Ephesians 5:22-24
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.
Yesterday, we looked at the Bible’s instruction to husbands – that they love their wives. We also said that this is not easy and requires God’s help. Submission, as presented in the Bible, is also not easy and requires God’s grace. The Bible calls the wife to a life of submission in marriage. Notice two critical components of this submission: One, the wife is to submit only to her own husband, not to all men. Secondly, the wife is to submit to her husband in everything.
This kind of teaching is difficult and definitely not popular. In the current modern and advanced world that we live in, it seems that to still ask wives to submit is to return to antiquated times. However, God’s Word is timeless, and the principles therein transcend both time and culture. Therefore, the wife should look to the One who requires this of her and seek for help and strength. In some instances, this might be the means through which some husbands come to saving grace:
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (1 Peter 3:1-2)
Reflections
1. Why is it so difficult for wives to submit to their own husbands as exhorted by the Scriptures?
2. If you are a wife or preparing to be one, what should you do in order to live out this Scripture?
