The "S" Word

Season #1

The "S" Word - Wives Submit to Your Husbands

"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands." - Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV)

Biblical Submission

In last week's episode, Peter and Misty addressed the command for husbands to love their wives. This week they discuss the wife's duty to submit to her husband. They discuss what submission is and what it is not.

These verses on submission can be controversial. Misty recalls when they got married. They had the words honor and obey in their vows. One of Misty's friends freaked out, saying, "you said you would obey." It was unthinkable for her at the time to consider obeying a man.

Submission in Context of Ephesians 5

We need to understand the context of Chapter 5 in Ephesians. The Apostle Paul addresses general instructions on holy living in these passages. He focuses on the purity of life by avoiding evil deeds and associations and adopting sacred practices. When Paul writes about submission "to one another," it is s explained through the examples of family relations. Submission to others according to the authority and order established by God in the relationship of husband and wives, parents and children, and slaves and masters.

Rules for Christian Households

"Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Colossians 3:18-19 (ESV) Both genders are equally created in God's image (Gen. 1:26–28) and heirs together of eternal life (Gal. 3:28–29).

This submission defends the husband's ultimate leadership for the health and harmonious working of the marriage relationship. Paul does not command the husband to submit to his wife; instead, he tells the husband to lay down his life sacrificially to love his wife, as is Christ's position as head of the church and its Savior. Paul explains the duty of husbands. He does not command the husband to submit to his wife but instead tells the husband that he must give himself up for her. Husbands are to love their wives in a self-sacrificial manner, following the example of Christ, who "gave himself up for" the church in loving self-sacrifice.

Submitting to our husbands in everything is not always easy, but this is how God ordered our relationship, and we can find freedom and comfort in this structure. This does not mean submitting to any kind of male tyranny or oppression. The husband loving leads his wife and has her best interest in mind.