Untitled Sermon

Bad culture

The curse

Genesis 3:16, “Yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary

The woman’s desire will be to lord it over her husband, but the husband will rule by divine design (Eph 5:22–25). This interpretation of the curse is based upon the identical Heb. words and grammar being used in 4:7 (see note there) to show the conflict man will have with sin as it seeks to rule him.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 3

Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you. These words from the Lord indicate that there will be an ongoing struggle between the woman and the man for leadership in the marriage relationship. The leadership role of the husband and the complementary relationship between husband and wife that were ordained by God before the fall have now been deeply damaged and distorted by sin. This especially takes the form of inordinate desire (on the part of the wife) and domineering rule (on the part of the husband).

The flesh of the wife

pride

“I’m a better leader than my husband, so I do the leading in our family.”

Your husband is.

“If my husband loved me like he’s supposed to, I’d gladly submit to him, but he doesn’t so I don’t.”

Your husband may not love you like he’s supposed to, but God commands you to submit to your husband whether your husband loves you like he should or not.

Your submission is not contingent on your husband’s love. Your attitude should be, “Even if he doesn’t love me like he’s supposed to, I will still obey the Lord and submit to my husband.”

The flesh of the husband

pride

laziness

cowardice

selfishness

So, what do you do?

Pray for your husband.

Pray for yourself.

Repent of your sin.

Submit to your husband.

John Piper on a husbands leadership

“So, what I mean by “his leadership” is that he takes initiative. He says, “Let’s” most often. That is sometimes a little thing I say to a couple. I ask: Who says, “Let’s” most often in this relationship? And if she is the one who has to constantly say: Let’s do this and let’s do this and let’s do this. And he is just as slough off, then that is a problem. He should be taking initiative in family devotions. He should be taking initiative in the discipline of the children. He should be taking initiative in financial responsibility. He should be taking initiative in the moral standards of the home, in patterns of giving, in church life, and on and on and on.”