
How does the presence of authority work with the call to submission?
The officer who commands others is himself under orders and thus knows from two-sided experience what it means concretely to be subject to authority with no possibility of resistance. —G. Delling
The officer knows what it is to be under the submission of authority from another and what he needs as the submitter to complete the task. That knowledge helps lead those submitting under him. As husbands submit to God, so they lead their wives.
21And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the LORD…25For husbands, this means love your wives. —Ephesians 5:21-22, 25
As wives are called to
, husbands are called to
.
LOVE is the focus in this portion of Paul’s writing. In the ancient language, there are three different words for the word love:
- Eros (sexual)
- Phileo (brotherly, friendly)
- Agape (sacrificial, no conditions)
The apostle Paul used the word “agape” in Ephesians 5. The husband’s submission is laid out in the heart of sacrificial love.
Thankfully, Paul gave the example of love…
25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. —Ephesians 5:25-27
“Just as” is the key phrase as it shows Christ as the example…
Christ…
Presents His church in
28So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. —Ephesians 5:28
To love is to
.
Husbands aren’t called to love their own life less but love wives as much if not more. ELEVATE the wife.
This fights against the temptation of “lording over.” Husbands can’t “lord over” with this heart. Wives can’t fight against this heart.
To love is very
.
Upon the completion of man and woman, including the context of marriage, God said it was VERY GOOD.
It is very good for the wife…
29For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. —Ephesians 5:29
It is very good for the husband…
33Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. —Ephesians 5:33
Marriage is one flesh.
Marriage is husband leading.
Marriage is wife helping.