Marriage

16. Does a husband have the right to beat his wife when she deserves to be beaten?

No, a husband does not have this right over his wife, and obviously neither a wife has the right to beat her husband, for it is written: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 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. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 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. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband” (Ephesians 5:25-33), and again: “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered” (1 Peter 3:7).

Please, notice that it is written that husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. What man wants to harm his own flesh? Therefore, since husband and wife are one flesh, if a husband lifted his hand against his wife, he would behave like a mad man. Husbands must honour their wives, otherwise their prayers will be hindered and they will be punished by God.

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