As Paul the
apostle continued to give instructions to the “wives” in
the church in Ephesus, he told them to be “submissive”
to their “own husbands” because “the husband is
the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church”.
He shared how Jesus is “the savior of the body”, and in
chapter five and verse twenty-four of his letter, Paul continued to
use the example of how “the church is subject unto Christ”
to share how “wives” are to “be to their own
husbands” where we read:
The
verse begins, “Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ,...” Paul began with
the word, “Therefore”
which is a conclusion word that means “nevertheless,
notwithstanding and moreover” “as the church”
which is “an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in
a religious meeting” “is
subject” or “to arrange
under, to subordinate, be put in subjection and obedience” “unto
Christ” who is “the anointed
One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Paul's example to “wives”
is how the “church”
is in “subjection and obedience” to Jesus Christ.
The
verse goes on to say, “...so let
the wives be
to their own husbands in every thing.” Paul
continued, “so let the wives be”
or “a betrothed or married woman” “to
their own”
which means “pertaining to one's self, one's own and belonging to
one's self” “husbands”
which refers to “married or betrothed men” “in
every thing”
or “each, every, any, all, the whole and
everyone”.
Using the example of “the church”
being “subject”
to Jesus, Paul exhorts “wives”
to “subject”
to their “husband”
in all “things”.
When
we consider these words of Paul, we find no greater example of
“submission” than the “church” arranging itself
under Jesus Christ. Jesus cares for the “church”
intimately, and “the church” does best when it is
“submissive” to His directives and ways. Since “wives”
are to be “subject” to their “husbands”, it
only stands to reason that “husbands” are to treat their
“wives” in the same manner as Jesus does His church. All
who are married should take heed to these ominous words of Paul, as
they indeed establish order and unity within the family unit
according to the standards of God.
Next time Paul directs
his instructions toward “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.
No comments:
Post a Comment