Sabbath Afternoon - August 26, 2023

Reading for the Week

 Eph. 5:21-33; Phil. 2:3, 4; Ezek. 16:1-14; 2 Cor. 11:1-4; Gen. 2:15-25. 

Prayer Thought

The wife is to respect her husband. The husband is to love and cherish his wife; and as their marriage vow unites them as one, so their belief in Christ should make them one in Him. What can be more pleasing to God than to see those who enter into the marriage relation seek together to learn of Jesus and to become more and more imbued with His Spirit?  {AH 114.2}  

You now have duties to perform that before your marriage you did not have. "Put on therefore, . . . kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." "Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us." Give careful study to the following instruction: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church. . . . Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." {AH 114.3}  


Memory Text

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. {Eph. 5:25-27}


This week's SS Lesson will describe the intimate relationship of man and woman with that of Christ and His Church. This also includes the duty of each party for the peace, security, and happiness of between husband and wife, Christ and Church.


Study Outline

Sunday - August 27, 2023

Counsel to Christian Wives - Advice for Wives (Ephesians 5:21-24)

Ephesians 5:1-20, 21, 22-33; 6:7; 1:22; Col. 1:18; Mark 10:42-45; Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3, 4;  (Eph. 1:22, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18.  

Monday - August 28, 2023

The Church as the Bride of Christ: Part 1 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Ephesians 5:25-27, 29; 1:3-14; 2:1-10,   Ezekiel 16:1-14.  

Tuesday - August 29, 2023

The Church as the Bride of Christ: Part 2 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

2 Cor. 11:1-4;  Eph. 5:27; 2 Cor. 11:1, 2; Col. 1:21-23, 28;  Matt. 25:1-13. 

Wednesday - August 30, 2023

Love Your Wife as You Do Yourself - Advice for Husbands (Ephesians 5:28-30)

Eph. 5:28-30; 5:21-6:9.

Thursday - August 31, 2023

The "One Flesh" Model of Marriage (Ephesians 5:31-33)

Genesis 2:15-25;  Ephesians 5:21-33  


Friday - September 1, 2023

Further Study and Meditation

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Sunday - August 27, 2023

Counsel to Christian Wives - Advice for Wives (Ephesians 5:21-24)

Ephesians 5:1-20, 21, 22-33; 6:7; 1:22; Col. 1:18; Mark 10:42-45; Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3, 4;  (Eph. 1:22, Eph. 5:23, Col. 1:18.  

Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so [let] the wives [be] to their own husbands in everything. {Eph. 5:21-24}


Submission in the Fear of God

Peter exhorts his brethren: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." The apostle Paul also exhorts his Philippian brethren to unity and humility: "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." Again Paul exhorts his brethren: "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another." In writing to the Ephesians he says: "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."  {3T 360.3}  


Counsel and Warning for all: Marriage of Christians With Unbelievers

There is in the Christian world an astonishing, alarming indifference to the teaching of God's word in regard to the marriage of Christians with unbelievers. Many who profess to love and fear God choose to follow the bent of their own minds rather than take counsel of Infinite Wisdom. In a matter which vitally concerns the happiness and well-being of both parties for this world and the next, reason, judgment, and the fear of God are set aside; and blind impulse, stubborn determination are allowed to control.  {AH 61.1}  


Destinies Are United for Life (Husband and Wife)

Every couple who unite their life interest should seek to make the life of each as happy as possible. That which we prize we seek to preserve and make more valuable, if we can. In the marriage contract men and women have made a trade, an investment for life, and they should do their utmost to control their words of impatience and fretfulness, even more carefully than they did before their marriage, for now their destinies are united for life as husband and wife, and each is valued in exact proportion to the amount of painstaking and effort put forth to retain and keep fresh the love so eagerly sought for and prized before marriage.--Letter 27, Nov. 22, 1872, to Brother Burton, an early church member in San Francisco, California.  {TDG 335.4}  


Respect the Advice and Counsel of the Church

The apostle Peter says: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Paul exhorts: "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another," "submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Unless the advice and counsel of the church can be respected, it is indeed powerless. God has placed a voice in the church which must control its members.  {5T 107.3}  


Consider the Following

Paul introduces a general advice to achieve unity: mutual submission (5:21). He then applies this advice to a specific case: marriage.

