Volume 3 Issue 2

SUBMISSION

“W

ives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.” (Ephesians 5:22-24) It is likely that simply reading the title to this letter caused an emotional response within you. If it did not the verse quoted surely did. Whether it was excitement, glee, disgust, dismay, or anger, few people can talk about submission without their emotions kicking into high gear. Why? Because we possess fallen, sinful natures. We have taken something created by God for our good and allowed Satan to twist it into something that undermines the family in particular and society in general. It is because the misunderstanding of submission can be so devastating to us that we wish to examine it from a Biblical point of view.

In order to correctly understand anything it is necessary to define it. Thus, we need to define what submission is. The best way to do this is to look at the Greek word the Bible uses for submission. It is “hupotasso” which is a compound word made up of “hupo” and “tasso”. Hupo is a primary preposition meaning “under”. Tasso means “to arrange in an ORDERLY FASHION”. Therefore, “hupotasso”, submission, means “to arrange in an orderly fashion under”. It means to subordinate, to WILLINGLY give obedience to. The key to understanding submission is understanding that it is an act FREELY, WILLINGLY, given to another. This is what distinguishes submission from slavery. A husband cannot in truth demand submission from his wife and expect to receive it. The most he will receive from such a relationship is FORCED submission, which is an oxymoron. This brings no honor to the man. What does bring honor to the man is when his wife FREELY arranges herself in an orderly fashion under the God-ordained headship of her husband. In a marriage submission is a gift a woman gives her husband, not something the husband demands.

When we hear the word, submission, almost always our minds immediately think of a husband and wife. However, to get a better grasp of what submission is it is necessary to look at it in different relationships. The word submission (hupotasso) is used forty times in the Bible. It is interesting to note that the number forty means “trial, probation, chastisement”. The Flood was the result of forty days of rain; the Israelites wandered the Wilderness and ate manna for forty years; Moses fasted for forty days on Mt Sinai as he received the Law; Moses had the spies search the Promised Land for forty days after which, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, they insisted the Israelites would be unable to drive out the Canaanites; thus, rebelling against God; Elijah fasted for forty days as he ran from Queen Jezebel; and Jesus fasted forty days in the Wilderness after being filled with the Holy Spirit at His baptism. The point is, forty is associated with trying times, either brought about because of sin, rebellion, or because God wishes to do any extraordinary work in the life of someone or some nation. Is it any wonder, God in His infinite wisdom, would have the writers of the New Testament use the word “hupotasso” forty times? Submission is required by God to expose TO OURSELVES what is in our hearts “And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to KNOW WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” (Deuteronomy 8:2-3) The forty years the Israelites spent wandering in the Wilderness did reveal to them what was in their hearts and whether they would obey or not. The answer was a resounding no. Thus, they died in the Wilderness so a new generation could take possession of the Promised Land. Submission then goes well beyond the husband-wife relationship.

The first time the word “hupotasso” is used is in Luke 2:51, “And He (Jesus) went down with them (Joseph and Mary), and came to Nazareth; and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” This was when Jesus was a boy of twelve. For three days He had been listening to and answering the questions of the religious teachers in the Temple in Jerusalem. He was beginning to manifest He was/is the Lord of the universe, but He WILLINGLY chose to arrange himself in an orderly fashion (in the correct way and in the right spirit) under the authority and headship of His parents. He could have chosen to rebel against Joseph and Mary, asserting His divine relationship with His heavenly Father as of more importance than a mere earthly relationship of son and parents. He could have told them He was going to remain in His Father’s house, the Temple, in Jerusalem, to further His religious education. He could have, but He did not. He chose instead to submit to His heavenly Father’s will and remain under the authority of His earthly parents. Was it the right choice? Because He chose to submit to Joseph and Mary He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” (Luke 2:52)

We all know children or young people who rebel against their parents or have no respect for their elders. Perhaps they are trying to prove no one can tell them what to do, or that they are capable of taking care of themselves. Perhaps they resent the way their parents or elders treat them. They justify their rebellion by pointing out the faults of those in authority over them. By belittling or demeaning them they seek to elevate themselves. Thus, instead of “increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men”, we think of such youngsters as obnoxious, unbearable, ungrateful, and insufferable. What a contrast this is to those youngsters who have been taught manners and say, “Thank you”, “Please”, “Yes, Sir”, and “Yes Ma’am”. What a pleasure it is to be around them. But what makes it a pleasure is their submission to authority, their humility. It is a lesson adults, both men and women, would do well to remember. Our position in the kingdom of heaven depends on our willingness to submit to whatever head the Lord has deemed appropriate for us. “Whoever then HUMBLES himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4) Pride will cost us dearly later.

