Ephesians 5:21-24

5:21

Submit – yield, give preference to; this does not suggest a lower value on me as the submitter; rather with my full value intact, I choose to give preference to you, to let go of my rights for the sake of yours.
to one another – two-way street. I submit to you; you submit to me. The trick is in submitting without keeping score. If I keep a running tally of who submitted last time, then I’m not really submitting.

out of – as a result of, evidence of, motive

reverence – respect, recognition of worth. Our submitting to each other somehow reflects on Him. Conversely, my pride or clinging to my rights reflects poorly on Him.

for Christ – the Anointed One

5:22

Wives – God’s gift to me, the one who makes me complete

submit – This word is not in the Greek. Instead, it simply says “wives to your husbands as to the Lord.” But the effect is the same: release your rights. Wives are told to place their rights after their husbands’ rights, just as they would the rights of Christ. But this is said in the immediate context of all of us Christ-followers submitting to each other. In fact, this actually starts a series of 6 examples in which Paul illustrates how a Christ-follower will live out the principle of mutual submission.

to your husbands – I think this is obvious enough. What occurs to me, however, is this: In each of these illustrations I need to remember that this is not the only relationship in which I need to submit. Paul illustrates with husband-wife relations, employer-employee relations, and parent-child relations. But I have other interactions with other Christ-followers. In those contacts also, I must demonstrate the spirit of submission. (PS: Whether or not the other person practices mutual submission)

as to – in the same way as you would to …

the Lord – the Boss

5:23

For – because; give preference to him because…

the husband is – present tense

the head – This is a term of leadership, not dictatorship nor superiority. I am called to lead while (?), by (?) submitting (see v. 25ff)

of the wife – God’s gift to make me complete

as – in the same way

Christ – the Promised and Anointed One

is – simple present tense

the head – leader, not dictator. To see His leadership style, refer to verses 25-27

of the church – the called-out community. We are supposed to be different, to do community differently, to relate with each other differently. Sadly, this is too often not the case.

his – we, the Christ-followers, belong to Him

body – unity in diversity, working for a common goal

of which he is – still present tense

the Savior – He lifted me out of the miry pit. He has every right to demand and dictate my obedience. Instead, He leads me and us by giving Himself up, surrendering Himself in my stead. Now, I/we are called to follow such a leader. Similarly, wives are called to follow the leadership of their husbands. I choose not to explore all the “what ifs.” I keep trying to make each passage applicable to me. And clearly those “what ifs” do not apply to me.

5:24

Now – Transitional word, leading to an illustration or explanation

as … so also – comparison

the church – called-out community that exists and functions differently than the world at large

submits – giving preference to the rights of another over one’s own rights

to Christ – Promised Anointed One, God in the flesh

wives – God’s gift to make me whole

should submit – exhortation rather than command?! I don’t recall any instances as yet in this letter when Paul recommends a behavior instead of commanding it. For some reason, both here and in v 28, talking to husbands, he recommends this lifestyle. But he stops short of commanding it.

to their husbands – the one God gave them to provide spiritual leadership

in everything – This actually puts a heavy load of responsibility on me as the husband. If my wife submits to me in everything, then I had better make sure I provide wise, godly leadership for her to follow.