Colossians 3:18-22

Intro

Two elderly people were living in Trailer Estates, he was a widower and she a widow, had known each other for a number of years.

One evening there was a community supper in the big activity center.

The two were at the same table, across from one another. As the meal went on, he took a few admiring glances at her and finally gathered the courage to ask her, ”Will you marry me?"

After about six seconds of ’careful consideration,’ she answered, "Yes. Yes, I will."

The meal ended and, with a few more pleasant exchanges, they went to their respective places.

Next morning, he was troubled. "Did she say ’yes’ or did she say ’no’?" He couldn’t remember.

Try as he might, he just could not recall. Not even a faint memory.

With trepidation, he went to the telephone and called her. First, he explained that he didn’t remember as well as he used to.

Then he reviewed the lovely evening past. As he gained a little more courage, he inquired. "When I asked if you would marry me, did you say ’Yes’ or did you say ’No’?"

He was delighted to hear her say, "Why, I said, ’Yes, yes I will’ and I meant it with all my heart."

Then she continued, "I am so glad that you called, because I couldn’t remember who had asked me."

The Bible has a lot to say about Marriage and Family

Wives Submit vs. 18

Colossians 3:18 ESV

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Under Jewish law a woman was a thing; she was the possession of her husband, just as much as his house or his flocks or his material goods were.

She had no legal right whatever.

For instance, under Jewish law, a husband could divorce his wife for any cause, while a wife had no rights whatever in the initiation of divorce

In Greek society a respectable woman lived a life of entire seclusion.

She never appeared on the streets alone, not even to go the market.

She lived in the women’s apartments and did not join her menfolk even for meals.

From her there was demanded a complete servitude and chastity; but her husband could go out as much as he chose, and could enter into as many relationships outside marriage as he liked and incur no stigma.

Both under Jewish and under Greek laws and custom, all the privileges belonged to the husband, and all the duties to the wife

The ancient Greek word translated submit is essentially a word borrowed from the military.

It literally means “to be under in rank.”

It speaks of the way that an army is organized among levels of rank, with generals and colonels and majors and captains and sergeants and privates.

There are levels of rank, and one is obligated to respect those in higher rank.

Submitting to husbands is likened to submitting to the Lord

God looks at the husbands as the head of the house who submits to Christ’s leadership of the church

Submission is putting yourself under someone else’s authority

Submission is voluntary

Submission means partnering alongside

Love Your Wife vs. 19

Colossians 3:19 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

The is a two part rule

Love your wife and do not be butter towards them

Let’s focus on the first part

There are four Greek words for love, three that really matter

Phileo = brotherly love

Eros = Sexual love

Agape = Unconditional love

Guys, as much as we want this word love to mean Eros, it doesn’t

It is the Unconditional love

It means to esteem, finding one’s joy in someone

The new generation takes the Shakesphere approach, “How do I love thee, let me count the ways” and then proceeds to focus on the fun part of love; dates, gifts, & obnoxious photos on social media.

I know Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote those lines but it is from the same era

Very little of which has anything to do with the other person and has more to do with enjoying yourself

There is a godly model of a loving marriage that is quickly being forgotten

Ephesians 5:25–26 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Obey Your Parents vs. 20

Colossians 3:20 ESV

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Pistol shooting meme from Olympics

Gold Medal winner all decked out in gear

Silver medal guy just had his gun

That was a great metaphor for parenting

Parenting is the hardest job in the world

Nothing exposes your weaknesses more than raising children

Paul gives instructions to the Colossians

In two very brief verses he gets to the point on what is most important

Teach your children to obey and do not provoke them

Easier said than done

Children

This is referring to children who still live in the house under their parents guidance

Rules change once a child leaves the house

They move from obedience to honoring

Parents can’t expect the same kind of obedience from grown children on their own as they can from those under their roof

But those under their roof are to obey their parents

Obey Your Parents

The word obey has two meanings

Carry out a command

Behave according to laws and principles

Parents need to teach obedience to their children

Start early, it’s a whole lot easier

Stop giving them a choice

Parents giving their child a choice is the reason Raising Canes is such a popular restaurant chain

Some entrepeneur saw kids only eating chicken tenders and fries in the 90’s and knew there would be an adult customers in the 2000’s

Do Not Provoke Your Children vs. 21