True Order

Ephesians 5.22-33 (2)

Pray Psalm 144.3, 4, 15.
LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow…
Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!

Sing Psalm 144.3, 4, 15.
(Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
LORD, who are we, that You regard and love us?
Why should You care for our poor sinful plight?
We are but breath; You dwell on high above us; 
our days like shadows pass before Your light.
Refrain v. 15
Happy are they on whom blessings fall!
Blessed are the people who on Jesus’ mercy call!

Read Ephesians 5.22-33; meditate on verses 22-24.
 Who is the focal point of these verses, the defining standard?

Preparation
1. How many times is Jesus referred to in these verses?

2. Why do you suppose Paul “piled on” these references in these few verses?

Meditation
To begin with, it’s Jesus. He is Lord. He is Head of the Church. He is Savior. He redeems, rules, saves, and keeps us because, as we all know, He loves us with love unfailing and eternal. So, submit to Him, OK?

Who wouldn’t?

That settled, husbands, think of yourselves as the chief representative of the Lord Jesus in your homes. We’ll see tomorrow what that requires of you. Meanwhile, wives: See your husband in that role and submit to him, knowing he will love and keep you in the Name of Jesus and for the sake of your mutual enjoyment of Him.

But remember: “as to the Lord.” Should you submit to your husband when he is encouraging sinful practices or treating you in sinful ways? Is that “as the Lord” kind of behavior? At such times, wives, the way to submit is to confront, to stand firmly on the Word of God and call—and help—your husband get back to the book. That won’t always work out the way you hope, but it will always be the right thing to do.

For in every situation in the Kingdom where submission is required, that submission is always to be in the Lord and for His honor and glory. We do not submit to those who will not submit to the Lord. Order in the Kingdom, beginning in every home, is always qualified by obedience to Jesus. 

Because, to begin with, it’s Jesus. 

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.16
God does all things well; and He wants us to do the same.
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14.40).

Christianity works from the inside out.
From inside the person to outside the person.
From inside the home to outside our home.
From within our own neighborhoods to outside and beyond.
For truly, if we cannot be authentic within we will only wreak havoc without.

God’s command to those who desire to be church leaders is this:
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Tim. 3.2-7). 

But no man circumvents these rules, because to do otherwise, to not follow these commands, would make him a difficult person to follow and submit to. “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13.8).

The other salient feature here is the phrase “submit to your own husband” (Eph. 5.22).
Wives are not commanded to submit to all men, just their own husbands. 
In the church, we are all to submit to one another. 
And along with this phrase is the antiphonal phrase to husbands: 
“love your own wife” (Eph. 5. 33). Not somebody else’s (Ex. 20.14, 17).

A man must be obedient to this command of love; for without love he is “sounding brass and a clanging symbol” and is deemed “nothing”. (1 Cor. 13.1, 2). 

Ditto for the wife. If she cannot submit to and respect her own husband, she has no business being involved at church. For without these baseline obediences we all ring hollow and untrue—hypocrites.

But as an important aside: if either party feels in danger of physical or mental violence and abuse, 
outside help must be sought immediately. And if there is unrepentant sin happening within the home; again, help must be brought in for resolution. God does not require anyone to remain within a marriage of cruelty.
These commands are for two people whose hearts are set on following God’s commands to the very end (Ps. 119.112). 

Love and respect are beautiful to behold when done God’s way. 
True order within shines brightly without.

Reflection
1. Do you think husbands and wives should talk about these verses? Why or why not?

2. Why is it so hard for either husbands or wives to follow the true order God prescribes?

3. Whom will you encourage today—husband or wife—to seek the Lord Jesus for a closer walk with Him?

As Christ rules over his church for her salvation, so nothing yields more advantage or comfort to the wife than to be subject to her husband. To refuse that subjection, by means of which they might be saved, is to choose destruction. John Calvin (1509-1564),Commentary on Ephesians 5.22-24

Pray Psalm 144.5-15.
Thank the Lord Jesus that He is Head of all things and of every relationship. Look to Him for guidance, step by step throughout the day, so that those who must be in submission to you will know the grace of His Presence.

Sing Psalm 144.5-15.
(Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Bow down the heav’ns, come down and touch the mountains.
Flash forth like lightning; scatter all Your foes!
Send out Your arrows, send them out to rout them;
stretch forth Your hand and save us from all woes!
Refrain
Happy are they on whom blessings fall!
Blessed are the people who on Jesus’ mercy call!

From every foe and every lie deliver!
Then will we sing new songs unto Your praise.
Rescue Your servants, who are Yours forever;
grant us deliv’rance by Your hand always.
Refrain

Bless, LORD, our children, strengthen them forever.
All our provision, day by day supply.
Bless our endeavors; from distress deliver.
Keep us from harm and all distressing cries.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Other columns of interest: In our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” we are looking at the role of culture in the Kingdom economy. Our Read Moore podcast is working through The Gospel of the Kingdom to learn what the Kingdom is and what it means. Our Crosfigell teaching letter begins a brief study of Coemgen of Glendalough. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.