the Scriptures and as taught by nature itself. These responsibilities are ingrained in us and cannot be erased. Hence, married individuals do not cease to be perpetually subject to their fathers and mothers.

The situation becomes apparent when we compare one scenario to the other. It is as if to say, if a young man were to abandon his father, show contempt for him, be stubborn or disrespectful, or fail to show him reverence, would not the world consider him a monster? God has commanded in His law that disobedient and stubborn children should be stoned, prescribing such measures to root out such wickedness from the world. How much more atrocious it is, then, when a man forsakes his wife, or a wife her husband? Surely, it is an outrageous crime. If it is intolerable for a child to rise against his father, there is no doubt that the bond of matrimony is even holier and more highly commended by God, as every person should strive to fulfil their duties. When a woman is quarrelsome and headstrong, refusing to be submissive to her husband, or when a husband is surly and cruel, treating his wife with disdain, it is not just an act of cruelty towards a human being but an affront to God, who is the author of marriage and has ordained it with the conditions we hear of here.

This extends further to the idea that every person should love those allied to them by God's providence. For example, a man with no one else but his wife should still acknowledge that God has united us all together. When God created Eve, the mother of all humanity, from Adam's side, He did so with the intention that this unity should extend universally. We should understand that He wants us to live in such harmony that none of us should separate ourselves from others. No one, then, should be so cruel as to say, "She is not my wife."

We must consider that our Lord's will is for a general harmony among all people, and that everyone should consider themselves bound to their neighbours. Humanity is composed of two genders, male and female, and as such, we are all bound to one another. Matrimony, as I mentioned, is a distinct institution, but nevertheless, men are obligated to support women, as our Lord has demonstrated from the very beginning of creation. Women, too, must conduct themselves modestly among men, even if they are not their husbands. Furthermore, they are joined as one flesh, as our Lord Jesus Christ has shown, indicating that a married man should be content with his wife alone, and a woman should rely wholly on her husband. They should not let their desires roam freely or change the order established by our Lord, which is meant to endure until the end of the world.

Throughout history, men have exceeded their limits and forgotten both nature and kindness. They have not only disregarded God and His Word but also forgotten the conditions under which they were created in the world. They failed to recognize what even natural reason could have shown them, and they arrived at this point because they were consumed by their lusts, behaving like wild animals, especially when their desires were unchecked by the fear of God. This led to practices like polygamy in many countries, as it is still permitted among the Turks today. Even the Jews, despite having the Law of Moses, divorced their wives for trivial reasons. If a woman was not attractive enough or not wealthy enough, she was divorced. Although our Lord had provided for this situation, saying, "Because of the hardness of your hearts, he permitted you to divorce your wives," they chose to divorce their wives rather than honour the faith of marriage. By divorcing their wives after pledging their faith to live and die together, they proved themselves unfaithful and perjured. Divorce, therefore, was a disgraceful practice. While God did not punish them severely, it does not mean that they should take this as an opportunity to do worse.

The Jews had taken liberties with divorce based on a passage that said, "He who finds himself displeased with his wife should give her a certificate of divorce." However, our Lord Jesus told them that while God had allowed this in the past, it was because He had to deal with them like wild beasts. God had granted them more than was lawful due to their stubbornness. But now, it is not meant for them to use this as an excuse to act even worse.

We should always go back to the beginning when God created Adam and shaped Eve from his side. At that time, God declared that two should become one flesh. Therefore, anyone who takes two wives deserves to be cut asunder, and those who take three should be cut into three pieces. This is tantamount to defying God and nature since God has placed a mark in the person of man and wife, signifying that marriage should be maintained as it should. So, if someone disrupts the order of God's ordinance, they deserve to be condemned.

What we must remember is that a person must control all their senses and not let their eyes wander, lest their mind is carried away when they see someone of the opposite sex who appears more attractive than their spouse. Likewise, the wife should not gaze upon any man other than her husband, except with simplicity. Both should always remember that they are two, yet one flesh. A person cannot be whole unless they are with their spouse. The husband must love his wife, and the wife must honour or revere her husband. The word used here signifies fear but is taken to mean reverence and submission on the wife's part.

There is a difference in the duties of the husband and the wife. God does not command the husband to fear his wife but commands him to love her. The woman, on the other hand, must be subject to her husband. If someone asks how the husband should honour his wife, it is not possible to truly love without reverence. A person will never love someone they despise. Love must involve mutual respect and good manners. If a husband thinks of his wife as a part of himself, one-half of his person, how can he despise her? Therefore, the husband must honour his wife, though not through submission. Should he not always remain in his position as the head and the one who governs his wife? This is why St. Paul only requires love from the husband. In another text to the Colossians, he adds that husbands should not be bitter towards their wives. If there is love, a person will bear with the many faults and weaknesses of their spouse. If we do this for one another, how much more should a husband do it for the one given to him by God, loving her as his own body? Therefore, St. Paul says explicitly that men should use discretion and wisdom to help their wives in their weaknesses by bearing with their frailty. If a man gets it into his head that his wife is fickle and frivolous, or in short, despises her because she is not a man, it is a poor view of her. For those who are frail, one must consider their own weaknesses and bear with them as they would bear with themselves. This is what St. Paul is referring to here. He does not mean that a man should be weak in love, as has often happened.

