As Paul
continued to share with the church members in Ephesus concerning
“submitting one to another”, he wrote more specifically to
the “wives” as he instructed them to “submit to”
their “own husbands as unto the Lord”. In chapter five and
verse twenty-three of his letter, Paul shared the reason for his
directive where we read:
For the
husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the
head of the church: and he is the savior of the body.
The
verse begins, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church:” Paul began with the words,
“For the husband” or “because and since the male who is
betrothed or currently married” “is the head” which
literally means “the part most readily take hold of” and
metaphorically means “anything supreme, chief and prominent”“of
the wife” which refers to “a woman who is betrothed or
currently married”, “even as” or “also and indeed
like” “Christ” who is “the anointed One, the Messiah
and the Son of God” “is the head” which literally means
“the part most readily take hold of” and metaphorically means
“anything supreme, chief and prominent” “of the church”
which refers to “the gathering or assembly of citizens called
out from their homes into a public place for the purpose of
deliberating”. In a Christian sense it is “an assembly of
Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”. In God's
order of authority, “the husband” is the “chief and
prominent” one who is not just “over” the woman, but completely
responsible for her as well.
The
verse goes on to say, “and he is the savior of the body.” Paul
continued, “and he” which refers to “Jesus Christ” “is
the savior” or “deliverer and preserver” “of the body”
which means “a large or small number of men closely united into one
society or family such as the New Testament church”. Jesus Christ
is the “head” of His church, and because He is their
“deliverer and preserver”, the church is to be “submissive”
to Him.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we notice God's design for
authority in His family. Jesus is the “head” of the
church, and “the husband” is the “head” of the
wife. Let us keep in mind that Jesus has nothing but the best in mind
for His “bride”, the church, and as this is His frame of mind,
“husbands” are to emulate Him. “Wives” who
“submit” to their “husbands” are not just being
“obedient” to them, but they know, obey and respect “God's”
order of authority. The primary concern of Paul the apostle was for
us to be “obedient” unto God, and when we are, chaos leaves and
peace reigns autonomously.
Next time Paul shares
how the “church is subject to Christ”
and “wives are to be to their own husbands”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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