The Seal of the Spirit II ~ Mutual Submission: Ephesians 5:20-26, especially vs. 21: "Submitting to one another in the fear of God [or Christ]."
In Ephesians 4:25-32, the Apostle Paul exhorts us not to "grieve the Holy Spirit” within our hearts and souls or by our deeds, but to guard the Spirit's seal upon our senses so that we might "impart grace" to others (Eph. 4:29,30). As we follow St. Paul to the conclusion of his Ephesian letter, observe his continuing concern that we love others, for this is the truly fruitful way to realize our sealing in the Spirit. Today's reading, as the quote above discloses, exhibits this recurring dual theme: profound respect for God and the imparting of His grace to our fellow human beings.
The key to the quote above (vs. 21) and to the whole of today's passage is "submitting." Actually the quote is the last clause in a long sentence which begins, "And do not be drunk with wine...but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18). As St Paul develops his overall thought of "imparting grace" to others in chapter 5, he employs "submit" as the basis for his presentation, and so the theme of submission becomes dominant from verse 5:18 forward.
First in order, the Apostle discloses that being filled with the Spirit is prerequisite to submission (vs. 18). However, to be cleansed by the Spirit's in-filling, we must seek Him and His cleansing, since He does not force Himself upon us. Then, once we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we do not get drunk but, rather, speak to each other in "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs...to the Lord" (vs. 19), in a shared Eucharistic offering "to God the Father." Worship is the environment from which Christians impart God's grace to others and submit to one another.
The turning point in the Apostle's presentation is verse 5:21, in which St. Paul concludes his prior discussion of the congregation's 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 continues well past today's reading.
What is the meaning of this verb "to 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," which alters the idea by implying that whatever is arranged is put in order "under" something. Mutual submission means, therefore, to take our God-given place in all relationships with others under God's claims upon us.
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 is not to dominate, but to deliver, never to oppress or tyrannize, but to release and redeem. The submission of a wife under such a headship is to receive, work with, enhance, and support the husband's labor as protector of the marriage. What a burden husbands bear! Men are to love their wives "just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her" (vs. 25)! Of course, without the Spirit's help such love is impossible.
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 wants) of his wife, even to the death of self. Such love is not tyranny, and to imply so seriously misrepresents the Apostle. The truth is exactly opposite - self-sacrifice, the radical way of the Lord, completely redeems human marriage.
Unite and bless, O Lord, all Thy married servants in peace and oneness of mind.