Blog » Wives Submit?
Wednesday, May 29, 2013 Jeff Lampl
Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her....."
Ephesians 5:22-26 (NIV)
"Sorry, I'm not going back to that outdated worn-out woman submits to man bit."
"You don't know my husband, he has not earned my respect much less my submission."
"But I thought marriage was a partnership, not a dictatorship"
"You have no idea what would happen to our household if I let my husband lead. We'd be out of house and home by now."
No question about it, the first sentence of vs. 22 is tough to swallow at first glance. But read the context. Verse 21 (yesterday's blog) sets the stage and verse 25 explains it.
In a first century world where women were not valued and were demeaned to the point of being essentially the property of men, the apostle Paul turns everything on its head. He does so by telling men, "put yourselves at the service of your wives. Men lead in submission. Your most important job in the world, after worshiping God, is to honor, cherish, love, respect, elevate, protect your wives. . . . just as Christ loved the Church. How did Christ love the Church? He died for her.
Husbands love your wives this way today and then again tomorrow, especially when you don't feel like it. You don't feel appreciated? What's that got to do with it? You don't think she's doing her part? Although no outcomes are guaranteed, it is at least more probable that men leading in and modeling this kind of submission will beget something similar in his wife. Lead her by means of your sacrificial love of her.
Wives, what do you think about submitting to this kind of man?
So, if your marriag ie one where neither of you are following Paul's teaching, the question arises, "who goes first"? I think you know the answer. You do.
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