EPHESIANS - Chapter 5 - Verse 29
Verse 29. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh. This is urged as
an argument why a man should love his wife, and show kindness to
her. As no man disregards the happiness of his own body, or himself, so
he should show equal care to promote the happiness of his wife. A
sentiment similar to this is found in the classic writers.
Thus Curtius (lib. vii ) says, Corporibus nostris quea utique non
odimus—" We do not hate those things that pertain to our own
bodies." So Seneca, (Epis. 14,) Fateor insitam nobis esse corporia
nostri charitatem—" I confess that there is implanted in us the love
of our own body." The word nourishment here means, properly,
to bring up, as, e.g., children. The sense here is, that he provides
for it, and guards it from exposure and want. The word cherisheth
yalpei means, properly, to warm; and may mean here that he
defends it from cold by clothing—and the two expressions denote
mat he provides food and raiment for the body. So he is to do for
his wife; and in like manner the Lord Jesus regards the church,
and ministers to its spiritual necessities. But this should not be
spiritualized too far. The general idea is all that we want—that
Christ has a tender concern for the wants of the church, as a man
has for his own body, and that the husband should show a similar
regard for his wife.
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