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Colossians 3:18-21
The Apostle Paul teaches in Ephesians 5:1 (NKJV), “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Paul continues in Ephesians 5:22–6:4 to teach about the proper relationship between a husband, his wife, and their children. He declares, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh” [Genesis 2:24]. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth’ [Deuteronomy 5:16].
“And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
This is a command for husbands and wives to love each other as Jesus loves the church, and that this love should also be reflected to our children–in Christ.
The above Scripture passage of Ephesians 5:22–6:4 may initially be offensive for some of you, but if you think about the fact that the submission and respect is for the husband and the wife to each other, it then paints a picture of working together in love and respect. The wives may be a little taken by being submissive to your husbands, but when Paul states that the husband is to give himself for his wife and present her in a glorious fashion without blemish through his love for her as he loves her as he loves himself, just as Jesus loves the church, you will see that there is no inclination of any type of superiority in the role of the husband nor the wife, but respect and obedience for each other. Marriage is not a contest of who can rule over the other, but a union of love and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches in Colossians 3:18–21 that family members should be loving and caring for one another. The Apostle Paul is teaching not about dominance of one family member ruling over the family, but that the family should rule, together, in submission and obedience to each other through the love that God has first shown us.
Dear Lord,
I ask that You help us all to be respectful and caring of our families. I pray that You will help us all to work together in our families to show the love that Christ has put in our hearts for one another. In Jesus name I pray, amen.