Ephesians 5:32

This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

This {G5124} is {G2076} a great {G3173} mystery {G3466}: but {G1161} I {G1473} speak {G3004} concerning {G1519} Christ {G5547} and {G1519}{G2532} the church {G1577}.

There is profound truth hidden here, which I say concerns the Messiah and the Messianic Community.

This mystery is profound, but I am speaking about Christ and the church.

This mystery is great: but I speak in regard of Christ and of the church.

Commentary

Ephesians 5:32 KJV Commentary

Ephesians 5:32: "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Context

This verse serves as a profound conclusion to Paul's extensive teaching on marriage in Ephesians 5:22-31. Having exhorted wives to submit to their husbands and husbands to love their wives sacrificially, even as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it, Paul now reveals the deeper, spiritual reality that underpins the human institution of marriage. He has just quoted Genesis 2:24 regarding a man leaving his parents to cleave to his wife, becoming "one flesh," and then immediately clarifies that his primary concern isn't just earthly marriage, but its heavenly counterpart.

Key Themes

  • The Great Mystery Revealed: Paul identifies the relationship between Christ and the church as a "great mystery." In Pauline theology, a "mystery" (Greek: musterion) is not something unknowable or mystical in the modern sense, but rather a divine truth previously hidden in God's plan and now revealed through Christ and the apostles. This mystery illuminates God's eternal purpose for the church.
  • Marriage as a Divine Analogy: The earthly union of husband and wife is not merely a social construct but a profound illustration and reflection of the spiritual union between Christ and His church. This elevates the sanctity and significance of marriage, demonstrating its purpose beyond human companionship.
  • Christ's Headship and the Church's Union: The verse implicitly reinforces Christ's role as the head of the church, loving her as His own body, and the church's intimate connection to Him. Just as husband and wife become one flesh, Christ and the church are spiritually united, a concept further explored in passages like Colossians 1:18.

Linguistic Insights

The key term here is "mystery" (Greek: musterion). As noted, it signifies a truth formerly concealed but now disclosed by divine revelation. For Paul, this mystery is frequently tied to the inclusion of Gentiles into the church and the union of all believers, Jew and Gentile, into one body under Christ. Here, the specific mystery is the profound spiritual reality of the relationship between Christ and His church, which marriage perfectly symbolizes.

Practical Application

Ephesians 5:32 transforms our understanding of marriage and the church:

  • Elevates Marriage: For married couples, this verse provides an incredibly high calling. Their relationship is meant to be a living parable, showcasing the depth and beauty of Christ's love for His church and the church's responsive devotion. Understanding this elevates the commitment, sacrifice, and joy within marriage.
  • Deepens Understanding of the Church: For all believers, this verse enriches our appreciation for the church. It is not merely an organization or a building, but the beloved bride of Christ, for whom He gave everything. This should inspire reverence, unity, and commitment to the body of Christ.
  • Reveals God's Design: It shows that God's design for human relationships, particularly marriage, is intricately linked to His ultimate plan of redemption and His relationship with humanity. It reminds us that spiritual truths are often embedded in our everyday experiences.

Ultimately, this "great mystery" points to the profound, enduring love and covenantal relationship between Christ and His church, a truth that transcends time and space.

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Cross-References

  • Revelation 21:2 (10 votes)

    And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:2 (9 votes)

    For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present [you as] a chaste virgin to Christ.

  • Isaiah 54:5 (8 votes)

    For thy Maker [is] thine husband; the LORD of hosts [is] his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

  • Revelation 19:7 (7 votes)

    Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

  • Revelation 19:8 (7 votes)

    And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

  • Isaiah 62:4 (6 votes)

    Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

  • Isaiah 62:5 (6 votes)

    For [as] a young man marrieth a virgin, [so] shall thy sons marry thee: and [as] the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, [so] shall thy God rejoice over thee.