Instruction to Wives Ephesians 5:22

In the midst of Paul's instructions to the Ephesian church members, he wrote how they should be “submitting” themselves “one to another in the fear of God”. In chapter five and verse twenty-two of his letter, Paul wrote more specifically to “wives” where we read:

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

The verse begins, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,...” Paul began with the word, “Wives” which refers to “women of any age who are married or betrothed to a man”, “submit yourselves” or “arrange under, subordinate, put yourselves in subjection and obedience” “unto your own” which means “pertaining or belonging to one's self” “husbands” who are “men betrothed to, in the future and currently who are married”. Women who are married are to be “subordinate and in subjection” to their “own husbands”.

The verse continues, “...as unto the Lord.” Paul added, “as” or “like, even, about and as it were” “unto the Lord” who is “the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. The standard and measure for the “submission” of “wives” is as it were to the “Lord Jesus” Himself.

When we think through these words of Paul, some may recoil at the thought of “wives” being “subordinate” and “submissive” to their “husbands”. This may help us. The idea is “sub” or “under” “mitt” which is an undergirding or foundation. Paul's idea was for “wives” to be the “under-girding” for their husbands, and like a “foundation” that sits beneath a house or large edifice “wives” create stability and stableness to their homes. Let us remember as we meditate upon this, it was God Almighty who created this order of submission, and as we align ourselves “as unto Him”, not only will we be obedient to His words, but we will be “submitting” to Him as well.

Next time Paul gives the reason “wives” are to “submit” to their 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.