Wives, Submit to your Own Husbands as to the Lord (part 2)
Introduction/Review. Last week we explored the personal benefits promised to any wife who is in submission to her own husband. First, the influence of submission is so powerful, it can bring a conversion even after the gospel has been rejected. Second, through submission, wives can gain an incorruptible and eternal beauty that will never fade. Third, God sees the heart of gentleness, calmness and serenity that submission develops as being very precious in His sight. Fourth, this submission was universal among all the holy women who served God during the Patriarchal and Mosaic ages (former times). Finally, Sarah submitted to Abraham and considered him lord: when she said “within herself,” “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Gen. 18:12). Any woman who trusts God in these things can have this same holiness and unfading beauty, climbing the highest pinnacles of greatness in her own home with her husband and taking her place among the greatest women who have walked the earth as a daughter of Sarah. Sadly today, it will take a great faith in the inspiration of the Scriptures to rise above present attitudes of this world regarding women to be able to do these things.
Jesus wanted all submission placed in its proper context. Long before the Spirit revealed the above things, Jesus had already validated them: “whoever desires to become great, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” No one should feel that submission falls on them, but instead willingly shoulder it as an honor. The stigma of a “serving” wife can easily be overcome simply by remembering that Jesus also served and gave His life, as did many of the apostles. The Holy Spirit used the submission of each disciple to Jesus along with the submission of the church to Jesus as a “shield of faith” for all Christians who feel that serving others makes them inferior. Armed with this knowledge, all the scorn and derision the world can heap upon a godly and submissive wife is much easier to bear. Before the Holy Spirit spoke directly to wives, He put it into the context of how all Christians submit to one another.
Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ (Eph. 5:21-24):
1. Wives, to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
2. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; Therefore:
3. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Jesus wanted every wife to see her relationship to Him as the basis of her role. Jesus knew that multitudes of Christians women would come from homes who did not know Him as Lord. Raised in difficult environments, without a good example, many women would struggle and fail as a wife. He also knew the “vain manner of life handed down from your fathers” would contradict the Scriptures and that there would be many obstacles to overcome. Her devotion to Jesus is the best role model for her devotion to her husband. By trusting this with all her heart she will not only cease being “conformed to this world,” but also be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The “schemes of men” that have led to so many failed marriages will be abandoned, left behind, and the foundation of a successful and happy marriage will be laid.
As a woman grows as a Christian her marriage will grow with it. When she links her service to Jesus with her service to her husband, she will fulfill the command: “Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Each devout Christian wife must learn to channel her love and submission for Jesus toward her husband. As each Christian woman grows, barriers to submission will gradually be lowered, and ultimately removed and all the blessings of true submission will enter her home. This is foundation for an “excellent wife:” “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.” (Pr. 31:10-12)
When Jesus was in the garden pleading with strong cries and bitter tears, He learned obedience and submission through the things that He suffered (Heb. 5:7-9). That was the price He paid to become our Lord and Savior. That is the template for all grateful disciples: “let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4). Compared to what Jesus did, our part of this yoke is “easy and light” regardless of the difficulties we face.
When the Spirit revealed that just as God made “Christ head of the church” He has also made “the husband head of the wife,” it is not difficult to understand. Yet because of the schemes of men, it seems unfair or harsh to many who first hear it. Yet as we learn to trust the Scriptures, it must be accepted as the truth. It is a reality that was part of God’s order of creation. “Man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.” “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” (1Cor 11:8-9; 1Tim. 2:13). Trusting these truths is just as much a part of the gospel and the truth as our belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We can’t deny such things and be accepted as a Christian. The only reason these things sound so astounding is because of the “schemes of men” and the “aimless manner of life handed down from your fathers.” Just as God sent Jesus from heaven to “purchase the church with His own blood” and then made Him “head of the church,” God created man alone in the garden of Eden, and then after creating Eve as His wife, made him head over her. Those grateful for God’s gracious act of creation and redemption are willing to accept and submit to any conditions God gave.
Once learned and accepted, this becomes the perfect balance for any wife to weigh her devotion to Christ upon. It has been revealed that Jesus’ relationship to the church is the exact parallel to the husband’s relationship to his wife: “as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.” This is clearly a comprehensive command. Jesus spent much of His time preaching the gospel and warning against any refusal to keep His commandments. He asked “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” He told them “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” He also made it clear that “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Lk. 6:46-47 Jn. 8:31-32; 14:15). When a church “goes beyond what is written,” they “have not God.” (1Cor. 4:6; 2Jn. 9). These are the foundations of faithful service to Jesus and the acceptance of His authority. Jesus built the church, purchased it with His own blood, and has been made King of kings and Lord of lords. While those in the world will reject this, those in His church accept it without question. “you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Cor. 6:20).
As each disciple is learning to submit to Christ in the church in everything, wives are also learning to submit to her own husband in everything and husbands are learning to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Since no service is demeaning or lessening, and since service to others done in obedience to Christ leads to greatness, reward and praise, accepting these things is her path to greatness. This passage teaches the same truths as those in Peter. They are the foundation of “the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1Pet. 3:4). When a wife submits to her own husband as she does to Jesus, accepts that God made her husband the head in the home, and submits to her husband in everything as the church does for Jesus, she takes her place as an equal among all the holy women who submitted to their husbands as a true daughter of Sarah.
