Authority in the home

A husband is given headship over his wife

Ephesians 5:23 ESV

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.

The basis for this headship

God’s headship over Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Jesus Christ’s headship over the church

Ephesians 5:23 ESV

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.

God’s order of creation

1 Corinthians 11:8–9 ESV

For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.

See also Ge 2:20–22

This headship has been affected by the fall

Genesis 3:16 ESV

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

How this headship is to be exercised

Lovingly and sacrificially

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

See also Eph 5:28; Eph 5:33; Col 3:19; 1 Pe 3:7

As Jesus Christ rules as head of the church

Ephesians 5:25–29 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, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

Regarding his wife as part of himself

Ephesians 5:28–29 ESV

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,

See also 1 Pe 3:7

Christian wives are to submit to their husbands

Ephesians 5:22 ESV

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

They are to follow the example of the submission of the church to Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:24 ESV

Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Fathers are heads of their families

Genesis 18:19 ESV

For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

See also Ge 35:2; Jos 24:15; Eph 6:4; 1 Ti 3:4; 1 Ti 3:12; Tt 1:6

Fathers’ authority is to be exercised reasonably

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

See also Col 3:21

The response of children to parental authority

Obedience

Ephesians 6:1 ESV

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

See also Pr 6:20; Pr 23:22

Respect

Ephesians 6:2–3 ESV

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

See also Dt 5:16; Ex 20:12; Ex 21:15; Ex 21:17; Dt 27:16; Pr 19:26; Pr 20:20; Mt 19:19

Kinds of authority within the family

Authority to discipline

Proverbs 19:18 ESV

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

See also Pr 23:13; Pr 29:17

Authority to teach

Proverbs 1:8 ESV

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

See also Pr 3:1; Pr 13:1

Authority to command

Colossians 3:20 ESV

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

See also Pr 6:20–23