There’s a classic skit from Saturday Night Live where celebrities play “Jeopardy.” Darrell Hammond does hilarious job of impersonating Sean Connery. In the bit, Connery continually stumbles over the various category names. When choosing his next question, he tells Alex Trebek (played by Will Farrell), “I’ll take ‘Swords’ for $500.” The only problem is that it’s the category is actually “‘S’ Words.” Here in his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul drops the “S” word. Submission. Few words strike fear into the hearts of Christians than the “S” word. Can we all just take a deep breath and relax? Better? OK. Let’s dive in.
If Jesus personally told you to do something, would you do it? What if our Savior called you and gave you specific instructions, wouldn’t you obey? Do you have such deep love and respect for Christ that you would be ready and willing to do what He says? In many ways, that’s how Paul approaches the idea of mutual submission among believers. One very important act of worship for Jesus’ followers is by “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (v21).
YIKES!!! There it is!! The “S” word! Submission has become one of the real land mines in the church over the last few decades. It’s a dirty word in our nation that lives and breathes rugged individualism, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and you’d better give me my R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Submit? You gotta be kidding me!! Don’t you see my “Don’t tread on me” bumper sticker?!?
But Paul tells his friends back in Ephesus that mutual submission is a critical quality to be exhibited by Jesus’ followers in the church, in the home and in the workplace. This command is NOT based on the qualifications of the one we’re submitting to. This command IS based on the qualifications of the One who’s asking us to submit. And if you missed it, that’s Jesus. If you need a quick refresher, He’s the One who willingly set aside the pleasures of the heavenly palace and His rights to exercise His very Godness to come to earth and save you and me (Phil 2:6-8). He didn’t have to. But He did. He submitted. Because Jesus voluntarily submitted to the will of His Dad, He’s asking us to stop demanding our way when interacting with people. Submission is a call to live a “me third” lifestyle. God first. Others second. Me third.
In writing the word “submitting,” Paul uses the Greek verb hupotasso. It means to put under, arrange under, subordinate, be subject to the control of another, voluntarily giving in and cooperating. This is actually a military term that describes the lining up of troops into formation under their commanding officer. The term literally means “place” (-tasso) “under” (hupo-). It’s voluntarily giving up your will or rights in your relationships with others and placing yourself under them. Check out a couple of other interesting uses of the “S” word. Despite being both fully God and fully man, Jesus voluntarily cooperated and obeyed his earthly parents “and was submissive (Gr. hupotasso) to them” (Lk 2:51). The apostle told Titus to remind Jesus’ followers to be good citizens and “be submissive (Gr. hupotasso) to rulers and authorities” (Titus 3:1).
A big part of the problem is how just about every Bible translator has ended the paragraph with this verse. It’s cut off from the the verses that follow about submission in the home and workplace. Here’s the deal. In the original letters, there are no paragraphs. As a matter of fact, there’s no punctuation. Parchment was at such a premium that you didn’t waste any of it with blank spaces. Writers used every stinkin’ inch. So if you were reading this in the Ephesian church, there’s no break at the end of the verse. Just to make sure you know I’m not going rogue on this idea, Robertson says that it’s possible to start a new paragraph here. The idea of our mutual submission sets the stage for all that follows in Eph 5:22-6:9. In a news story, this would be the lead sentence. It’s really too bad that the paragraphs and chapters have fallen like they have.
So why am I to willingly hand over all my rights? Who’s gonna make me? Paul says that this is “out of reverence for Christ” (v21). Oh. My bad. Again, this has absolutely nothing to do with any qualification, status or performance of the one I’m submitting to. It has EVERYTHING to do with Jesus, the One who’s asking me to submit. I’m to give up my place because of my “reverence” to my Savior. This is the Greek noun phobos. It means respect and fear. Reverence of God is critical to my relationship with Him. Solomon taught his kids that everything starts with a proper view of God and a healthy “fear of the LORD” (Prov 1:7; 9:10).
But fear Jesus? Gentle Jesus? The same Jesus that carries that cute little lamb on His shoulders in the flannel graph picture? Well, we need to remember who Jesus really is. Don’t limit Him to just how you want to see Him. Check out how His best friend John saw Jesus. At dinner, John and Jesus were such good friends that the apostle would actually lean back on the Rabbi/Carpenter (Jn 13:23). I don’t know about you, but there aren’t too many people who would allow me to invade their personal space during dinner! But this very same John “fell at His feet as though dead” when he laid eyes on the glorious risen Christ (Rev 1:17). Johnny had, shall we say, a robust view of Christ Jesus. He loves his best Friend. He worships his awe-inspiring God!
Meanwhile, back at the “S” word. Our attitude of submission has nothing to do with the person I’m submitting to. It has everything to do with the One asking me to submit. I set my will aside out of my love for my best Friend Jesus. I voluntarily give up any privilege I might have as an act of worship to my God Jesus.
I’ll take “S” words for $500, Alex.
Well, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Drop a comment below and let's chat.
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