Wednesday - Willing Submission That Honors Christ

Ephesians 5:22–24 – “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

Biblical submission is one of the most misunderstood commands in Scripture. It is not about inferiority, control, or forced obedience. At its heart, submission is about humility and trust in God’s design.

In the original language, this command is written in what’s called the middle voice. That matters because it means this submission is willingly embraced, not demanded or imposed. Paul is not barking an order. He is describing something chosen in love.

Biblical submission means to come alongside, to support, to help. It is a voluntary response to responsibility, not a statement of rank or value. When a wife submits “as unto the Lord,” her obedience is centered on Jesus, not on the worthiness or perfection of her husband.

That is why this command is ultimately less about a spouse and more about a Savior. It shifts the focus from what a husband deserves to who Christ is. Submission becomes an act of worship, a reflection of a heart that trusts Jesus.

When this kind of willing submission fills a marriage, unity grows, respect deepens, and Christ is honored.