Ephesians 5:21 Commentary and Bible Study

What is this submission? Literally it means arrange ourselves under another. It is a military term which has to do with rank, structure, and people have to subordinate themselves. It is used often of total subjection: to the law, to God. But it is also used in another way. We are to ‘submit ourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake’, yet you see the apostle saying at times that it is right to obey God not man. Our mutual submission to one another – and Paul is speaking of relationships between believers within the church and not of the world at large – transforms every relationship into something far more beautiful, more wholesome and more edifying. The elder still rules, but he sees himself as a servant of the church and so his rule is gentle and not overbearing. He leads by example, making it as easy as he can for others to submit to his rule, not proudly flaunting his authority, or standing on his dignity. The father brings up his children in love, remembering his own weakness and that he has authority not by merit but by God’s order. He sacrifices himself for his children and he too serves them, realising that God has put him temporarily in a position of authority over them because God’s sovereign purpose has made him their father. In the sense in which Paul intends, the aged should submit to the young; the leaders should submit to the young in the faith and husbands should submit to wives. For Christ himself came as a servant to his people and served them in the greatest possible way by laying down his life for them. He taught his disciples that they should serve one another when he took a towel and washed their feet, telling them that as he had done to them, so they should do to one another.