It is a shame that a break is made here between v.22 and v. 21, because Paul began the following admonishments after what he wrote in v. 21, namely, “submitting to one another in the fear of the Lord.” I other words, it is not just directed to wives. Although it is true that the Husbands are the covenantal head of the family in most cases, nevertheless it is a headship of love, and in this way husbands do submit to their wives, most importantly through teaching the word. For Paul it went beyond this however, as he was first laying down how the members of the church must submit to one another as well. The husband’s love is to follow Jesus’ pattern (vv. 23-7) There is a simple principle for Paul – husbands show their love for their wives, in the same way they love themselves. However, for Paul what he had just written was secondary to how he vied the life of the church as a whole.