Wives
Submission is an important issue in relation to marriage. Here is the plain biblical command: “Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to Yahuah. For the husband is the head of the wife as MASHIACH is the head of the called out assembly, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the called out assembly submits to MASHIACH, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22–24).
Even before sin entered the world, there was still the principle of the headship of the husband (1 Timothy 2:13). Adam was created first, and Eve was created to be a "helper" for Adam (Genesis 2:18–20). Yahuah has established several types of authority in the world: governments to enforce justice in society and provide protection; pastors to lead and feed the sheep of Yahuah; husbands to love and nurture their wives; and fathers to admonish their children. In each case, submission is required: citizen to government, flock to shepherd, wife to husband, child to father.
The Greek word translated “submit,” hupotasso, is the continuing form of the verb. This means that submitting to Yahuah, the government, a pastor, or a husband is not a one-time act. It is a continual attitude, which becomes a pattern of behavior.
First, of course, we are responsible to submit to Yahuah, which is the only way we can truly obey Him (James 1:21; 4:7). And each Believer should live in humble, ready submission to others (Ephesians 5:21). In regards to submission within the family unit, 1 Corinthians 11:2–3, says that the husband is to submit to MASHIACH(as MASHIACH did to YAHUAH the Father) and the wife is to submit to her husband.
There is much misunderstanding in our world today about the roles of husband and wife within a marriage. Even when the biblical roles are properly understood, many choose to reject them in favor of a supposed “emancipation” of women, with the result that the family unit is torn apart. It’s no surprise that the world rejects YAHUAH’s design, but YAHUAH’s people should be joyfully celebrating that design.
Submit is not a bad word. Submission is not a reflection of inferiority or lesser worth. MASHIACH constantly submitted Himself to the will of the Father (Luke 22:42; John 5:30), without giving up an iota of His worth.
To counter the world’s misinformation concerning a wife’s submission to her husband, we should carefully note the following in Ephesians 5:22–24 1) A wife is to submit to one man (her husband), not to every man. The rule to submit does not extend to a woman’s place in society at large. 2) A wife is to willingly submit to her husband in personal obedience to YAHUSHA. She submits to her husband because she loves YAHUSHA. 3) The example of a wife’s submission is that of the called out assembly to MASHIACH. 4) There is nothing said of the wife’s abilities, talents, or worth; the fact that she submits to her own husband does not imply that she is inferior or less worthy in any way. Also notice that there are no qualifiers to the command to submit, except “in everything.” So, the husband does not have to pass an aptitude test or an intelligence test before his wife submits. It may be a fact that she is better qualified than he to lead in many ways, but she chooses to follow Yahusha's instruction by submitting to her husband’s leadership. In so doing, a holy wife can even win her unbelieving husband to Yahuah “without words” simply by her holy behavior (1 Peter 3:1).
Submission should be a natural response to loving leadership. When a husband loves his wife as MASHIACH loves the called out assembly (Ephesians 5:25—33), then submission is a natural response from a wife to her husband. But, regardless of the husband’s love or lack thereof, the wife is commanded to submit “as to Yahuah” (verse 22). This means that her obedience to Yahuah—her acceptance of His plan—will result in her submission to her husband. The “as to Yahuah” comparison also reminds the wife that there is a higher authority to whom she is responsible. Thus, she is under no obligation to disobey civil law or Yahuah’s law in the name of “submission” to her husband. She submits in things that are right and lawful and Yahuah-honoring. Of course, she does not “submit” to abuse—that is not right or lawful or Yahuah-honoring. To try to use the principle of “submission” to justify abuse is to twist Scripture and promote evil.
The submission of the wife to the husband in Ephesians 5 does not allow the husband to be selfish or domineering. His command is to love (verse 25), and he is responsible before Yahuah to fulfill that command. The husband must exercise his authority wisely, graciously, and in the fear of Alahiym to whom he must give an account.
When a wife is loved by her husband as the called out assembly is loved by MASHIACH, submission is not difficult. Ephesians 5:24 says, “Now as the called out assembly submits to MASHIACH, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” In a marriage, submission is a position of giving honor and respect to the husband (see Ephesians 5:33) and completing what he is lacking in. It is Yahuah’s wise plan for how the family should function.
Commentator Matthew Henry wrote, “The woman was made out of Adam’s side. She was not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.” The immediate context of the commands to the husband and wife in Ephesians 5:19–33 involves the filling of the Spirit. Spirit-filled believers are to be worshipful (5:19), thankful (5:20), and submissive (5:21). Paul then follows this line of thought on Spirit-filled living and applies it to wives in verses 22–24. A wife should submit to her husband, not because women are inferior (the scriptures never teaches that), but because that is how Yahuah designed the marital relationship to function.
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