In Ephesians 4:1-16 and 5:1-22, Paul has been discussing practical subjection in our common relationships. Paul calls us to a similar, practical subjection in our human relationships.
Subjection is evident in marriage, children, parenting, and employment. This short list predominantly covers our day. Every day, we interact with our spouse, children, parents, and work place. We can add extended relatives, friends, fellow church members, and those with whom we rub shoulders in society.
Ephesians 5:22 through 6:9 fairly covers our daily routines, and subjection is the focus in all settings. Let’s recall that in Ephesians 1:22 all things were made to be in subjection to Christ. All things include our relationships in marriage, with our children, with our work place, and with our daily relationships.
Subjection is defined to principally refer to our belonging to another. Knowing that we belong to Christ, how are we to conduct ourselves? Spouses belong to each other as well.
While I do not necessarily endorse Psychology Today, the following is a good synopsis of the type of belonging referenced in our relationships, “Belonging isn’t just a connection to other people, but also to place, power, and purpose. The experience of belonging is about connectedness through community, as well as rootedness in a place, a feeling of ownership in shared outcomes, and a sense of mission with others.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/the-power-of-belonging/202304/the-new-psychology-of-belonging
The type of belonging described here necessarily implies subjection. To have a place in and be connected through community means that I am aligning myself with that community. A certain degree of subjection or subordination of my own self and my own will is required. There cannot be a shared outcome or common mission without a degree of subjection and subordination.
Specifically on marriage, Matthew Henry writes, “As the church’s subjection to Christ is proposed as an example to wives, so the love of Christ to his church is proposed as a pattern to husbands; and while such examples are offered to both, and so much is required of each, neither has reason to complain of the divine injunctions. The love which God requires from the husband in behalf of his wife will make amends for the subjection which he demands from her to her husband; and the prescribed subjection of the wife will be an abundant return for that love of the husband which God has made her due.”
Our example of headship in Christ is that of substitutionary sacrifice, namely, that He took upon Himself the penalty we were required to pay. While Christ has authority over the whole earth and it is in subjection to Him, His rule and authority are only exercised through the lens of divine love, righteousness, holiness, justice, mercy, and grace. Christ cannot be corrupted, so there is no administration of His government which may be perverted through corruption.
Citizens of a nation are in subjection to secular governments, and the administration of government works smoothly when the best interests of the whole nation are constantly in view. However, authority is abused when the secular government chiefly seeks its own interests or the interests of a few.
Thus, while the wife is exhorted unto subjection to her husband, the husband is exhorted unto a Christ-like love for her. As Christ has authority over all things in the universe and exercises that authority in love, the husband is to pattern his authority over his wife in the same manner.
This same exhortation is given to children to be in subjection to parents and to employees to be in subjection to employers. Children and employees are to adopt the role of the church, and parents and employers are to adopt the role of Christ. Each is to take the example of the church’s obedience to Christ, and Christ’s incorruptible exercise of authority over the church and the universe.
Imagine, if you will, an orphan child who has lost a place of belonging. Then, a family agrees to adopt the child. The parents lovingly invite the child to the family dinner table for the child’s first meal in their home. The parents are in essence saying, “You have a place at our table. You belong here.” The child’s response is that of, “I have a place of belonging!”
It is not a belonging which implies ownership or dictatorial control. Rather, the belonging created through subjection is that of aligning ourselves with each other to accomplish a common goal, that of glorifying Christ.
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