Ephesians 5:21-24

Submitting To One Another

Each follower of Christ is to place himself under the control of fellow followers. This service is to be performed for others out of reverent respect for God who caused his Son to submit to death in our behalf (5:21). In yielding to her Lord, a Christian wife will place herself under the control of her husband. This is just one application of verse 21 and is limited to service that can be performed while maintaining a proper respect for the Lord (5:22).

In every organization of two or more people, someone must be the head. God's arrangement for the family was that man should be the head (Genesis 3:16). This arrangement in the family foreshadowed the relationship of Christ to the church. Christ is the head of the church and she must place herself under his control. Christ came to give his life for the church, just as the husband should provide for, protect and defend his wife. Notice, church and body are used interchangeably here as Ephesians 1:22-23 would tell us they should be (5:23).

The church readily falls in line behind Christ like soldiers behind their commander because he has done so much for her. His great love, as shown in Calvary's sacrifice, makes him worthy of being followed. Husbands should be followed in the same way (5:24).