Marriage a Picture of Christ and the Church

This statement that the man will rule over the woman does not mean what we have all been taught.

 
The word "desire will be for your husband" means there will be the desire to rule over your husband, but he will rule over you. In other words, there will be a struggle in the marriage that is ungodly because of the fall.

 
The man should not rule over his wife, and she should not rule over him. He leads by example, teaching and loving kindness, and she follows of her own choice. This is God's way; the devil perverted the marriage by causing conflict, but this ought never to be in the Christian marriage.

 
Men should not "rule" over the woman, and the woman should not "rule" over the man. Marriage is a partnership, not a dictatorship. The woman is to be the "helpmeet", meaning counselor and supporter. The husband is to listen to the counsel of his wife and he will have the final say if they disagree.

The husband and wife should discuss things to come to an agreement, not one person making all the decisions by themselves and demanding obedience.

 
When the husband fulfills his role as the loving protector and leader, and the woman fulfills her role as the counselor and supporter of the husband's calling, no one will be treated as lesser than the other. Both are equal with different roles, each enhancing the other's duties.

 
Ephesians 5:25-33
"25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church."

Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church; it must be taken much more seriously than our culture views it.