3月8日；
以弗所书 5:22-23；
唱诗：增补赞美诗 #15；

这是极大的奥秘，但我是指着基督和教会说的。（弗 5:32）

婚姻是信仰的”奥秘“之一。由于许多人把婚姻视为一个随时可以终止的约定，因此认识到这一点非常重要，即圣经给了婚姻非常高的地位。保罗写道：“……人要离开父母，与妻子连合，二人成为一体。这是极大的奥秘，但我是指着基督和教会说的。”（弗 5:31-32）

保罗称这个奥秘是“极大的（profound）”，从字面上来解读就是“巨大的奥秘（mega mystery）”。这个奥秘有二个方面：丈夫是妻子的头，就如基督是教会的头；丈夫必须爱妻子，就如基督爱教会。在一切的事上，基督的爱是惟一的准则。

在古罗马帝国，分居和离婚非常普遍，非法性关系是可接受的。许多的婚姻是只有受害者而没有赢家的战场。不过，使徒保罗把基督与他教会的关系视为基督徒婚姻的模板。我们必须像基督对他的教会一样尊重和对待我们的配偶。

今天的经文，是圣经中唯一将婚姻关系描述得如此之深的一处。我们知道这是一个奥秘，但远远超出了我们的有限的理解能力。在任何情况下，丈夫和妻子必须先问：“基督希望我怎么做？” 有时，我们很难继续爱我们的配偶，但无论什么原因，都必须先来到基督面前，寻找对婚姻的理解和帮助，他对于悔改的罪人的爱将指引我们。

思考问题：对照以弗所书 5:32-33，你如何评论你的婚姻，或者你父母的婚姻？

---

March 8
Ephesians 5:22-33
Song: Augment #15

THE PROFOUND MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE

“This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:32)

One of the "mysteries" of faith is marriage. Since many people consider marriage an arrangement that can be terminated at any time, it is important to note that the Bible gives it a very high place. Paul writes, " '...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church" (Eph 5:31-32).

Paul calls this mystery "profound". Literally, the text reads “mega mystery”. This has two aspects: the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church; and the husband must love the wife, as Christ loves the church.In everything, Christ's love is the only norm.

In the Roman Empire, separation and divorce were quite common. Deviant sexuality was accepted. Many marriages were a battleground where there were only victims and no winners. But the apostle Paul holds up the relationship between Christ and his church as a model for Christian marriage. We must regard and treat our spouse as Christ treats his church.

Our text for today is the only place in Scripture where the marriage bond is described in such depth. It is a mystery that we know but that also goes far beyond our limited understanding. In any given situation, husband and wife must first ask, "What would Christ want me to do?” For whatever reason, it may sometimes be hard to continue loving a spouse, but we must go to Christ for understanding and help. His love for repentant sinners guides us.

Question: How do you rate your own marriage and/or the marriage of your parents in the light of Ephesians 5:32-33?