Eph 5:26-28, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
Christ gave Himself for the church. His drive was to sanctify it, make it holy by washing of water by the word. Christ laid His life down to save His bride from the past, present and future. Husbands’ love for their wives therefore is not only about duty, but the measure of the duty, the mile of excellence.
Joshua set the spiritual climate of his own home, he said “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord” (Jos 24:15). Husbands have the responsibility to be the spiritual leaders to lead, wash their wives by the word (disciple). God if you will is our Father and Father inlaw. He has entrusted His daughter to a husband to take care of and present her back to Him whole. It’s a task that each husband must take seriously and ask for grace and wisdom to lead.
This is to be done out of love from a body level as in same level. She is flesh with strength and weakness as he does. If he loves himself, he should love his wife for she was created out of him. No one hates himself and plans to harm his body. The body he loves, he will nurture and protect, without which the entire body suffers. We are called the body of Christ, the wife is the body of her husband. Christ loved the church, Husbands love your wives.