Why are we to be obedient to our husbands as commanded throughout scripture? In our quest to move through the book of Titus, we now move to the phrase “obedient to their own husbands.” For many women, it is hard to comprehend and even harder to obey. It is counter-cultural for those living in the Western world. Why is it so easy to accept God’s love, but hard to accept His command? Yet, it happens. Christian women have struggled with this since the beginning of the human race. Otherwise, Eve would have spoken with Adam before she ate the forbidden fruit. However, we all know she didn’t. She listened and decided to do it her way, and look where that got us. Most women scoff at this command because they don’t understand it. It sounds like they are giving up their life to be mindless creatures. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Titus 2:5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
Our society has done a great job of tearing the home apart and distorting what God intended to be beautiful. The feminist movement has emasculated men because of a heart of pride and ignorance. Pride wants to vault oneself to a higher position than anyone around them and ignorance refuses to understand what God has written.
The world today takes every opportunity to make dad look like he is out of touch and a bumbling fool. The old TV program Father Knows Best would not survive in our culture today. It did a beautiful job of portraying the family as a cohesive unit with one head. That head was the father who loved and cherished his wife and family. He wasn’t a tyrant he was considerate and loving. In the program, the mom and dad discussed situations in the home and agreed upon resolutions. However, the father had the final say. Sounds old-fashioned and out of date but that is the pattern God set for all families. It is no wonder that the divorce rate is above 50% in America, no creature can function properly with two heads. Ephesians 5:22-23 teaches us the husband is the head of the home and likewise Christ is the head of the church. In Ephesians 5:25-28, the pattern is given to make the home like God intended. As Christ is the savior of the body of Christ, the church, the husband is to protect and love her as Christ loves the church. A Christian home is to be made up of a husband who is a leader and is dedicated to taking care of his wife and family. This kind of husband makes it easier to be obedient. It is easy to be submissive to someone who loves you as Christ loves you.
Ephesians 5:22-23 “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 savior of the body.”
Ephesians 5:25-28 “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So, ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”
I know, I know, what if my husband isn’t loving me like Christ loved the church? Am I still supposed to be obedient? The answer is yes, with qualifications. In Acts 4:29, Peter teaches us that we are to obey all authority unless it is against what God says. You are never to follow or do things that will cause you to sin.
Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Why does God give so much attention and scriptures to the family about obedience and submission? One reason is that the family will work as a cohesive unit. With this pattern, the home will be complete. It will be a place of nurturing and order. However, the reason that Paul states it in our verse from Titus 2:5 is so that God’s word will not be blasphemed. To blaspheme is to speak evil against or defame. When we live inconsistent lives as professed Christians, we are telling the world that a relationship with Christ isn’t valued in our personal day-to-day lives. We are not showing them the power or the love of an Almighty God. We are injuring His name with our disobedience.
We are to be humble servants understanding that God loves us and always has a plan that is best for us. However, He will not force His plan upon us. He wants loving, willing servants that honor Him as God, and His Son as Lord of all. Our Savior is our Lord and Master. Our obedience is a matter of trust. Do we believe God or do we not? Our actions will tell everyone what and who we believe. What are your actions saying to the world?
