1. 1. Ephesians 5:21-33 Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
2. 2. 21 Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her 26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water in the word, 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
3. 3. 28 So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) Mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
4. 4. Submitting to another doesnt mean being the other persons doormat. In Pauls letter to the Philippians 2:10 he says, at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, that necessitates subordination to Christ, Jesus Himself demonstrated subordination when He went to the Cross at the will of the Father. We submit to Gods will by obeying His laws. We follow this law in the workplace dont we? The boss tells us to do something, we do it, the boss is happy and we are rewarded with a paycheck. When we do the will of God that pleases Him; He sends us more graces and eventually rewards us with an eternal paycheck.
5. 5. 22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. That does not mean you are to be your husbands slave or whipping boy. If your husband violates Gods law you have the right and responsibility to point out the error of his ways. Both husband and wife have the responsibility to help their spouse journey toward heaven. It is difficult to point out someones error especially when they are unwilling to listen but it is a Christian necessity. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her Sometimes we hear men say, I put the food on the table and a roof over your head. That is a prideful statement and overlooks Gods help. Without the wifes help what would happen to the entire family unit?
6. 6. The marriage covenant between a husband and wife is the same type of covenant between Christ and His wife, the Church. Christ loves the Church and all of its members as a man loves his wife. When we all, husband, wife and children follow Gods laws we live in harmony, and in love with each other and with our Eternal Father. A loving Father rewards his children with the gift of grace, grace which allows the children to pass on the Fathers love to those who surround them. Yes, we need to Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. To be subordinate is to humble oneself. Have you noticed that the humble among us are loved by all?
7. 7. Copyrighted material that appears in this article is included under the provisions of the Fair Use Clause of the National Copyright Act, which allows limited reproduction of copyrighted materials for educational and religious use when no financial charge is made for viewing. Catholic Lectionary. (2009). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.