When studying any verse or passage of scripture we must be cognizant of what comes both before and after that verse or passage. This is the only way to accurately divide the word of truth.
Paul and the other writers of the New Testament were not sitting down with a quill and parchment, meditating on the passing clouds and scribbling down every disjointed piece of inspiration that came to them; like a 1950’s Beatnik rambling from his stool in a smoke-filled coffee house.
They were writing as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. In addition the epistles of the New Testament were being written to real churches, with real people, with real problems and real need for godly instruction. Just like us.
So when we look at a verse like Ephesians 5:21 “...and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ”, we cheat ourselves if we try to teach only from that verse, using it as a springboard for our opinions, rather than looking at it in context and getting the full measure of the writer’s intent from it.
The reason I’m saying all of this here, is because Ephesians 5:21 provides such a perfect example of what I’m saying.
What is it, to be ‘subject’ to one another? Doesn’t somebody have to be the boss? Why is it important, to the individual or to the church?
In this case, as in many, it is the verses around it; the things the writer has to say in conjunction with this exhortation, that answer all those questions.
Let’s back all the way up, to the beginning of chapter 4 just for a moment.
Paul has just finished outlining our wondrous spiritual riches in Christ Jesus in the first several chapters. He ends that portion of his discourse with the benediction of chapter 3, verses 20 and 21.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.
Amen.
It is in chapter four that he begins a new thought, but not unrelated to the things that have gone before. It is as though he is saying, ‘with all our riches in Christ Jesus in mind, and being conscious of our access in Him to the Throne, and of His majesty and power, and having ascribed to Him all glory in the church...’
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” 4:1-3
He now proceeds from there, to talk about our walk. Christian behavior, our relationship with one another, and finally, at the end of chapter 6, the warfare of the Christian and how to walk in the victory that Christ has won for us.
So skip now to the end of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5, remembering that Paul made no chapter or verse divisions:
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. (4:32)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”. (5:1,2)
So we see that Paul puts a very strong emphasis on our relationship to one another as an indication of our true spirituality and the legitimacy of our relationship to God.
I can go for a long time talking like a Christian, and acting like a pious, God-fearing, clean cut pillar of the church. But does that show in my relationship with other believers?
No matter how spiritually mature I may seem in other areas; no matter how eloquently I can expound the scriptures, and no matter who I know that’s well-known or important...
...if people know that to cross me is to incur my wrath; if they know that when a difference of opinion arises I am going to dig in my heels and insist that my way is best; if they know that I hold up some high moral standard of my own and if they fail in any part of it I will criticize or reject them, then where is the benefit of all my knowledge or my clout?
“...if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” I Cor 13:2
So do you see what Paul has been saying throughout these verses of chapter 4 and 5?
LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED US
Coming down now to verse 15 and following (in chapter5); Paul says, “therefore...” (again) “...be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
And do you see how he follows that exhortation in the next 3 verses? With tips relating to successful relationships with one another.
Don’t be foolish. What is foolishness? Well, according to this verse, foolishness is not understanding what the will of the Lord is!
How do we know the will of the Lord? By doing the will of the Lord as far as we DO understand it. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He wants us to walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called. He wants us to walk in love just as Christ loved us.
There’s a pretty good start.
He goes on: Don’t be a sot! Be filled with the Spirit.
Why? Because a drunk is only serving himself and diminishing his ability to serve others with every sip. But a Spirit-filled believer will be so full that he will spill over to all around him and be a blessing to himself and to the church.
“Speaking to one another. Singing to one another. Making the kind of Godly melody in our heart that blesses and glorifies Him.”
Do you see it? It’s all about being really what we are ideally. Acting out our salvation. Being saved...acting like it.
LOVING AS CHRIST LOVED US
Now let’s talk about verse 21
What does it mean, to be ‘subject’ to one another? There’s no great mystery about the word. “subject”. “subjection”.
It is a military word, meaning ‘to rank under’. A king’s subjects are the people of the kingdom. They serve him, he rules them.
Now a military commander does not call the men under him his subjects, but they are subject to his orders. His commands. They fall under him in rank, and therefore they subject themselves to him; meaning they listen and obey. They make themselves available to him. In matters of war they defer to his experience and his wisdom. They are subject to him.
Now, if the church was a military organization, then Paul could not say “be subject to one another“, could he? If we were military (and I’m sorry to say that there are pastors out there who think the church is a military organization), then I would be the general and I would have officers, and they would have lower ranking Christians under them, and so forth. The church might actually run more smoothly that way, but not in love.
“Brrr-umph! Alright Christians, here is our plan of attack for the morning service. Major Jones will sit at the rear of the sanctuary near the door. Captain Smith will sit near this door at the front. No one...I repeat...no one, will be allowed to leave the room during the preaching. If someone needs to use the facilities, submit a request in triplicate to Lt. Wilson, who will forward the request to my office and it will be taken under consideration. All dependents under the age of thirteen will sit facing forward at all times and will not put their feet on the pews...”
