The following series is based on a book written by Jeremy and Sushma Ballard, “Is Your Home a Jesus Home?” The book is available for purchase on Amazon (Paperback & eBook), Barnes & Noble (Paperback & eBook), and Apple Books (eBook). Every purchase helps to support Jesus Home Ministries and the work Jeremy and Sushma are doing.
As we’ve learned, God established marriage and family from the very beginning. However, Adam and Eve’s sin introduced brokenness into this divine institution, a brokenness that has been passed down to each of us. To fulfill our God-given design, we must study what the Bible says about marriage and family, and strive to fulfill our purpose within the home.
God has given each person a unique role in the family. In this lesson, we will focus on the husband’s role.
Read Ephesians 5:25-30 and 1 Peter 3:7
These scriptures highlight several key responsibilities for husbands:
- Love as Christ Loves the Church: The husband is called to love his wife with the same sacrificial love that Christ has for the church—a love so profound that Christ laid down His life for her. This means husbands are to love their wives unconditionally, setting aside their own needs and desires to meet their wives’ needs. Ask yourself: Are you willing to sacrifice for your wife’s well-being, just as Christ sacrificed for us?
- Sanctify Your Wife: To sanctify means to set apart or make holy. While husbands themselves cannot sanctify their wives, they are called to lead their wives toward Christ, who alone can sanctify them. This involves creating a spiritual environment in the home where Christ’s presence is central, and encouraging your wife in her walk with God.
- Cleanse by the Word: Husbands are called to cleanse their wives by the “washing of water with the word.” This means leading your wife in Bible study and teaching her God’s Word in a loving and supportive manner. Spiritual leadership in the home includes guiding family devotionals and ensuring that the home is grounded in Scripture.
- Present Her to Christ: One of the greatest responsibilities of a husband is to lead his wife to a closer relationship with Christ. This requires a deep, personal relationship with Christ yourself. Your example, guidance, and spiritual leadership should consistently point her to Jesus.
- Love as Your Own Body: The Bible instructs husbands to love their wives as they love their own bodies. This implies a deep, nurturing care and respect for your wife. She is united with you as one flesh, and you must treat her with the same love, care, and respect you would show to yourself.
- Be Considerate: When making decisions, it’s crucial to listen to your wife’s advice and consider how your choices will affect her. A husband’s leadership should prioritize his wife’s needs and well-being, ensuring that his decisions are thoughtful and considerate.
- Respect Your Wife: While a man’s primary need may be respect and a woman’s primary need may be love, it’s important to understand that both love and respect are essential in a marriage. Treat your wife with respect, acknowledging her value, importance, and unique role within the family.
First Peter 3:7 reminds husbands that their prayers may be hindered if they are inconsiderate or disrespectful to their wives. This is a sobering truth: God is attentive to the prayers of those who live righteously, but the prayers of those who persist in sin may go unheard (Psalm 34:15-18, Proverbs 15:29, 1 Peter 3:12). The way you treat your wife has spiritual consequences, impacting your relationship with God.
Join us next time as we explore the wife’s role in marriage and how she contributes to the unity and strength of the family.
Jesus Home Ministries 