“No man ever hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it. even as Christ also the church.” Ephesians 5:29
We are told in verse 25 of this paragraph that Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her. The verbs in the past tense point to the purpose of his death, that he might obtain for himself a bride. Although her presentation to him lies in the future, yet his work has already been finished in the past.
In our verse above, however, the verbs are in the present tense. The Lord is at present nourishing and cherishing his Church. The point is made that no man will hate his own flesh. If a normal person has hurt his hand, he carefully cherishes that hand; if his foot is injured, he tenderly cares for it. Knowing our care for ourselves, we can the better grasp how it is that Christ is now engaged in nourishing and cherishing us. We are parts of his Body, the cherished objects of his loving care.
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