Another form of submission has to do with us as citizens. “Let every person be in SUBJECTION to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.” (Romans 13:1-2) This is again, “hupotasso”, the same word used for the submission of a wife to a husband. How many men demand submission from their wives, but reject submission to the laws that govern his town, state, or country? If gambling is outlawed, does he gamble anyway just because he feels he has the right to? If stealing is outlawed, does he keep extra change given to him in error by the cashier at the checkout line if he knows he will not be caught? If speeding is outlawed, does he ridicule and verbally abuse the officer that caught him going 50 in a 35-mile per hour speed zone? If so he has rebelled against the divine order the Lord has established for us as citizens. Of course women also can be guilty of these offenses, but the point is that one who expects submission from others should in turn be submissive according to the desire of the heavenly Father.

The spirit with which we submit to the governing authorities is a testimony of the sincerity of our faith. “Submit yourselves FOR THE LORD'S SAKE to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God THAT BY DOING RIGHT you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:13-16) As Christians we are not to be argumentative, contentious, or full of wrath toward those in authority over us. This does not mean we are not to stand up to injustice and seek to enact laws to protect the innocent, such as the unborn or the handicapped or the elderly. Indeed, we are REQUIRED by our Father to care for those who cannot care for themselves; we are to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. We recognize that just because something is legal IN NO WAY ensures it is moral. We should avail ourselves of whatever reasonable means necessary to change those laws that stand in opposition to God’s divine will. Nevertheless, Paul tells us, “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2) This was said at a time when Nero, one of the most vicious, cruel emperors, of Rome ruled. If we do not like our leaders, pray for them; we cannot change them, but God can. What better way to overcome an evil ruler than for him to become a Christian?

Another area of submission mentioned in the Bible is that of slaves to their masters. “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.” (1 Peter 2:18-20) This verse is sometimes used by feminists to justify their position that for a wife to submit to her husband is outdated and offensive. They reason that if men teach that a wife is to be submissive to her husband, they must also teach that slavery is justifiable, for the same Bible that teaches a wife to submit to her husband, teaches a slave to submit to his master. This is twisted logic, but effective if one does not understand the principle of submission. We have already stated that submission is not slavery. So how do we answer the feminists? Remember, submission is something WILLFULLY given. A slave may perform the work his master desires and resent every command given him. He resents his station and lot in life. He may hate his master and feel quite justified in doing so, for no human being should be the property of another. However, if that slave becomes saved his whole outlook on life will change. He will still be a slave physically speaking, but in truth he has been set free. “Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave.” (1 Corinthians 7:21-22) Once saved the slave performs all his duties from a WILLING spirit. The difference is the unsaved slave works because he HAS to; the saved slave works because he wants to. His motivation has changed. He wants to please his earthly master, but more importantly, he wants to please his heavenly Master. The Bible does not teach slavery is acceptable; it teaches slaves how to respond to slavery in a way that will glorify their heavenly Master. It is an extreme example given to silence our own protests against unfair treatment. In our society today perhaps the closest correlation we have between masters and slaves is the employer and employee. Not all employers are fair or good to work for, but for the Christian it does not matter. “Slaves (employees), be obedient to those who are your masters (employers) according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” (Ephesians 6:5-6) A person submitted to the Lord works when no one else is there to see, because he works FREELY.

So where does all this leave us with that all-important subject we started with? Submission starts with God and works its way downward. “For the creation (nature) was SUBJECTED (hupotasso) to frailty – to futility, condemned to frustration – not because of some intentional fault on its part, but BY THE WILL of Him Who so subjected it. [Yet] with the HOPE that nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.” (Romans 8:20-21 AMP) The Fall in the Garden of Eden was not an accident, it did not take God by surprise. By His will the Fall came about. I know that stretches some people’s theology, but it clearly states this in the above verse. Nevertheless, it was SUBJECTED to futility in HOPE, hope of being set free from all sin to become the sinless children of God. ALL creation, both men and women, have been subjected to this sinful condition because through Adam sin has infected each of us. That may not seem fair and we may question why we should pay the penalty for something we are not personally responsible for; that is because we see things only from a very limited, earthly point of view. God knows what He is doing. Do we believe that?

