EPHESIANS: Wives, and Submission

EPHESIANS Number 60

Wives, and Submission

Ephesians 5:22–24 (KJV 1900)
22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

As we examine these sometimes-volatile verses it is crucial that we keep our perspective. The focus of our study is now upon verses that well exemplify the reason that context must never be ignored when interpreting and applying Scripture. Doctrine built on passages severed from their context leads to a great deal of pain and division. Such teaching gives the world fuel with which to malign the word of God and the cause of Christ.

Consequently, we are well advised to ask ourselves “what is the context from which we are to approach our understanding of these verses?” The answer is very simple and leading up to this point I think Paul has done an excellent job making that clear.

He began his letter by pointing out the incredible ways in which God has blessed us. Being restfully seated in this state of blessing, we have been (and we are continuing to be) instructed how we are to walk and the reason that we are to conduct ourselves this way. We are God’s people. His children, created in Christ Jesus for good works. We are His body and His bride, designed to make Him known to those in the world around us.

As we have just seen, our Father’s character is that of self-giving, even sacrificial, Love. We were told that just like dear children, we are to follow, imitate, or emulate Him. Finally, we’ve seen that our lives, characterized by (agape’) Love, are naturally outward focused.

With that context firmly in mind then, we can begin to understand what this call to submission by wives to their husbands is all about. In Matthew 20:25–28 (KJV 1900) we find this, “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion [we would say ‘lord it over’] over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister [servant]; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto [served], but to minister [serve], and to give his life a ransom for many.”

In these words of Jesus, we find two important insights. First, we discover that no one is to “lord it over” anyone else. That is the way of the domain of darkness, not the way of the Kingdom of Light. Secondly, we find that the way to lead is through humility.

The world teaches us that if we want to get ahead, we must look out for our own interests. We must stand up for our rights, show no weakness, and never submit our will to that of another.

The King, our wonderful Father, portrays things like serving, submitting, and meekness as a kind of superpower. Indeed, Jesus said in the passage from Matthew we just read that this is the way to greatness and is the mark of a leader.

These few verses address wives specifically.

No doubt one reason for this teaching was that Ephesus was home to the temple of Artemis (called Diana in the KJV). This so-called “goddess” was known as a source of fertility. Additionally, a form of “mother goddess” worship was also influential there. Paul was well aware of these and other pagan practices. He had spent more than two years there and was at times met with fiery resistance. You can read more about that in Acts 19. The Ephesian fellowship had some unlearning to do. Adding to the difficulty of overcoming long-held beliefs and practices, they were pressured by the surrounding society. Nearly everyone they knew or even interacted with would have expected them to continue viewing marriage and sexuality in ways opposed to the way of the Lord.

Still, we today can take much from what the Spirit had to say to the wives of Ephesus. Lest we forget, just prior to turning our attention to wives, the Spirit tells us to submit to one another. This passage encourages all of us to take the risk of submitting.