The woman submits to her husband, not as to a boss, but as to Christ, her Savior and Protector.

The wife should act with humility and respect toward her husband, not with arrogance and superiority. She should assume an attitude of loving and supportive loyalty, subject to him "as ... to Christ" (5:24).


Monday - August 28, 2023

The Church as the Bride of Christ: Part 1 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

Ephesians 5:25-27, 29; 1:3-14; 2:1-10,   Ezekiel 16:1-14.  

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. (Eph. 5:24-27)


Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride

He who gave Eve to Adam as a helpmeet performed His first miracle at a marriage festival. In the festal hall where friends and kindred rejoiced together, Christ began His public ministry. Thus He sanctioned marriage, recognizing it as an institution that He Himself had established. . . .  {AH 26.1}  

Christ honored the marriage relation by making it also a symbol of the union between Him and His redeemed ones. He Himself is the Bridegroom; the bride is the church, of which, as His chosen one, He says, "Thou art all fair, My love; there is no spot in thee."  {AH 26.2} 

Marriage in His Kingdom - The Reception by Christ

The coming of the bridegroom, here brought to view, takes place before the marriage. The marriage represents the reception by Christ of his kingdom. The holy city, the New Jerusalem, which is the capital and representative of the kingdom, is called “the bride, the Lamb's wife.” Said the angel to John, “Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.” “He carried me away in the spirit,” says the prophet, “and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God.” [Revelation 21:9, 10.] 


Clearly, then, the bride represents the holy city, and the virgins that go out to meet the bridegroom are a symbol of the church. In the Revelation the people of God are said to be the guests at the marriage supper. [Revelation 19:9.] If guests, they cannot be represented also as the bride. Christ, as stated by the prophet Daniel, will receive from the Ancient of days in Heaven, “dominion, and glory, and a kingdom,” he will receive the New Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” [Daniel 7:14; Revelation 21:2.] Having received the kingdom, he will come in his glory, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, for the redemption of his people, who are to “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob,” at his table in his kingdom, [Matthew 8:11; Luke 22:30.] to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb.  {GC88 426.2} 


He will Raise His Church, and Glorify it with Christ

The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise His church, and glorify it with Christ, as His bride, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the heavenly courts, the world above. The victory of the sleeping saints will be glorious on the morning of the resurrection.  {ML 295.6} 


So those who had been raised were to be presented to the universe as a pledge of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise His church, and glorify it with Christ, as His bride, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the heavenly courts, the world above. The victory of the sleeping saints will be glorious on the morning of the resurrection. Satan's triumph will end, while Christ will triumph in glory and honor. The Life-giver will crown with immortality all who come forth from the grave.  {1SM 305.3}  


Consider the Following

In Paul's analogy, Christ is the Husband (bridegroom) and the Church is His wife (bride). What does Christ do for His wife?

1) Loves the church as a wife: Jesus loves us!

2) Gives Himself as the bride's price: The bridegroom had to give goods or money to the bride's father to take her as his wife, showing how much he valued her (Gen. 29:18; 34:11).

3) Bathes the bride: Christ takes on the role of the bridesmaids, preparing the bride himself.

4) Speaks the word of promise: Through the promise, Christ commits to caring for and loving the Church.

5) Prepares and adorns the bride: Adorned by Christ, the Church appears "holy and without blemish."

6) Presents the bride: Assuming the role of the father, Jesus presents the Church to Himself and marries her.


