Ephesians 5 is often a favourite passage for preachers at a wedding. Yet many pick up at verse 22, which seems to me to be an important mistake. The previous verse 21 calls for mutual submission out of respect for Christ - in other words let your relationship with Jesus be the basis of respect for one another.
Scholars agree that this passage is effectively a 'holiness code' for relationships (akin to various other codes available at the time). The difference is that this one flows from relationship with Christ. Take Christ away (or skip verse 21) and what do you have: just rules and regulations (and therefore almost inevitable strife!).
The whole passage, including wives/husbands but also parents/children and masters/slaves (and I'm sure in Paul's mind all relationships in fact) is controlled by that initial verse 21, echoed (and rounded off) by chapter 6 verse 9 which refers again to Christ as Lord ('Master in heaven').
As a side order, the wives/husbands bit is really about Christ and the church (see verse 32) ... but at least that gives the wedding preacher a potentially useful way of jumping across to an evangelistic address (which in a UK wedding is a great opportunity!).
But the real relevance of this passage for our 21st century mission perspective is what we model in our significant relationships. Whether it is in marriage, in family, or even in boss/subordinate scenarios, we can model a positive Christ enabled alternative. Lose verse 21 and you will typically portray a graceless scenario - Paul urges us to something much better.
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Rules without Christ ... I agree Karl. Its a passage I have preached on at weddings but often go fishing with the submission issue v21-23),and hook with v25 giving ourselves up for each other. In effect both partners giving up something of themselves for each other.
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