This week on Things Unseen, we've been talking about family life, and yesterday we were thinking

about the family life commandment, the commandment that focuses on honouring our father and our

mother.

I want to think with you today about another commandment, one that's actually directed to wives,

but its fulfillment is related to both husband and wife.

I'm thinking about Paul's teaching on marriage in Ephesians chapter 5 verses 22 to 33.

He says, let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Actually the verb that Paul uses here is the verb that's often translated fear.

But I'm sure Bible translators are right to translate it as respect.

I'll have more to say about this, but for the moment here's a major key to married life.

A wife should respect her husband.

When couples have come to talk to me about marriage, I've always looked for this basic grace.

Does she respect him?

I don't mean is she head over heels in love with him.

On its own that could easily blind her to his faults.

No, it's respect that matters.

And respect means trust.

Respect means that his character leads you to believe that his love is true and

they will keep his word, that he's faithful, that there are qualities in him that you feel

you can appreciate and admire.

It's the kind of sense that Ruth had about Boas, isn't it, that made her think

he was the kind of man with whom she would be at home and safe and secure. It means that

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