DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Ephesians 5:20-26
(10/6) Epistle
for Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week after Pentecost
The Seal of the Spirit II ~ Mutual Submission: Ephesians
5:20-26, especially vs. 21:
“...submitting to one another in the fear of God.” In Ephesians 5:18, the Apostle Paul
encourages us to “...be filled with the Spirit...,” a prompting he
amplifies by means of a series of clauses that follow the admonition:
“...speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the
Lord...” (Eph. 5:19), “...giving thanks always for
all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...” (Eph. 5:20), and “...submitting to one another
in the fear of God” (vs. 21).
The last of these explanatory clauses (vs. 21) brings
“submitting” (or submission) into focus as the theme for the
present passage. In developing the
overall thought of “...being filled with the Spirit,” the Apostle
employs the idea of spiritual submission as the basis for his presentation,
making the theme of submission dominant from verse 5:18 forward.
The Apostle reveals infilling with the Spirit as the
prerequisite of submission (vs. 18).
However, to be cleansed by the Spirit's in-filling, it is necessary to
join with the Spirit in a cooperative effort to cleanse ourselves. He does not force Himself upon us. Once we submit to the Holy Spirit, we
avoid drunkenness and instead speak to each other in “...psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs...to the Lord” (vs. 19) - making a Eucharistic
offering “...to God the Father...” (vs. 20). Worship is the environment by which
God’s grace is imparted to us and others, and from His heavenly grace we
are enabled to submit to the Holy Spirit and to one another.
The turning point in the Apostle’s presentation is
verse 5:21, in which he concludes his discussion of congregational life with
the theme of mutual submission.
Then, not being finished with the letter, he addresses a variety of specific
relationships: marital, parent/child, slave/master, considering all of these
under the overarching theme of mutual submission. Note: the discussion of these
relationships will continues well past the present
reading.
But begin with the meaning of the verb “submit”
in the original: the root word implies arranging or setting up an order of
persons, things, or plans to reduce confusion. To this root is added the prefix
“hypo-,” meaning “under.” This prefix alters submission, implying
that whatever is arranged is put in order by being “under”
something. Mutual submission means,
therefore, being under God in all relationships, considering God’s claims
on us first before others.
The substance of today's reading focuses on the marital
relationship. In Christian
marriage, the husband’s headship is to reveal the relationship of Christ
to the Church; it is to be a relationship of love and caring (vs. 25). The role does not imply domination, but
deliverance. Oppressing or
tyrannizing are replaced by release and
redemption. The submission of a
wife under Christian headship is to receive, work with, enhance, and support
the husband’s labor as protector of the marriage. The burden is on husbands! Men are to love their wives “...as
Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her” (vs. 25) - an
impossible task without the Spirit.
Consider: where do we find the Lord’s love for the
Church expressed supremely? Of
course it is in His Passion - as He enters into death on our behalf. What implications the Cross has for a
husband’s role in marriage! A
man's headship is like that of the Lord Jesus - one of total submission to the
God-given needs (not necessarily just every one of the wants) of his wife. The clear message is: struggle to die to
one’s self, to one’s own wants in favor of the other. Such love cannot be tyranny, an idea
that would seriously misrepresents the Apostle. The truth is exactly opposite -
self-sacrifice is the way of the Lord that completely redeems human marriages.
Unite and bless, O Lord, all Thy married servants in peace
and oneness of mind.
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