“Slaves obey your masters” may seem like a strange title to lead into a discussion of marriage. The writer of the letter to the church in Ephesus wrote that command just one chapter over from “wives submit to your husbands”.

In the Christian religion, marriage is a partnership where both Christian wives and Christian husbands submit to God’s authority in a covenant relationship. Christians choose God as the head of their household.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21 NIV)

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, often used cultural norms to express spiritual truths. For example, it was normal during that time for there to be slaves and masters. Most women were intentionally kept illiterate. Because they could not read or write, women were forced into submissiveness. Christians don’t use the “slaves and masters” verse to condone slavery.

The Christian religion is very different from pagan religions, like Islam, where males dominate females requiring themselves as lord over them. Christian women submit to Christ as Lord. The Ephesians, chapter five passage is summarized by the following verse depicting the Bride of Christ (the church) submitting herself to the Lord’s sovereignty.

“This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” (Ephesians 5:22-33 NIV)

It’s a common mistake of immature Christians to take a verse out of context and build a false theology around it. Unfortunately, that ignorance can lead to spiritual captivity and refusing God as Lord.

The first thing we do as we become a Christian is to create a covenant with God to obey Him. Obeying God means hearing His voice in prayer and following Him. Married ladies do not have a valid excuse for ignoring God or being lazy in service to Him just because they are legally tied to a man. The covenant with God is individual, not corporate.

Paul further gives this advice (earlier in the same chapter).
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:6 NIV)

Another important verse to remember.
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5 NIV)

Ladies, submissiveness can become a form of idolatry when we place any relationship above our relationship with God.