Ephesians 5:28

So. Paul has briefly digressed to speak of the glorified church, and he now returns to his subject and stresses the chief element in which earthly marriage is like the union of Christ and the church — that of unfailing, self-sacrificing love. “So” refers to the description of the love of Christ in vs. 25-27.

As their own bodies. Not because self-love is the highest ideal, but because husband and wife are one body, one flesh (cf. Gen. 2:24; Eph. 5:31). As a man protects his own body from danger and discomfort, so he will give his wife equal consideration. Paul is stressing the essential unity that should prevail.

Loveth himself. This is because their interest are the same, their ideals correspond, their spiritual goals are identical. When he promotes her welfare he is promoting his own, not only because they are closely bound together, but because she imparts to him the happiness he brings to her. Kindness begets kindness.