by Kyle Pope
Synopsis: Using Paul's comments to the Colossians as a springboard, Kyle discusses the relationship of husbands and wives, parents and children, and the corresponding responsibilities of headship and submission.
In Paul's letter to the church in Colosse, he wrote four verses that set down in clear and simple terms the plan God has for the home. In an age of ever-increasing confusion over the family, let's consider these inspired words.
"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord" (Col. 3:18, NKJV). Americans value independence. We pride ourselves on standing up for our rights and not letting anyone take advantage of us. To many, a command to "submit" does not set well—but, let's make sure we understand what this means. This word is translated from the Greek word hupotassō, a military term describing subordination within an arrangement or order. All relationships need organization to function. If all lead, a group goes in different directions. So it is in the home. God has ordained, as a consequence of the events in Eden, that man be given headship in the home and leadership in the church (cf. Eph. 5:23; 1 Tim. 2:13-14).
However, this does not mean that man is of greater value than woman. Christ died for all, and in Him, male and female "are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:27-29). Submission does not mean the husband always knows best and the wife's judgment is worthless. The example of Nabal and Abigail illustrates this well. Her wise counsel, yet submissive disposition saved her foolish husband from slaughter (1 Sam. 25:1-42).
Submission means that a wife willingly places herself under the authority of her husband for the orderly functioning of a home. She shows him respect (Eph. 5:33). An organization will not flourish if its members treat its leaders disrespectfully. A godly wife does not talk bad about her husband or mock him. The example of Sarah calling Abraham "Lord" is not just a quaint story of a woman that did not know any better—it is an example of speaking well of a husband to his face and to others (1 Pet. 3:6). A wife's submission involves obedience. Paul told Titus that older women must teach younger women to be "obedient to their own husbands"—adding the warning that, if this is not done, the word of God will be "blasphemed" (Titus 2:5). Yet, as in all things, this does not mean wives must obey an instruction to violate God's law—"we ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). In Christ, there is a sense in which all are to submit to one another (Eph. 5:21); so, the godly husband considers the wife as he leads.
It is now fashionable in our world to portray husbands as buffoons, incapable of good decisions and leadership. This may be in reaction to the portrayal in years past of the "I Love Lucy" type wife whose foolish decisions always resulted in disaster. As Christians, we must not allow popular media to determine our views of the home. If a wife treats her husband as untrustworthy and foolish, he will likely act that way. If she treats him with confidence, respect, and love, she will generally find that he assumes his place of responsible leadership in the home as God intended.
"Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them" (Col. 3:19). Unlike the parallel text in Ephesians 5:23-33, Paul does not here emphasize that "the husband is head of the wife" (Eph. 5:23a). The focus in Ephesians is two-fold. Paul is teaching about the home, but also about the church, comparing the headship of the husband to Christ's headship of the church (Eph. 5:23b). In our text, the emphasis is on love and attitude.
Many falsely see leadership as dominion, but the Bible teaches that it is service. Paul told the Ephesians that the husband's love for the wife is "as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Eph. 5:25). This is not a tyrant who is only concerned with his own way; it is sacrificial love giving oneself for the good of his wife. Paul taught, "husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies" (Eph. 5:28). We care for our bodies. We feed and protect them. We consider what is best for them. That is how the husband should love his wife. There is no place for neglect, abuse, or mistreatment. Such behavior is sinful and totally contrary to Scripture!
In our text, Paul adds that husbands must "not be bitter toward them" (Col. 3:19b). All relationships have times when conflict or irritation occurs. A submissive wife may struggle with how to express her needs and concerns to her husband. If our attitude is not what it ought to be, we may see this as nagging and ignore the feelings of our wife that motivated her words. In areas of intimacy, there are times when one mate or the other may not be as receptive because of the stresses of the day, fatigue, or other concerns. While husbands and wives must not neglect this responsibility to one another (1 Cor. 7:2-5), neither should we allow it to become a source of bitterness and resentment. The husband who loves his wife as Christ loves the church will look out for his wife's needs, interests, and condition over and above his own (Phil. 2:4).
Peter wrote, "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Pet. 3:7). The husband who is pleasing to God is one who considers the spiritual well-being of his wife and family over and above all other things.
"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord" (Col. 3:20). As children, it is not always easy to obey our parents. Sometimes we do not like what they tell us to do—we think we know better. Sometimes it means we cannot do what we want to do. Why shouldn't we? After all, lots of kids around us disobey their parents, and they're ok; so, why should we obey our parents?
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul put it, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right" (Eph. 6:1). We should obey our parents because it is the right thing to do. Our parents know things we do not. They are looking out for us, and have experienced things we have not. Unless our parents instruct us to do things that God condemns (Acts 5:29), it is always the right thing to obey them. Paul went on to tell the Ephesians, "'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth'" (Eph. 6:2-3). Things go better for us as children when we obey our parents. We do not get in trouble as often. Our parents trust us more and will usually give us more freedoms when they know we will follow their instructions. In our text in Colossians, Paul tells us that obedience to our parents is "well pleasing to the Lord" (Col. 3:20). All of us should want to please God. He has loved us more than anyone ever has. We should want to do what pleases Him and avoid things that do not.
Children sometimes imagine that obedience to their parents is a sign of being "a baby," and long for the time when they can do whatever they want. The truth is that obedience to our parents teaches us obedience to God. Christians are children of God. In faith and baptism, we become "sons of God" (Gal. 3:26-27). This is a great blessing. As mere humans, we can "be called children of God" (1 John 3:1). As God's children, we are entitled to certain things. Paul told the Romans that if we are children, then we are "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (Rom. 8:17). Imagine that! We can be "joint heirs with Christ" of the glories of heaven! However, if we are children of God, what kind of children must we be? Peter said we must live "as obedient children" (1 Pet. 1:13-16). If we obey our parents when we are young, it helps us obey God throughout our entire life.
"Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged" (Col. 3:21). While the role of headship may, at times, place a special responsibility on the father to train children, the fact that Paul in this text addressed only the father should not be seen as excluding the mother's responsibility to her children. In some cases, a mother may bear much of the responsibility. This was true in the case of Timothy. The fact that his father was a Greek (Acts 16:1, 3), but his mother and grandmother are praised for passing on their faith to him (2 Tim. 1:5), likely suggests that his father provided little or no spiritual influence in his life. In Paul's letter to Titus, he specifically tells older women to teach younger women "to love their children" (Titus 2:4). Proverbs teaches that neglect of discipline demonstrates hatred, but prompt discipline shows love (Prov. 13:24). It warns, "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother" (Prov. 29:15). This would not be said to shame the mother if she held no responsibility in matters of training and discipline. The home will not be what it should if the father and mother neglect their duty to discipline and train children.
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul qualifies this instruction by writing that fathers must "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4b). This tells us some things. First, parents must not raise children based on human theories and ideas. Children must be trained in the principles taught in Scripture. Far too often, parents imagine that their ideas and God's ideas are the same. They are not. We must teach them the things God sets as priorities and emphasize the attitudes that He demands. Second, it shows that God considers it the responsibility of parents to shape the direction
Author-Bio: Kyle Pope preaches for the Olsen Park church of Christ in Amarillo, TX. He has written several books published by Truth Publications, Inc. including How We Got the Bible. The church website is olsenpark.com. He can be reached at kmpope@att.net.
