“The Bride’s High Dignity, and her Gracious Gift” (Ephesians 5:18-24)

Recap: Family’s structure & composition is ordained by God. Family’s purpose is not sociological, but doxological. To this end, divine empowerment is required through the benefits of the new covenant – “being filled by the Spirit”. There is mutual submission, within different roles. Difficulty with submission (in school, home, country, church or family) is the consequence of the fall. “Nothing is more contrary to the human spirit than to submit to others” (John Calvin)

“The Bride’s High Dignity, and her Gracious Gift” (Ephesians 5:18-24)

1. The Background of Genesis against these verses… “The woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” (Matthew Henry)

1. The Background of Genesis before we get to these verses Adam held accountable for the fall of the human race (Gen 3:17 / Romans 5:12-14) The Curse – Genesis 3:16 Eve’s “desire” in this context means to control or dominate. Adam’s “rule” in this context means to exploit, selfishly disregard, even tyrannize. One of the benefits of the New Covenant is that it begins to reverse the effects of the curse.

2. The Lord’s Grace in the Giving of these Verses Verse 22 is one of the most liberating and ‘equalizing’ verses in the Bible. The historical context viewed women, children and slaves as ‘second class’ citizens or worse. Verse 22 came as a revolutionary and glorious affirmation of the full humanity and equality of the wife to the husband.

3. The Wife’s Submission as a Voluntary act of Worship Verse 22 is not written to husbands; it’s written to wives. Definition of submission: “A wife’s submission is her voluntary, self-initiated yielding to her husband.” (Azurdia) The Bible is not speaking here of the husband’s “rights”, as if the husband deserved this. Rather, it’s talking of the wife’s GRACE to an UNDERSERVING husband.

3. The Wife’s Submission as a Voluntary act of Worship “…as unto the Lord…” does not mean “as if the husband were the Lord”. It means “as an act of worship to the Lord. For the Lord’s sake… To the praise of His glory… Husbands, it should astound us if our wives give us something we so manifestly don’t deserve!

3. The Wife’s Submission as a Voluntary act of Worship Submission is the consequence of Amazing Grace...not the laying down of the Law. To try to enforce, extort or cajole submission from the wife would be to become as tyrannical as the Law-preaching Pharisees. To romance your wife with continual self-giving, is to provide the environment for her voluntary and heartfelt submission as an act of worship to the Lord.