Ephesians 5:22-23 22Wives to your own husbands, as to the Lord, 23because the husband is the head of the wife even just as Christ is also the head of the church, he himself the Savior of the body. 24But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives submit to husbands in everything.
In the next section of the letter, Paul turns to giving directions to those who were part of the typical Greco-Roman household. The thought of the participle “submitting” from verse 21 continues into verse 22 and shows how wives should relate to their husbands. This is confirmed by the repetition of the verb in 24. This is a challenging idea because of how cultures have interpreted the woman’s place in society. In most cultures, women are given a second place in authority. There is a hierarchy with men, at least generally, at the top of the list. This may be due in part from men being biologically stronger and able to dominate physically over women. However, Christian submission is different. The ultimate model is how Christ submitted himself to the Father and when to the cross to suffer and die in love for others. Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. This does not mean that wives should worship their husbands but should lift them up in the highest respect and admiration. The attitude all believers should have is one of preference for the needs of others. Paul makes this explicitly clear in Philippians 2:1-11 where he gives Christ as the model for considering the needs of others before our own.
Verse 23 gives the reason for this submission: because the husband is the head of the wife. The comparison in the next clause with Christ as the head of the church must be carefully interpreted. Any analogy can be over interpreted and forced to say something it is not intended to say. In this case, we are comparing human/human relationships to a human/divine relationship. The relationship of Christ to the church is far superior than the husband to the wife. We must think about what part of this comparison is the key point Paul is trying to make. We can ask ourselves, in what ways does Christ’s function as head of the church compare to how a husband to serve his wife. The list can be quite long, but some simple ideas include protection, guidance, support, and companionship. The last phrase of verse 23 emphasizes the self-sacrifice the husband must be willing to make for his wife since Christ gave his own life up as the Savior of the church.
The husband’s self-giving attitude and action should lead the wife to give herself freely and opening to her husband. The two can become a team working together in service to the Lord. Verse 24 encourages this submission in everything. This is a lifestyle and not an occasional action. Many relationship problems could be resolved through submission of the wife to the husband. Submission does not mean giving in to every whim and command of the husband. Wives are not slaves but partners. The will of the wife must be crucified and put through the filter of love so that her will and her husband’s will join together as one. The strongest, happiest, most fulfilling, and longest lasting marriages will be a partnership of mutual submission and love.
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