From Selfishness to Submission (5:21-6:9)

EPHESIANS 5:21-6:9
- From Selfishness to Submission -

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ”

Relationships to Consider
1. What should I do?
2. Why should I do it?
3. What should happen if I do it?

Wives to Husbands…
1. Christian wives should submit to their husbands in a similar manner to how they and the broader church submit to Christ (complete submission).
2. They should do this because, in a spiritual sense, the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church.
3. In this submission, wives should expect to receive vital connection, rational direction, and active protection from their husbands.

Husbands to Wives…
1. Christian husbands should love their wives in a similar manner to how Christ loves the Church (sacrificially with her purity and future in mind) and to how they themselves love their bodies (taking care of them).
2. They should do this because they are symbols of Christ and because, in a spiritual sense, husbands and wives truly are one flesh.
3. In this love, husbands should expect to receive respect from their wives.

Children to Parents…
1. Christian children should obey their parents (in the Lord).
2. They should do this because it is the right thing to do and may be motivated by the promise of blessing.
3. In this obedience, children should expect to not be provoked to anger, but to be properly trained in the way of the Lord.

Slaves to Masters…
1. Christian slaves should obey their earthly masters in a similar manner to how they obey Christ.
2. They should do this because in doing so they may find favor with their master, but also because they’ve truly learned what it means to submit in their heart.
3. In this obedience, they should expect reward from the Lord (if they have a non-Christian master) or good treatment from their master (if they have a Christian master, since he will realize that they are both equal citizens of the 1 true Master).

Questions to Consider
1. How has the command the wives submit to their husbands been mis-used? (5:22)
2. Should we be surprised when Christian wives don’t submit to husbands? (5:24)
3. Don’t lots of people hate their bodies? (5:29)
4. Why did the 1st Commandment come with this promise? (6:3)
5. Why didn’t God simply abolish slavery? (6:5-9)