Ephesians 5:21-6:9 Relationships

...and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord... Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her... for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife , and the two shall become one flesh . This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church... Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right... Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord... Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;... And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

In another place, Paul said, "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;" [Romans 12:10 NASB]

Men, I hope none of you are the type who will take this verse out of context, "For the husband is the head of the wife..." [Ephesians 5:23]. For generations, this has been the rationalization of "religious" men who abuse their wives. They conveniently overlook verse 21 that says we should be subject to one another, and also the following verses that say that husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the church "and gave Himself up for her."

Jesus would never abuse the church, and so a man should never abuse his wife. Instead, as we are told in verses 28 & 29, "So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church." 

Women, being subject to a husband isn't the same as being enslaved to him. Therefore, there is no need to rebel against him. Neither should you nag or berate him or be domineering. Instead, be subject to him as you are subject to Christ. Give him a chance to lead, and support and encourage him. You may think that he is weak, and that you need to step up and be in charge. But, if you act according to scriptural standards, you will be blessed for it.

This may be hard for some to hear, but there are real differences between men and women. In marriage, God has given each of us our role.

Marriage has been devalued in our modern culture. More and more, people of all ages forego marriage and just move in together. But marriage is a holy thing, ordained by God. In it, we symbolize the relationship between Christ and the church. The Bible says, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." [Genesis 2:24 NASB]. This symbolizes the spiritual truth that the church (the bride of Christ) is one with the Lord.

The other relationships - between children and parents, employers and employees, (adapting it to modern culture) - are all based on mutual respect. It is understood that there are hierarchies of authority. Parents have authority over their children, as well as an obligation to patiently train them in the way of righteousness. And children have an obligation to obey and honor their parents.

Employers also have authority. With it comes the obligation to treat their employees with dignity and respect, knowing that Jesus has authority over both of you. Employees should do as they are told, doing their work as to the Lord.

In every relationship, we are to be in subjection to one another "in the fear of Christ." That is, we should put Christ first in our own lives, and treat one another as members of the body of Christ. If you would show respect to Jesus, then show respect to one another.