Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 5:23

"For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, [being] himself the saviour of the body." — Ephesians 5:23 (ASV)

For the husband is the head of the wife. (See Barnes' notes on 1 Corinthians 11:3).

As Christ is the head of the church. As Christ rules over the church, and has a right to direct and control it.

And he is the saviour of the body. That is, of the church, represented as his body. (See Barnes' notes on Ephesians 1:23).

The idea here seems to be that as Christ gave himself to save his body, the church; as he practiced self-denial, and made it an object of intense solicitude to preserve that church, so the husband should manifest a similar solicitude to make his wife happy, and to save her from want, affliction, and pain. He should regard himself as her natural protector; as bound to anticipate and provide for her wants; as under obligation to comfort her in trial, even as Christ does the church. What a beautiful illustration of the spirit which a husband should manifest is the care which Christ has shown for his bride, the church (See Barnes' notes on Ephesians 5:25).