THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS
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“ washing” means literally “ laver,” or bath tub. The Word of God is the Chris tian’s bath tub: in this he should make his moral and spiritual ablutions (cf. John 15:3; 1 Pet. 1:23). The word translated “ by” in the Authorized Vers ion, and “ with” in the Revised Version is more exactly “ in.” It is in the Word, as in a laver or bath tub, that Jesus washes us (cf. Ps. 119:11). The word translated “ washing” in both Author ized and Revised Versions, but given correctly in the margin of the Revised Version as “ laver” is used in but one other place in the New Testament (Tit. 3 :5 ), where it is used of regeneration ( “ through the laver of regeneration” R. V. Margin). Regeneration is effected by the Word of God (Jas. 1:18; 1 Pet. 1:23). It is said by some that the Greek word translated “ the Word” in verse 26 does not mean “ the Word of God,” because the Greek word used is not the one ordinarily used for the Word of God. While it is true it is not the word ordinarily used for the Word of God, it is precisely the word that is used for the Word of God in 1 Pet. 1:25, and that too in connection with regen eration (cf. 1 Pet. 1:23). It is also the word used of the Word of God in this very epistle (ch. 6:17) and also in Rom. 10:17; Heb. 6:5; 11:3, so the argu ment that this word cannot refer to the Word of God here is built on insuffic ient examination of Bible usage, and falls to the ground. It is also urged that it cannot refer to the Word of God because in the Greek there is no definite article preceding it, but those who are thoroughly familiar with Greek usage know that in the Greek the definite article is often omitted where we would use it, and that therefore there is no force in this argument. THURSDAY, August 20. Eph. 5:27 Christ has a still further purpose in giving Himself for the Church, and that purpose extends into the eternal future, viz., “ that He might present the Church to Himself (i. e., at the marriage feast) a glorious Church (cf. Rev. 19:7, 8; Song of Sol. 4:7) not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing (free from defect or blemish of any kind) ; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” This shows us what the Church is to be when Christ finishes His work in her, however far she may be from that today. But all this springs from His atoning work, His giving Him self up to her (cf. v. 25). It will be in connection with Christ’s second com-
band, now turns to the conduct of the Spirit-filled husband. The obligation that is here laid upon the husband is much heavier than that that in the pre ceding verse is laid upon the wife. The wife’s duty is to obey; the husband’s duty is to love and sacrifice himself for the wife. Her duty is to act toward Christ; his duty is to act toward his wife, as Christ did act and still does act -toward the Church. If husbands would obey verses 25-27, wives would find no trouble whatever in obeying verses 22- 24. It is a truly wonderful word that Paul speaks to husbands, and one that ought to sink deep into our hearts, and one that will lay most of us in the dust, “ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it.” Ah, have we done that? What husband can say I have? Well, that is our duty. How insistent some husbands are that wives in these days are not obedient to their husbands, as the Bible so clearly urges them to be: but are we husbands as obedient to the Word of God in loving our wives and giving ourselves for them, as the Bible insists we should? How holy, how self-sacrificing the love of a husband for his wife should be, “ even as Christ also loved the Church.” WEDNESDAY, August 19. Eph. 5:26 Lest there be any doubt in our minds as to how much is involved in our lov ing our wives “ even as Christ also loved the Church,” Paul goes on to describe Christ’s love for the Church in detail. The first part of the detailed description is in verse 24, “ and gave Himself up (i. e., gave Himself up to death) for her” (cf. Tit. 2:14; Rom. 4:25). So the husband should give himself up for the wife, sacrifice himself for her. How many husbands are doing this? It was for the Church that Christ gave Him self up. It is true He tasted death for every man (Heb. 2 :9), but it was especially for the church that He died. And what was His purpose;in giving Himself up to die for thé Church? “ That He might sanctify her,” i. e., set her apart from the world unto God. It is then .the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus that sets the Church apart for God and separates her from the world (cf. Heb. 10:10). But Christ not only sanctifies the Church, but also “ cleanses” her from the presence of sin. Paul tells us just how He cleanses the Church from the presence of sin, “ by the washing of water with the Word( or \n the Word).” The word translated
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