Conclusion. As the world grows darker and the ways of God become further and further from the ways of the world, it will be harder to accept these things. It will take more faith and more desire to serve the Lord. Those who rise to the challenge will be successful in this life and inherit eternal life in the world to come.
Jesus wanted all submission placed in its proper context. Long before the Spirit revealed the above things, Jesus had already validated them: “whoever desires to become great, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” No one should feel that submission falls on them, but instead willingly shoulder it as an honor. The stigma of a “serving” wife can easily be overcome simply by remembering that Jesus also served and gave His life, as did many of the apostles. The Holy Spirit used the submission of each disciple to Jesus along with the submission of the church to Jesus as a “shield of faith” for all Christians who feel that serving others makes them inferior. Armed with this knowledge, all the scorn and derision the world can heap upon a godly and submissive wife is much easier to bear. Before the Holy Spirit spoke directly to wives, He put it into the context of how all Christians submit to one another.
Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ (Eph. 5:21-24):
1. Wives, to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
2. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; Therefore:
3. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Jesus wanted every wife to see her relationship to Him as the basis of her role. Jesus knew that multitudes of Christians women would come from homes who did not know Him as Lord. Raised in difficult environments, without a good example, many women would struggle and fail as a wife. He also knew the “vain manner of life handed down from your fathers” would contradict the Scriptures and that there would be many obstacles to overcome. Her devotion to Jesus is the best role model for her devotion to her husband. By trusting this with all her heart she will not only cease being “conformed to this world,” but also be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” The “schemes of men” that have led to so many failed marriages will be abandoned, left behind, and the foundation of a successful and happy marriage will be laid.
As a woman grows as a Christian her marriage will grow with it. When she links her service to Jesus with her service to her husband, she will fulfill the command: “Wives submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Each devout Christian wife must learn to channel her love and submission for Jesus toward her husband. As each Christian woman grows, barriers to submission will gradually be lowered, and ultimately removed and all the blessings of true submission will enter her home. This is foundation for an “excellent wife:” “An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.” (Pr. 31:10-12)
When Jesus was in the garden pleading with strong cries and bitter tears, He learned obedience and submission through the things that He suffered (Heb. 5:7-9). That was the price He paid to become our Lord and Savior. That is the template for all grateful disciples: “let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4). Compared to what Jesus did, our part of this yoke is “easy and light” regardless of the difficulties we face.
When the Spirit revealed that just as God made “Christ head of the church” He has also made “the husband head of the wife,” it is not difficult to understand. Yet because of the schemes of men, it seems unfair or harsh to many who first hear it. Yet as we learn to trust the Scriptures, it must be accepted as the truth. It is a reality that was part of God’s order of creation. “Man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man.” “For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” (1Cor 11:8-9; 1Tim. 2:13). Trusting these truths is just as much a part of the gospel and the truth as our belief in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. We can’t deny such things and be accepted as a Christian. The only reason these things sound so astounding is because of the “schemes of men” and the “aimless manner of life handed down from your fathers.” Just as God sent Jesus from heaven to “purchase the church with His own blood” and then made Him “head of the church,” God created man alone in the garden of Eden, and then after creating Eve as His wife, made him head over her. Those grateful for God’s gracious act of creation and redemption are willing to accept and submit to any conditions God gave.
Once learned and accepted, this becomes the perfect balance for any wife to weigh her devotion to Christ upon. It has been revealed that Jesus’ relationship to the church is the exact parallel to the husband’s relationship to his wife: “as the church is subject to Christ, so let wives be to their own husbands in everything.” This is clearly a comprehensive command. Jesus spent much of His time preaching the gospel and warning against any refusal to keep His commandments. He asked “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” He told them “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” He also made it clear that “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Lk. 6:46-47 Jn. 8:31-32; 14:15). When a church “goes beyond what is written,” they “have not God.” (1Cor. 4:6; 2Jn. 9). These are the foundations of faithful service to Jesus and the acceptance of His authority. Jesus built the church, purchased it with His own blood, and has been made King of kings and Lord of lords. While those in the world will reject this, those in His church accept it without question. “you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1Cor. 6:20).
As each disciple is learning to submit to Christ in the church in everything, wives are also learning to submit to her own husband in everything and husbands are learning to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Since no service is demeaning or lessening, and since service to others done in obedience to Christ leads to greatness, reward and praise, accepting these things is her path to greatness. This passage teaches the same truths as those in Peter. They are the foundation of “the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” (1Pet. 3:4). When a wife submits to her own husband as she does to Jesus, accepts that God made her husband the head in the home, and submits to her husband in everything as the church does for Jesus, she takes her place as an equal among all the holy women who submitted to their husbands as a true daughter of Sarah.
Conclusion. As the world grows darker and the ways of God become further and further from the ways of the world, it will be harder to accept these things. It will take more faith and more desire to serve the Lord. Those who rise to the challenge will be successful in this life and inherit eternal life in the world to come.