What does the husband-wife relationship picture in Ephesians 5?
In Ephesians 5, the husband-wife relationship pictures Christ as the Head and husband, and the Body of Christ—the church age believers—as the wife. Wives submit to husbands as unto the Lord, and all submit to one another in reverence of God.
Les explains that Ephesians is a deep book, and in chapter 5 Paul uses the human husband and wife relationship as an analogy. The husband correlates with Christ as the Head, and the wife correlates with the Body of Christ, that composite of church age believers. Les clarifies that this Body is unique to the age of grace, consisting of those who believe and trust the finished work of the cross, and does not include Old Testament believers, who relate to Israel's Jehovah God. The passage begins with submitting yourselves one to another in the fear or reverence of God, then specifically instructs wives to submit to their own husbands as unto the Lord. Les notes some may raise their hackles over equality, but the teaching stands.