What does Ephesians 5:22 reveal about the role of a Christian wife? The Text “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:22) Key Words and Phrases • “Wives” – addresses married women specifically, not women in general. • “Submit” – Greek hupotassō, to arrange under, to voluntarily place oneself in an ordered relationship. • “Your husbands” – the submission is uniquely directed toward one’s own husband, not to every man. • “As to the Lord” – the attitude and motivation mirror a wife’s devotion to Christ. The Call to Voluntary Submission • It is an act of willing obedience, not coercion. • Submission flows from a heart first yielded to Christ (cf. Ephesians 5:21, “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ”). • The pattern reflects God’s created order (Genesis 2:18). • It upholds harmony in the home, enabling the husband to lead and the wife to complement that leadership. As to the Lord • The primary allegiance is to Jesus; honoring Him fuels a wife’s readiness to honor her husband. • When a husband’s direction aligns with Scripture, following him becomes a tangible expression of following Christ. • If commanded to sin, a wife obeys God rather than man (Acts 5:29), showing that submission never overrides loyalty to the Lord. Balance with the Husband’s Role • Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands to love sacrificially “just as Christ loved the church.” • Submission is balanced by the husband’s self-giving leadership; it is not a one-sided arrangement. • When both obey their callings, marriage reflects the gospel: Christ the loving Head, the church the devoted bride (Ephesians 5:23-24). What Submission Is Not • Not blind obedience to abuse or sin. • Not inequality of worth—both husband and wife bear God’s image equally (Galatians 3:28). • Not suppression of gifts—Proverbs 31 highlights a wife’s wisdom, industry, and influence. Practical Applications • Respectful communication—speaking truth in love, not undermining (1 Peter 3:1-2). • Supportive partnership—encouraging a husband’s spiritual growth and decisions. • Prayerful attitude—seeking God’s guidance together, modeling dependence on Christ. • Cultivating a gentle and quiet spirit—valued by God (1 Peter 3:4). • Managing the home with excellence—aligning with Titus 2:4-5. Related Passages for Deeper Insight • Colossians 3:18—“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” • 1 Peter 3:1-6—Sarah’s example of respectful submission. • Titus 2:4-5—encourages younger women to be “subject to their own husbands.” • Genesis 2:18—Eve created as a “helper suitable” for Adam. Summary Ephesians 5:22 calls a Christian wife to freely align under her husband’s God-ordained leadership, motivated by her devotion to Christ. This submission, balanced by the husband’s sacrificial love, paints a living portrait of the gospel and fosters harmony, respect, and spiritual growth within the marriage. |
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