1. Wives, submit to your husbands (21-24).
God's children should submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Submission begins in the family between husband and wife. The mysterious relationship between Christ and the church is compared to the relationship between a husband and wife. As the church submits to Christ our Lord and Savior, so the wife should submit to her husband in everything.

2. Husbands, love your wives (25-33).
A wife's submission is based on love. Husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church. Jesus loved the church by completely giving himself up for her. He shed his blood and died for the church. Just as Jesus loved the church like his own body, husbands must also fervently love their wives. The union between Christ and his church is a profound mystery, but can be understood in light of a proper marriage. When wives submit to their husbands and husbands love their wives, there is beautiful harmony and unity in the family.