Marriage 3

I.       Ephesians 5:22-24,22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

A.    The word “submit” is not in the original text

1.     But it is implied from its usage in verse 21

2.     In verse 22 the word master is used for the husband

B.    Also notice that God does not use the word “obey” in reference to the wife

1.     A wife is not a slave waiting for commands from her husband

2.     It is used for children and slaves in the Bible

C.    The relationship between a husband and wife is more personal more intimate

1.     In verse 22 we see the words “your own husband”

2.     One whom she possesses, they have become one as the Bible says

3.     There is a possessiveness there that assumes a wife would absolutely and willingly respond in submission to her own husband—one whom she possesses. It is not a reference to inferiority; it’s simply a God-ordained distinction in function so that society can be preserved.[1]

4.     God has ordain a distinction of function in Gen 3:16 where He says “Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee”

a)     Please notes that this is part of the cures God gave to women

5.     For the sake of unity and workability, the woman is to be subject to the leadership of her husband—not as a slave but as one who is provided for, cared for, and secured by her husband. It does not have nearly as much to do with what she does for him as what he is responsible to do for her.[2]

D.    Leadership belongs to the man

1.     God designed man to be stronger physically so that he would be able to work for, protect and provide for and give security to his wife

2.     Whom the Holy Spirit calls “the weaker vessel” (1 Peter 3:7)

3.     Look in Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit yourselves”

a)     The phrase “as it is fit” means to be fitting, seemly, and proper

b)     What God is telling us is submission of the wife to her husband is legally binding

E.     Turn to 1 Peter 3:1-6

1.     Verse 1 – “subjection” means “to come under the rank”

2.     Remember the verse “your own husband” because the husband is the wife’s possession, there is a natural sense of responding

3.     Which can lead to what it says in verse 1 if a man is not saved, he could get saved because of his wives behavior

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[1]MacArthur, J. (1997, c1985). The fulfilled family. Includes index. Chicago: Moody Press.

[2]MacArthur, J. (1997, c1985). The fulfilled family. Includes index. Chicago: Moody Press.