Tuesday - August 29, 2023

The Church as the Bride of Christ: Part 2 (Ephesians 5:25-27)

2 Cor. 11:1-4;  Eph. 5:27; 2 Cor. 11:1, 2; Col. 1:21-23, 28;  Matt. 25:1-13. 

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. (Eph. 5:24-27)


God the Husband of His Church

God is the husband of His church. The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. Every true believer is a part of the body of Christ. Christ regards unfaithfulness shown to Him by His people as the unfaithfulness of a wife to her husband. We are to remember that we are members of Christ's body (Letter 39, 1902).  {7BC 985.9} 


Conduct Befitting the Bride of a King

The church is the bride, the Lamb's wife. She should keep herself pure, sanctified, holy. Never should she indulge in any foolishness; for she is the bride of a King. Yet she does not realize her exalted position. If she understood this, she would be all-glorious within (Letter 177, 1901).  {7BC 986.1}  (Chs. 3:4; 7:14; 16:15.) 


Clean Garments

The church is the bride of Christ, and her members are to yoke up with their Leader. God warns us not to defile our garments (Letter 123 1/2, 1898).  {7BC 986.2} 


Whosoever Will, Let Him Take the Water of Life Freely

When Christ gave his final commission to his disciples, he said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This commission is for us; then let us work in the Spirit of Christ for our fellow-men. In great cities and smaller cities, in highways and by-ways, let us go forth to hold up Jesus as the one able to cleanse from sin. Every member of the church may be a working member, if he can do no more than say, "Come." For the word declares, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."  {RH, January 27, 1891 par. 13}  


Consider the Following

Paul presents the wedding of Jesus and His Church in its chronological development:

71) Engagement (v. 25): Jesus paid the bride's price by dying on the cross. In this way,

He officially engaged Himself to the Church.

2) Preparation for the wedding ceremony (v. 26): Currently, He prepares the Church by sanctifying and purifying each member, cleansing every stain of sin, and smoothing every wrinkle of character.

3) The wedding ceremony itself (v. 27): Finally, Jesus will come to take His wife, "a glorious church," to live happily ever after.

Am I preparing for the wedding? Do I let Jesus prepare me every day for that beautiful ceremony? Do I long for the moment when I can see my Husband face to face?


Wednesday - August 30, 2023

Love Your Wife as You Do Yourself - Advice for Husbands (Ephesians 5:28-30)

Eph. 5:28-30; 5:21-6:9.

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. (Eph. 5:28-30)

Cultivate Love in the Family - Love Should Be Expressed

In many families there is a great lack in expressing affection one for another. While there is no need of sentimentalism, there is need of expressing love and tenderness in a chaste, pure, dignified way. Many absolutely cultivate hardness of heart and in word and action reveal the satanic side of the character. Tender affection should ever be cherished between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters. Every hasty word should be checked, and there should not be even the appearance of the lack of love one for another. It is the duty of everyone in the family to be pleasant, to speak kindly.  {AH 198.2}  

Cultivate tenderness, affection, and love that have expression in little courtesies, in speech, in thoughtful attentions.  {AH 198.3}  

The best way to educate children to respect their father and mother is to give them the opportunity of seeing the father offering kindly attentions to the mother and the mother rendering respect and reverence to the father. It is by beholding love in their parents that children are led to obey the fifth commandment and to heed the injunction, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."  {AH 198.4}  


The Kind of Husband Not To Be

The Husband Who Expects Wife to Carry Double Burdens.--In most families there are children of various ages, some of whom need not only the attention and wise discipline of the mother but also the sterner, yet affectionate, influence of the father. Few fathers consider this matter in its due importance. They fall into neglect of their own duty and thus heap grievous burdens upon the mother, at the same time feeling at liberty to criticize and condemn her actions according to their judgment. Under this heavy sense of responsibility and censure, the poor wife and mother often feels guilty and remorseful for that which she has done innocently or ignorantly, and frequently when she has done the very best thing possible under the circumstances. Yet when her wearisome efforts should be appreciated and approved and her heart made glad, she is obliged to walk under a cloud of sorrow and condemnation because her husband, while ignoring his own duty, expects her to fulfill both her own and his to his satisfaction, regardless of preventing circumstances.  {AH 224.1} 


