Then they can urge the younger women… to be … subject to their husbands …
Summary: Paul’s message in this passage is not to the people of the world. It is to the believer. It is the path to greatness for mother and child alike.
Before we get started on today’s passage, I would like to state the obvious: Paul is talking about women who believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord.
To all women who believe that they are masters of their own fate, this passage is not for you. The “master of their own fate” school of thought is something you do not find in Christianity. It is what the Bible refers to as a “worldly” perspective (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Women of the world, relax. We are not talking about you.
Women who believe that Jesus Christ is their Lord have, like the men who believe, submitted to Jesus. They are subject to Jesus as King. In the kingdom of God, the race to the top is actually a race to the bottom. Jesus taught, “… it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:48)
When Paul teaches that Christian women should be subject to their husbands, he is showing them the way to greatness in the Kingdom of God.
He is teaching them something else, too.
He is giving younger women the tool they need to teach their children to be subject to God.
We learn by watching.
Children who watch their mothers submit to their fathers will learn how to be subject to their Heavenly Father themselves.
Application: Remember that what you do says more than what you say.
Food for Thought: All believers are part of the Bride of Christ. (Revelation 19: 6-8) As such how are we all subject to our husband?
Some thoughts on submission from Ephesians 5:13-33-
As part of being filled or controlled by the Holy Spirit all believers submit to one another. We should have a conciliatory attitude to one another, while not ignoring the nature, and authority in our relationships. vs. 21
All believers submit to Christ who is the Head of the Church His body. vs. 22-24.
Husbands are to love their wives in the same way as Christ loved the Church – sacrificially {to the point of death? it seems so}, caring and loving and feeding her as much as, perhaps more that the husband loves himself and his own body and well-being. vs 25-29.
the example of love and sacrifice is Christ Himself. vs.29
It is under these circumstances and conditions in which the Christian woman is called to submit vs 22, 24.
Interestingly, wives are called upon to submit 2 times in this passage, while husbands are called to love 4 times, sacrifice themselves, 1 time, to feed and care for, 1time, love as self 2 times. The husband is called to be willing to give himself up to the point of death which to me seems to be a more extreme expression of devotion than the wife is being called on to make. vs. 25.
It kind of puts in perspective who gets to eat the last remaining piece of chocolate cake. ( Claim mysterious disappearance? Share it? Let the wife have it? Ask does my sweet tooth or waistline need this? Leave the residence and procure another type dessert or an identical one?
Decisions.
Decisions a single person does not need with which to concern himself. 😊😉🎂.
Jeff,
You forgot to mention that no piece of cake is to small to be shared. 🙂
Thank you for the devotion. Good question. I agree with Jeff H that Ephesians 5 gives us great insight to this question. We are to submit to Jesus and use Jesus as the model for what it means to love our wives. It is much easier to submit to an authority that is working for your well being and willing to lay down their life for you. I don’t mind the police officer who gives me a ticket for speeding in the morning who is taking a bullet for me that afternoon. Even the speeding ticket is given for my growth and protection. I can happily submit to such an authority. I can happily submit to Jesus and model His servant leadership to those who need to submit to me.
Thanks Rich!
I like your police and ticket example. Submitting to authority is essential for a functioning society as well as a functional home.
All believers are part of the Bride of Christ. As such how are we all subject to our husband?
In the kingdom of God, the race to the top is actually a race to the bottom. Jesus taught, “… it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”
I LIKE THAT ONE BROTHER!
We begin submission to God by believing in Jesus who as God’s Son rose from the dead to give us eternal life. Romans 10:9 states, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
All those who choose to receive the blessings of fellowship through service in Christ must live a life of daily, moment by moment submission to Him, in Him. We must deny selfish interests as we live in willingness to endure whatever circumstances God presents and enjoy the process of experiencing Jesus Christ living in us. Our submitting to Christ as our teacher leads to our honoring Him by submitting to each other. We begin with those closest and enlarge our sphere as we grow.
Luke 9:23-24; Matthew 10:24; Ephesians 5:21
We look to Jesus as our example. Seek to live in selfless humility, rather than arrogance or self-righteousness. We begin to regard others and their interests as more important than our own which are in Gods hands. He gives us more and more grace as through the power of the Holy Spirit as we deny sin and live in obedience, faith and gratitude for our salvation. Our power to submit and resist our old ways comes from God who will draw closer as we allow Him to replace our sins with His righteousness.
Philippians 2:3-7; James 4:6-8
We use whatever time God has allowed for our presence in this world and will only be fully, properly clothed when we kneel before Christ who will replace all sin with His righteousness.
Thank you, Ron.
Selfless humility is indeed a very worthy goal!