Friday, July 6, 2012
Misunderstood Bible Passages, Part 40 of 47
TEXT: "Submitting to one another in the fear of God. Wives, to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just 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 husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband" (Ephesians 5:21-33).
IDEA: How we interpret the Bible or apply the Bible can have serious consequences.
PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that how we apply the Bible can have serious consequences.
I don't know any passage in the Bible that makes women cringe more than Ephesians 5:21-33. Why do you think this passage sometimes gets that response?
I. Sometimes the emphasis of teaching on this passage falls on Ephesians 5:22-23
Does the major emphasis of the passage fall on wives submitting to their husbands?
Men sometimes misread the passage as "Husbands, keep your wives in submission."
What might that do in a relationship?
Why is this application unbiblical and unChristian?
This reflects the danger of misreading and misapplying a passage of Scripture.
II. Do you think that Christians are ever guilty of spousal abuse?
Are there any examples that you can think of?
Do you think that this passage causes that, or covers up for it?
What might churches do to deal with this problem?
