Responsibilities of the Christian husband

March 29th, 2010

Husbands have a responsibility to their wives. I was talking to a friend of mine who loves to quote the Bible about the husband being head of the wife and her responsibilities to the husband. My argument back to him is that the husband should first fulfill his responsibilities to his wife.

Ephesians 5:22-25, 28-31 in the New King James Version tells us

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her… So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”

Head of the house, head of the wife does not mean the husband is master and the wife is a slave where the wife is to blindly follow the husband and be at his beck and call. No, the husband, if he is fulfilling all his responsibilities, is to be more of a leader.

The husband is to love his wife as Christ loves the church. This means he should love his wife above all others, more than anyone else. Ephesians 5 teaches husbands they should cherish their wives, be tender and affectionate, demonstrate their love to their wives. He should not only show her his love and commitment, but tell her as well. He should not be so wrapped up in himself that he fails to acknowledge his wife or communicate with her.

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Husbands are to give honor to their wife, as to the weaker vessel. This does NOT mean the wife IS the weaker vessel, but should be treated as such, with tenderness and care. I know in many ways, my wife is stronger than I am. We are to be heirs together in the grace of life. Each lending individual strengths to the relationship to make each stronger together than apart.

Honor means the husband should never publicly embarrass his wife or cut her down. As Ephesians 5 says, husband and wife cleave as one flesh, which means she is to be treated as part of the husband’s body. Honor means the husband should respect his wife, be courteous to his wife, be considerate towards his wife’s feelings and emotions, and hold her up with dignity. He should be gentle towards her, keeping his temper in check. The husband should not expect perfection from his wife as he, himself, is not perfect.

I tell you husbands, if you treat your wife as the Bible commands you, she will return the love and respect to you many times over.

There are many more examples of a husband’s responsibility towards his wife and family in the Bible, and I will try to go more in depth in future articles.

Please feel free to comment on this post and offer other scripture. Have a blessed day.