Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Ephesians 5:24
The word “Therefore” is given to show us a conclusion based on what was said in the previous two verses. Christ is the Head of the church, and the church is subject to Him in all ways. In the same manner, as laid out by God’s divine hierarchy, wives are also to submit “to their own husband in everything.” This obviously excludes anything which is contrary to the will of God. No person is to violate their duty to God in order to be subject to another, regardless of what their position is.
Thus, the statement leaves the wife with the following hierarchy of priorities –
To God
To her husband
To herself
What an unhappy verse for the world today! There is talk of freedom from the bonds of marriage. There is talk of the woman running the house. There is the notion that any “god” is simply an evolutionary process which randomly and chaotically brought us to the state we are in, and thus there is no real difference between people. Any perceived difference, such as biological sex, can be corrected through surgery and medicine. Therefore, we are actually all on equal footing and thus no hint of submission is necessary.
But the Bible speaks otherwise. No wonder it is so maligned and railed against! How dare the “God” of the Bible mandate something which places the female in submission to her husband! But, by casting off these supposed shackles, it is we who will suffer. Only a breakdown of that which is moral, just, and honorable can result from being disobedient to the will of God as is laid out in Scripture. Let us endeavor to heed these words and act in accordance with God’s perfect will.
Life application: Because of the established hierarchy in the family, the need to honor God through proper direction of His will is up to the husband. Should he force the wife to submit in a way which is contrary to what He commands, it can only lead to a breakdown in the family and harm for all concerned.
Lord God Almighty, it is so very wonderful to know Your word and to be obedient to it. In doing so, the truly difficult choices are put behind us. What great pressure is taken off of us if we simply heed Your word! And yet, how often do we decide to follow our own wayward paths. In turn, life gets complicated and we wonder why we are in the mess we are in! Help us not to be so confused! Grant us wisdom to pursue Your will through Your superior word. To Your glory we pray. Amen.