Ephesians 5:22

"Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord." Ephesians 5:22

Now, Paul just told "all" of us to be subject to one another, yet here he gives the notice specifically to wives again, and I've seen commentaries suggesting that it is because of a specific problem in the church in Ephesus. While I am certain this is true... I am also certain the purpose is far greater and just as applicable to us, here, today. In the same way our bibles are threaded together at the binding... so is all of Gods Word threaded together from Genesis to Revelation. I believe the emphasis for women in this specific issue can be linked all the way back through the bible/time to the "enmity" brought between man and women in Genesis 3:15. Commonly, this issue with enmity goes directly to the pain of child birthing... and that is part of the curse, but that is not all God spoke that day. For, He continues, "Yet your desire and craving will be for your husband, and he will rule over you". He says, you will naturally love your husband... but he will rule over you.

Now let's just slow down here for just a moment in Genesis... this is a curse, right? What I mean is that "husbands ruling over their wives" was brought on by Man's disobedience, right? (see note below for my use of the word Man's, instead of woman's). IT WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE THIS WAY. It is for that one event in Genesis, that Paul must give special notice to wives, which is the key to dealing with the curse. I've said that love is the context to all scripture and in this verse too there is a picture of God's love for us. The world "is" under a curse today... one brought on by man himself and not by God. But God, in His tender mercy, gives "His" people the means, in both His Word and the Holy Spirit's leading, to live free of these problems in the world we live in. "The extra emphasis on wives being subject to their husbands is critical to the strength and success within the bonds of marriage. All of us must be subject unto one another, but wives... you must see the love of God behind the emphasis in this verse. Husbands... stand by, because another emphasis on a different key to dealing with this same curse will apply to you in our very next study verse, 23. Amen?

I love you.

SPECIAL NOTE: Too often, I have heard in church that it was Eve whom first fell to satan, thus bringing "the fall" of all mankind. I've heard it was both Adam and Eve... but that is not what a very careful and prayerful study of Genesis actually reveals. For one thing, Eve had not been created from Adam's rib yet, when God said, "Don't eat of this tree, Adam". Secondly, God had given Adam charge... responsibility over all things. Thirdly, the account says that after tasting the fruit, Eve "turned" to Adam and he did eat. Now, if Adam was given the command... given the responsibility for all things... was standing "right there" when this event occurred... how is it that Eve is blamed, or even shares the blame for "the fall of mankind"? The only answer I have is "false" teachings and deception. Amen?

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 5:23 next time.

I love you.