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Ephesians 5:22-33 – Husbands Helping Wives Submit
There is a vintage Chase and Sanborn coffee advertisement that says, “If your husband ever finds out you’re not “store-testing” for fresher coffee.if he discovers you’re still taking chances…” which is followed by the husband putting his wife over his knee and spanking her! This is not how husbands help their wives submit!
“Wives submit to your husbands” (Ephesians 5:22). What makes a woman’s voluntary submission easier?
Acting like a bookend to submission, Paul ends this section of the Household Codes by stating, “the wife is to respect her husband” (5:33). Submission is made easier if the wife can respect her husband. How can she learn this spousal respect?
Husbands are to treat their wives as Christ does the church. This means:
1) As Christ is the Savior of the body (5:23), husbands protect their wives.
2) As Christ died for the church (5:25), husbands put the needs of their wives ahead of theirs.
3) As Christ purified the church (5:26-27), husbands spiritually lead their wives.
Respect is earned. The standard is high because it is the Messiah.
So even though Paul begins with wives’ subjection, the emphasis of the pattern starts with the husband. This is because before that Jesus’ mystery plan began with Him and not us. Men should earn their wives respect; and respect leads to submission.
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