In the previous Sunday's sermon, I cited examples of those who appeared very passionate in defending their wives in public quarrels but were devils to them at home. The love I speak of is a genuine and righteous affection that a man should have for his wife because he recognises that God has joined them together as if He has placed them together with His own hand, saying, "Stay together in peace and harmony."

As for the wives who are reluctant to bear the yoke that God has placed upon their shoulders, in another text, Paul reminds them that God is the author of marriage. He established the condition that wives should be subject to their husbands and allow themselves to be governed by them as their head, showing reverence. Women often find reasons to despise their husbands. If a man has goodness, she may attempt to diminish it to have a reason to say, "Why should this man have authority over me? He is no more capable of ruling than I am." Both men and women tend to be conceited, thinking themselves more capable than others. Therefore, wives may desire to have the upper hand. This is why Paul tells them to remain in the position God has placed them, which is one of subjection. They should not scrutinise their husbands, examining whether they are worthy of authority and superiority. Instead, they should consider what God has ordained and obey it without question or objection. They should not inquire why this or that is the way it is in an attempt to find excuses to exempt themselves from obeying God and His commandments. We must pay attention to God, and each of us must receive His commands without dispute.

This doctrine is clear and straightforward by itself. However, in practice, people in the world often seek to use ignorance as an excuse to evade their duty, saying, "This is too high and too hard to understand." When it is stated that men ought to love their wives, does it require an interpretation of what the Holy Spirit meant? No, the meaning is evident, and everyone knows within themselves that they understand it well enough. But when it comes to the love that men should have for their wives, scarcely one in a hundred can resist the temptation to forsake it and has no wandering thoughts.

Women, too, often have such fickle minds that they could wish to be unmarried twenty times a year. Even without the guidance of scripture, people in the world generally respect marriage because God willed this understanding to be engraved in the hearts of even the most ignorant and unrefined individuals. His purpose in this is to demonstrate that since even the most uneducated and simplest people understand that husbands and wives should live together in love and harmony according to their respective roles, we must all strive towards that. Now, with the teachings and exhortations we have, we are further encouraged to avoid complacency in our vices. However, despite these instructions, what progress have we made? It is a common sight to see husbands scolding their wives and wives backbiting their husbands. Such conduct is found in every household, even among those who constantly quarrel and bicker. In short, there is nothing but contention and disdain.

In homes where such attitudes prevail, it becomes impossible for husbands and wives to approach God. Since prayer is the means by which we draw near to God for His mercy and protection, it is essential. St. Peter expressly states that when a husband is too harsh and rigid with his wife and the wife, in turn, is stubborn to the point where she cannot be controlled, and she refuses to submit as she ought, their prayers are hindered. In other words, he is saying, "Wretched people, do you not realize your misery when the doors are shut against you, and you cannot call upon God?" What, then, will become of us when we cannot turn to our God for help? It would be better for us to be dead a hundred thousand times. God desires tranquillity from both men and women, as He commands us to live in peace and harmony. Furthermore, He beckons us to come to Him, saying, "If you call upon Me, I will hear you." This invitation from our Lord should remind us of our own benefit and welfare. We must be utterly possessed by the devil and devoid of reason if we do not accept such a favourable condition.

Therefore, let us understand that if husbands and wives intend to fulfil their duties, both must acknowledge God as the author of marriage and recognise that they did not come together by mere chance. The Lord joined them together so that the husband would be a companion to his wife, treating her as a part of himself, while the wife would honour her husband as God commands, submitting to him as her head. The best way to heed God and obey Him in this matter is to regard Him as the originator of marriage and follow His guidance in all aspects. Husbands should not trouble themselves excessively by scrutinising their wives' faults, saying, "What shall I do with this woman?" We know that reproaches are distasteful and abhorrent. Similarly, wives should not focus on their husbands' shortcomings and label them as devils who cannot be reformed. They should adhere to the role to which they are bound and avoid questioning why it is so, for God has placed them in this subjection to their husbands. They should not exalt themselves by opposing God's ordained subordination to their husbands.

Now, let us turn to the second point and delve even deeper into the profound mystery that St. Paul emphasised here. It is, indeed, a great mystery, the union between Christ and His Church. By these words, it becomes evident that St. Paul did not intend to label marriage or wedlock as a sacrament, as he clarifies later. As I mentioned before, the main focus here is on expressing God's incomprehensible goodness in deigning to unite us with His only Son. I have previously explained how we are considered to be of Christ's bone and flesh. This does not mean we are physically taken from His body, for we are all descended from Adam. However, we live from His very essence, as indicated when He said His flesh is our food and His blood is our drink. This signifies that we live in Him, albeit spiritually.

