Ephesians 5:29-30 Jesus Nourishes and Cherishes the Church

Ephesians 5:29-30 (KJV)  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. 

Jesus loves the church. The church was purchased by the immense travail that Jesus Christ suffered both in His life and in His death. The Apostle Paul described the indivisible bond between Christ and the church as being “his own flesh – members of His body”. The context here is depicting the covenantal relationship of marriage between the husband and the wife. The closest of all relationships!

A noteworthy thought is our Lord’s care for His people. Jesus nourishes and cherishes the church.

Nourishes means to rear up to maturity, to train to bring up. It describes Christ’s sanctifying work in the believer’s life. The word “nourish” from the preposition “out of or from”, spoken of such objects which before were in another object but are now separated from it, either in respect to place, time, source, or origin. It speaks of a state or condition, out of which one comes, is brought, or tends toward.

The believer who has been made alive in Christ, now a partaker of spiritual life, was once dead in trespasses and sin, in time past walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, living a life of disobedience against God in Christ (Eph. 2:1-2)

The believer is being rescued from sin through the death and resurrection of Christ and is now nourished in the ways of God through Christ in holiness by the grace and mercy of God.

Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Besides the preposition “out of”, the word “nourishes” consists of the verb “to bring up or feed or strengthen”. Christ “feeds” the fowls of the air that sow not (Matt. 6:26), He feeds and nourishes His body, the body of believers, restored in the image of God through Christ yet not perfect, Christ took it upon Himself to nourish us. What privilege to be cared for by our the Creator, Sustainer and Saviour as we progress toward maturity – 1 John 3:2 (KJV) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Cherishes literally means “to impart warmth or to keep warm”; that is, to cherish, nurse, foster with tender care. It is not rough and uncouth but speaks of carefulness, gentleness and comfort that the believer lovingly receives from Christ, as a nurse cherishes her children (1 Thess. 2:7). This word occurs only twice in the New Testament signifying God’s care for His people.

Both verbs “nourisheth and cherisheth” are represented by active, continuous action. Christ’s care for the believer has no let-up. There is no time when Christ will not be there to protect and defend the believer, just as the husband is exhorted to do for his wife. 

May the Lord’s comfort be upon our suffering ones as we meditate upon His love for us. Amen.