God also knew what He was doing when He ordained the divine order in the family. Do we believe that? God has ordained men and women to be subject to Him, yet we rebel; pride intensely fights against this dependence upon Him. We resent his Headship. God ordained the wife to be subject to the husband, yet woman rebels. However, this rebellion should surprise no one. This was the curse the Lord Himself placed upon the woman. “To the woman He said,‘I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your DESIRE shall be for your husband, and he shall RULE over you.’” (Genesis 3:16) These words hurt the ears of women, especially modern women. They seem harsh and unfair. Yet, when we look deeper into the meaning of this verse it may help us understand it more from the Lord’s point of view rather than from a merely human one. The word “desire” used above is a Hebrew word that means “a longing for”; not in a sensual sense, but in a sense of usurping his place of authority and headship. The same word is used when the Lord is speaking to Cain after He had rejected his offering and accepted Abel’s. “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its DESIRE is for you, but you must MASTER (RULE) it.” (Genesis 4:7) Here sin is said to have a desire for Cain, but we know that desire is not good. It sought to destroy Cain; thus, the Lord told Cain he master, RULE over it. Cain did not rule over sin and the result was the death of Abel. When man does not rule over woman (in a good sense!) something dies. What?

Abel offered the sacrifice that was acceptable to the Lord. When Abel was killed his sacrifice, in a manner of speaking, was also killed. Cain resented Abel’s relationship with the Lord, and instead of seeking guidance and direction from Abel as to how he might offer an acceptable sacrifice to God, he killed him. The communion with the Father was broken; fellowship with the Father was no longer possible. For Cain, the ability to WORSHIP the Lord was destroyed; thus, Cain was driven from the Lord’s presence. Had Cain submitted to the conditions set before him, as Abel had, for the proper way of offering a sacrifice, he would have enjoyed the Lord’s blessing also. He did not and suffered the consequences. I believe woman plays a dangerous game when she seeks to usurp the headship position of the man.

There is also a deeper lesson here. In the Bible masculinity is equated with the spirit and femininity is equated with the soul. The makeup of a human being is spirit, soul, and body. The spirit makes us God-conscience, and with the spirit we WORSHIP the Lord. “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT and truth.” (John 4:23-24) The soul makes us self-conscience. The soul consists of our emotions, intellect, and will. It makes us, us. The body makes us worldly-conscience and allows us to interact with the material world through our five senses. In the beginning Adam and Eve enjoyed the proper order of these three elements of their beings. The spirit was alive; fellowship and communion with the Father was a two-way street; man worshipping the Father, and He in turn supplying him with all he needed to rightly live his life in the way that pleased Him. The soul SUBMITTED to these God-given instructions from the spirit and conforming its will to the will of the Lord carried them out. However, when Eve was deceived by the serpent and ate of the Forbidden Fruit; thus, rebelling against God and ADAM, her spirit died, just like God had said would happen; “for in the day that you eat from it (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) “In that day” her body did not die (that came later), her SPIRIT did. From that moment on she operated from her SOUL. The soul had usurped the headship of the spirit by replacing HER will with the LORD’S will. After Adam ate he too suffered the same outcome, but with the fall of Adam, creation itself came under the slavery of sin.

When God told Eve her desire would be for her husband, He was saying her fallen nature would attempt to usurp the place of headship that was not rightfully hers. Why? Because He disliked Eve? Hardly. God knew that if Eve (the soul) did not arrange herself under, did not SUMBIT to Adam (the spirit), she would be lost. Her only hope was if Adam would RULE over her, which, though it sounds negative, is exactly what God PROMISED would happen. Submission was not a curse, but the way back to the Father. So it is for each of us. The submission of the woman is a picture of what is required by each human being. As we WILLFULLY submit to God, ALLOWING Him to be our Head, we will be free from the curse of sin,for in God’s eyes “there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

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