Even though we share a common life with all humans, one that is not the result of God's special grace, we also possess an inherent imprint of God within us, even from birth. Yet, we remain cursed in our own nature and are so wretched that we are referred to as dead. This is why Jesus Christ said that the hour is coming when the dead, those who are like decomposed corpses in the grave, will hear the voice of the Son of God. St. Paul also states in the second chapter that when we are renewed by Jesus Christ, we move from death to life, having previously been dead in our sins and transgressions due to our inheritance from our forefather, Adam.

The manner in which we are of Jesus Christ's flesh and bone of His bone is akin to being grafted into His body. Just as a branch, when severed from the root, can still receive sustenance and nourishment if grafted into another tree, so too are we. If we persist in our natural state, we remain separated from our Lord Jesus Christ. However, if we are incorporated into Him and He deems it fitting to impart Himself to us, then we truly experience that the bread and wine do not merely nourish us but that we genuinely receive life and strength through the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now, it is evident that this is a profound mystery. No matter how much we deliberate and ponder this matter, can any of us fully comprehend how we are joined to our Lord Jesus Christ and become one with Him? Can we truly assure ourselves that through this union, we will partake in God's glory and that, even now, we live in our Lord Jesus Christ, as He declared, "Because I live, you also will live"? Can our finite minds grasp this reality? Certainly not. That is why many struggle to accept the notion that we are the flesh of Jesus Christ and bone of His bones. They are content with their own imaginations, which diminish the grace of God—a grace that St. Paul could not fully express, but rather indicated that it should amaze us.

Therefore, some may develop mistaken, even heathen-like, notions that we are connected to our Lord Jesus Christ, saved by His grace. However, the Scriptures go even further. Even if all we had was this statement that it is a great mystery, we should avoid constraining it according to our own notions. To do so would be akin to making St. Paul a liar. Those who disregard this spiritual union we have with our Lord Jesus Christ reveal their failure to recognise the hidden, marvellous power of God and the profound truths expounded here.

The Holy Spirit employs such language to humble us and then to elevate us once more. Hence, we must, on one hand, acknowledge that all the wisdom and understanding we possess are insufficient for this matter. On the other hand, we should rise again, for we hear our Lord Jesus Christ calling us to Himself. He tells us that we are so closely united to Him that there is nothing of His own that He does not share with us, and from which He does not want us to benefit. Therefore, if we encounter conflicting thoughts within ourselves, if we begin to think, "How is it possible for our Lord Jesus Christ, who is in heaven, to nourish us with His own substance, such that His body becomes our food and His blood our drink?" If such ideas cross our minds, we must dismiss them with what is stated here, namely, that it is a great mystery. We should reprove our own foolishness and recklessness in attempting to comprehend something that is infinite. Our Lord makes it clear that when He has united us to His only Son, He has accomplished a work so profound and elevated that it surpasses our every capacity. Therefore, let us always conclude that even though we find it to be a remarkable matter, we must rely on that which is spoken by God Himself. Especially when He states that He will work in such an exalted manner that we will be utterly amazed.

Consequently, let us generally learn from this text that all the benefits we obtain to attain heavenly life through our Lord Jesus Christ proceed from the boundless wisdom of God. It is not for us to be so foolish and presumptuous as to declare, "I will understand it," or again, "I will only accept what pleases me." We must restrain ourselves from such presumption, for it renders us unworthy of the mystery of faith. This statement underscores its significance: it is a great secret. To reach the betterment through Jesus Christ and partake in His grace, we must comprehend that God's work in our salvation is a profound and mysterious matter. As illustrated in the text from the epistle to Timothy, which I previously cited, it is indeed a great mystery that God was manifested in the flesh. Consider the vast gulf that exists between God and humanity; we are mere worms, frail and decaying, while God's majesty is so exalted that no one can truly describe it or conceive even a fraction of it in thought. Thus, we must be content to be overwhelmed by awe and wonder.

Seeing that God has so closely united Himself to us as the true Emmanuel, as named in Isaiah, and that things which seem distant are bound together in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us understand that there are nothing but mysteries and secrets in all the grace we receive from our God. This is especially true when we are incorporated or grafted into our Lord Jesus Christ. He, having taken on our nature and wrapped Himself in our flesh, desires us to be grafted into Him as into our root, quickened by His Spirit, and partakers of His life. He holds nothing exclusive to Himself but desires all to be given unto us through Him.

By receiving our Lord Jesus Christ along with the benefits He brings, we can overcome all the temptations that may confront us. We should earnestly contemplate the teachings of the Holy Scripture, taking them seriously and giving them due reverence. We should acknowledge that God works within us through our Lord Jesus Christ, which may require us to abandon our natural understanding.

Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our sins and beseeching Him to pardon us in such a way that we may be freed from them. May He govern us by His Holy Spirit, enabling us to live in accordance with His Holy Will and to reform our entire lives in obedience to His commandments. May He bear with all our weaknesses until He has fully transformed us, leading us to the perfection we now strive to attain. And so, let us all say, Almighty God, etc.