Cultivate Respect and Affection for each Other

A husband and wife should cultivate respect and affection for each other. They should guard the spirit, the words, and the actions so that nothing will be said or done to irritate or annoy. Each is to have a care for the other, doing all in their power to strengthen their mutual affection.  {AH 345.3}  

I tell you both to seek the Lord. In love and kindness do your duty one to the other. The husband should cultivate industrious habits, doing his best to support his family. This will lead his wife to have respect for him. . . .  {AH 345.4}  


Consider the Following

Much harm and sorrow have been caused by a misinterpretation of the words spoken to Eve: "Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you" (Gen. 3:16).

Aware of this, Paul wants husbands to understand how they should act towards their wives. Firstly, to love them "as Christ loved the church," willing to give their lives for them (5:25, 29).

If they are ever tempted to treat them harshly, they must remember that she is a part of themselves, and by mistreating her, they show that they do not love either her or themselves (5:28). Those who exercise improper dominion and harm their wives mistreat their own bodies, their own flesh, and their own bones (5:30).


Thursday - August 31, 2023

The "One Flesh" Model of Marriage (Ephesians 5:31-33)

Genesis 2:15-25;  Ephesians 5:21-33  

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. (Eph. 5:31-33)


Wife a "Help Meet" for Husband

God Himself gave Adam a companion. He provided "an help meet for him"--a helper corresponding to him--one who was fitted to be his companion and who could be one with him in love and sympathy. Eve was created from a rib taken from the side of Adam, signifying that she was not to control him as the head, nor to be trampled under his feet as an inferior, but to stand by his side as an equal, to be loved and protected by him. A part of man, bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, she was his second self, showing the close union and the affectionate attachment that should exist in this relation. --PP 46 (1890).  {1MCP 159.2}  


The Symbiotic Relationship - Flesh of His Flesh

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For 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. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 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. 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 it and cherisheth it; even as the Lord the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. 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."  {BEcho, September 4, 1899 par. 10}  


Love for Wife is Love for Himself

 "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." Thus it is that the wife is represented in her union with her husband. "Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband." How could there be unhappy families if all were doers of the Word and not hearers only? The Lord does not require that which is impossible, but all are to live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and those who do this will honor their Redeemer in their married life.  {21MR 217.2}  


Consider the Following

Paul concludes his advice to spouses with a reference to Genesis 2:24 (5:31).

What does the expression "one flesh" mean?

The sexual unity in marriage reflects their emotional and spiritual unity. They are no longer two. They no longer act separately. They have left their past to create a future together, united. They are ONE.

This is a mystery, a divine gift, which Paul spiritually applies to Christ and His Church (5:32). The Church cannot exist separately from Christ but depends on its union with Jesus.

Being one, "the husband loves his wife (and vice versa); the wife respects her husband (and vice versa); as Christ loves and respects each one of us (and vice versa)" (paraphrased Eph. 5:33).


Friday - September 1, 2023

Further Study, and Meditation

 The two who unite their interest in life will have distinct characteristics and individual responsibilities. Each one will have his or her work, but women are not to be valued by the amount of work they can do, as are beasts of burden. The wife is to grace the family circle as a wife and companion to a wise husband. At every step she should inquire, "Is this the standard of true womanhood?" and, "How shall I make my influence Christlike in my home?" The husband should let his wife know that he appreciates her work.  {21MR 217.3}  

Questions to Ponder


From the Pen of Inspiration

“Marriage, a union for life, is a symbol of the union between Christ and His church. The spirit that Christ manifests toward His church is the spirit that the husband and wife are to manifest toward each other. If they love God supremely, they will love each other in the Lord, treating each other courteously, drawing in even cords. In their mutual self-denial and self-sacrifice, they will be a blessing to each other.” E. G. W. (The Adventist Home, Ch. 14, p. 82)


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