Wouldn’t church just be a joy to attend...?
Christ’s church is not a military organization (although it wouldn’t hurt us to get a little more militant in our attack against the gates of Hell in this world); it is a family. It is an organism; a living thing; not a corporation, not an army, ...in fact, it’s not anything designed or made by man. It is the body of believers who are baptized into Christ and are one in Him.
Therefore, be subject to one another. Each one esteeming others higher than himself. Submitting to one another in love.
Now I want to be careful here to point out that this is not ‘kowtowing’ to another simply because he is stronger-willed and pushy and we don’t want to confront or be confronted.
It is not letting a person or persons in the body act or make decisions contrary to the Word of God simply for the sake of keeping the peace.
It is not being a weak-backed appeaser.
It is looking out for the good of others above our own good if need be; seeking to walk peaceably with them whenever possible; being concerned with their desires and their perceived needs and being willing even to sacrifice in order to help them meet those desires and needs...IN LOVE.
It is walking in humility toward one another. Hear Peter’s exhortation:
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” - I Pet. 5:5
Now here is the real secret for being successfully subject to one another; in the right spirit and in the sense that Paul is saying it:
It is being first, subject to Christ. In an article entitled, “The Cure For Conflict”, written in 1966 by Ray C. Stedman, he said:
“The great issue for the Christian must never be ‘what I want versus what he wants,’ but ‘What does Christ want me to do? What does He want out of this situation?’ The great question must ever be, ‘What does Jesus Christ, living in me, expect of this relationship?”
His point being made was that as long as two people are only asking, ‘what can I get out of this...how can I get my way in this situation?’ they’re leaving Christ out of the loop; when in reality, He is the most important person present! If both people involved are looking to Him and saying, “Lord, what do You want done here?” Then they will, being led by the gentle, Holy Spirit, subject themselves first to Christ, then to each other, and love will win.
I served on a committee that was assigned to write constitution and bylaws for a brand new church. The new church was comprised of two separate congregations that had voted to dissolve the two churches and start a new one.
One of the by-products of that, was that the woman who had led the youth group in one church felt very strongly that the youth should have an equal voice in all decisions, no matter their age or level of maturity. She also served on this committee.
Those on the committee who had come from the other congregation where the children had not had voting privileges, were having a very difficult time with the idea of all the youth suddenly having an equal voice.
A hypothetical possibility cited, was that there were so many youth in the church, that in a potentially serious decision before the church, they could, out of immaturity and impetuousness, sway a vote in a direction damaging to the whole church.
There was potential for a big rift there; spreading from the committee itself to the entire, new, sensitive, baby congregation. The new church could have been destroyed before it ever got started.
As soon as the topic came up, (we all knew it would), our moderator stopped the conversation, suggested we all go home and pray about it, then come back and make it the central topic of conversation for our next meeting. His exhortation in closing was that we all be very careful to remember our new church’s motto: “Preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.
We did pray, and we did see the evidence of that prayer. The following week we met, and starting with the woman who had been (and still was) the youth leader we talked in turn, one at a time, no one interrupting, until everyone had had their say in the matter.
The outcome was that in a situation that first appeared hopeless because of the strong and stubborn stand of a few, Christ intervened, gave us all peace in heart and Christ-like love and affection for one another, and a willingness to bend and subject ourselves to one another. In the end it was concluded that the youth (under 16) would have voting privileges in all matters that were not of an emergency nature, and they would not vote in specially called business meetings that called for experienced, adult decision-making; but that everyone 16years of age and up would be considered an adult for the purposes of voting on all church matters.
The peace was kept, everyone went away rejoicing, and good came out of the situation for the entire church.
This Summer they are building a new Sanctuary.
Paul said, “...and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ”. I think most Christians who have heard very many sermons are aware that the term ‘fear of Christ’ doesn’t mean being afraid of Him; but “out of reverence for Him”.
Earthly kings demand subjection, and they receive it through fear of punishment or death. But our heavenly King deserves subjection out of reverence. For He Himself has willingly subjected Himself to the Father, in order to provide a way for us to come into the Father’s presence.
“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” vs.. 8-10
Our Savior subjected Himself to the Father’s will, becoming obedient even to the point of death on the cross. As a result, the Father has exalted Him to His right hand, and has declared Him to be our Great High Priest.
Therefore, in reverence for our High Priest, Who has suffered all the things that we suffer, yet has conquered all and now promises us a place with Him on His throne, let us also be subject to one another.
Let us esteem each other more highly than ourselves.
Let us be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven us.
Let us walk with one another in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Let us LOVE AS CHRIST LOVED US.
Being subject to one another in reverence for Christ.
Look to Him first, Christian. In all things, ask what He wants. Then, ask what your brother wants.
Then love will win.
