Posts Tagged ‘husband and wife’

As important as the principle of mutual submission is, it is vital the we do not read into it a meaning that Paul did not intend.  Some have squeezed out the Ephesians 5:21 an interpretation that eliminates any distinction in the roles of husband and wife. Such a meaning is not consistent with the verses that follow. Paul states in Ephesians 5:23 , “the husband is to be head of the wife.”

What Headship Is Not:

1. Superiority.  A survey of history reveals a pattern of male subjugation of women that is shameful. Marcius Cato, the famous Roman statesman living in the second century B.C , wrote, “If you catch  your wife in the act of infidelity, you can kill her without trial. But if she were to catch you, she would not venture to touch you with her finger.

She has no rights.”  Even in our liberated culture, women are frequently seen as mere sex objects – another position of inferiority. What a contrast to Paul’s direction given to husbands in Ephesians 5!

Paul’s admonition that husbands and wives be submissive, “one to another” is our first clue that Biblical headship does not involve the husband being in a superior position to the wife. Furthermore, Scripture makes the equality of all believers quite clear, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

There are no classifications of Christians, neither are there differing ranks. Every believer has equal standing before God. We all have the same regenerated nature, the completeness of the Holy Spirit, and the same divine resources..  As someone aptly said, “The Ground at the foot of the cross is level. ”

The husband that has relinquished this role as head of the home is, more often that not, the husband that complains bitterly about his wife’s nagging. He might refer to himself as a “hen-pecked husband.” For some women, nagging serves the function of feeling superior. For others, however , nagging is an attempt to repeat their husband in the place of authority in the home.

They long to feel the security and comfort resultant from a husband who lovingly leads his family through the ups and downs of life.

Husbands again taking up the standard of leadership in the home is vital. Dr. James Dobson says it strongly, ” Our very survival as a nation will depend on the presence or absence of masculine leadership in the home.”

What Headship Is Not -Pastor Kirt Eure

Check Out The Article “What Headship is“