What is your interpretation of these verses?

Question

Ephesians - Chapter 5:22-24,33
22. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savoir.
24. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
33. ...and the wife must respect her husband.v
25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Answer 1

You have to interpret those verses in the light of the whole counsel of God's word.

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Husbands and wives are partners, joint heirs in Christ. Wives are to let their husbands have the final "say so" when it comes to decision making in the family. The husband is to be a godly man who honors his wife and who follows Jesus in all that he does. The wife should respect her husband and the husband should seek to understand what the needs of his wife are and they should dwell in love and harmony with each other.

Husbands are not supposed to "submit" to their wives as someone else has suggested because that would contradict what this passage says. The passage from Ephesians has to do with a person not demanding that they get their own way. Both a husband and a wife should be willing to put their own personal desires behind what their spouse might desire in a situation where there is no clear Scriptural guideline as to what course of action should be followed in any particular situation.

Answer 2

22. The man is the head of the home. Wives must submit to their husbands. Remember, if the couple do as God has instructed, the man will not abuse his authority because he will love and respect his wife and consider her in all his decisions. He will not be dictorial.

23. The husband must protect his wife and be the head of the home, just as Jesus must be the head of the church.

24. As the people submit to Jesus Christ, so must wives submit to their husbands.

33. Well thats told like it is - wives must respect their husbands.

25. This is the biggie, because without it, the above wont be easy to fall into place. The word "love" is vast and if the husband loves his wife as he should, the wife will automatically submit and respect her husband.

The above are scriptures to help show us how to treat our husbands and wives. Unfortunately, when a coupe does not follow God, or when one of them abuses the other, the above is not so simple.

There is so much information that can be packed into this answer. Satan attacks the family because it represents God and the trinity.

Nowadays, many men are not real men at all and Satan has used people to convey males as pathetic stupid things. For instance, many advertisements show men as drooling after women and falling over themselves for a sexy woman, but this is not manly.

Now if a man were to act like Jesus, that is a real man, but this is also why Satan tries to show males as pathetic creatures - and men do indeed dribble and drool over a cute woman, because we have "told" them that its ok to do that.

Im female by the way :-)

Your question was thought provoking. Wish we had more men-men in the world!

Answer 3

Remember that marriage is also a picture of God's relationship with His Church. 1CO 11:2 reminds us that we are espoused to Christ. He is Husband to the Church. Now Eph 5 says that wives are to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, and that the husband is to treat her as Christ did the Church. But, the husband must realise that he has a responsibility to submit himself to his own Husband ,Christ, submitting to Christ in the same way; as a yielding wife, submissive and respectful to Him. This puts eveything in balance and is the way a true Christian marriage should be

Answer 4

I think the meaning is very clear. The family should be run as the church is run. Christ is head of the church and gives orders to her. The church, the bride of Christ, should submit to those orders. So to the wife to her husband. Most women are repulsed by such a concept, but the key to this harmonious relationship is the man. He is to be to the wife as Christ is to the church...giving himself for her. If a man truly forgets self and gives himself solely to his wife in every area, that wife would have no problem in submitting. But I must add, if a wife finds herself in a situation where her husband is not "giving himself," she is still obligated to follow these scriptures providing she does not violate her primary obedience to God.

Answer 5

I think these verses are often misunderstood. I think every home needs a leader, and the Scripture clearly indicates that God has given that responsibility to the man. Some men use the verses to assume a role of dictator, and I do not think that is what God ever intended. If a husband and wife truly love each other, submission should not be an issue, I think it means a deference, a willingness to follow his leadership, but it does not mean a woman can't voice an opinion or disagree. If husbands really took verse 25 to heart, willing to love, care, and minister to their wives, I think both partners would be respected, loved, and honored without the word "submission" having negative suggestions.

Answer 6

First of...when Paul wrote this....men married to have children (heirs) and women married to have someone to support them....The women were supposed to be submissive anyway, but Paul was telling them to willingly submit rather than out of duty. Husbands were told to LOVE their wives which was a NEW concept for them...and not just sort of like them, but to love them as Christ loved the church....a sacrificial love which asking more of them than they had ever done before.

Answer 7

There is a structure to be followed. I am certain that the wisdom in this for the happiness and well being of the family which will eventually come from the adjoining couple...

There is a head of the body, and the rest of the body, the entire body functions as one together.........

The wisdom is beautiful, the effects are decent humanitarian morals that would help our youths in understanding why we have sex and when two as well as the responsibilities that will come with those actions.......

Answer 8

The verses for the women don't say love your husbands because it is assumed that you do. But because women tend to disregard their husbands leadership, God found it necessary to say that we need to submit to our husbands. She is to support him in the decisions he makes for his family. She is to be his helper, that's what it means. The husband on the other hand, needs to love his wife as Christ loves the church and not abuse her submissiveness, but be gentle and loving toward her. He needs to support her by listening and inviting her input.
This is one of the reasons why we should be equally yolked with our spouses. If a husband or wife aren't godly and doing their part than it will be difficult for the believing spouse to do his or hers.

Answer 9

like this....

22. Ladies, somebody has to be the boss, you can't have two leaders or the whole thing just falls down
23. So God chose the man because he's not as complicated as you. He will be like the pastor, someone who leads with love.
24. Follow your husband and support him just like the church supports and follows Jesus.
33. Respect your husband, it's the one thing he wants most and will make the happiest marriage possible.
25. Men, give up your grandiose schemes and dreams and serve your family; give up your life for them and protect them. Love your wife because it's the one thing she wants most.

Answer 10

That wives are to respect and trust their husbands as much as they respect and trust the Lord.

And that husbands are to love their wives just as much as Christ loved us -- giving unselfishly, even to the point of death.

One other thing, though: you've left out Eph. 5:21, which requires "submitting to one another in the fear of God..." Therefore, husbands are to submit to their wives, just as wives to their husbands.

This is the formula for a happy household. God didn't set up husbands as kings; He set them up as 1/2 of a team.