Daily Verse
February 28, 2026
Ephesians 5:28-29 ESV
In the same way husbands should love their 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 Christ does the church
Ephesians 5:28–29 calls husbands to love their wives “as their own bodies,” reminding us that no one hates his own flesh but nourishes and cherishes it—just as Christ does the church. Paul’s point is both practical and profound. In marriage, love is not passive affection; it is active care. We feed, protect, and tend to our own bodies instinctively. In the same way, a husband’s love should be attentive, protective, and life-giving. It assumes unity—that in marriage, two have truly become one. To neglect your spouse is to neglect yourself.
Even more, this love reflects Christ. Jesus does not merely tolerate His church; He nourishes and cherishes her. He provides what leads to growth and guards what sustains life. Marriage, then, becomes a living picture of the gospel. It calls for maturity—a steady, selfless love that seeks the flourishing of another. That kind of love does not come from emotion alone; it flows from a heart shaped by Christ’s own sacrificial care.