What does it mean to submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)?

Answer

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he writes so that they will understand their identity in Christ (Ephesians 1-3) and how their conduct should reflect this identity (Ephesians 4-6). Beginning in Ephesians 5:15, Paul challenges his readers to walk in wisdom, comprehending God’s will for believers’ lives “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”, (Ephesians 5:17). They should be filled with the Spirit of God, who already resides within them “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”, (Ephesians 5:18), they should sing to one another and to the Lord “speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”, (Ephesians 5:19), they should always be filled with thankful prayer “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”, (Ephesians 5:20), and they should “submit to one another” “submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”, (Ephesians 5:21).

To “submit to one another” “submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”, (Ephesians 5:21) is not based on the merits of the other person—believers are not to submit to one another because others deserve it; instead, they are to submit to one another in the fear.Of Christ «submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. », (Ephesians 5:21b), or because they fear Christ. Christ Himself provides the greatest example of submitting to one another when He lowered Himself to become a man and to die the death of a common criminal on the cross so that those who believe in Him might be saved (Philippians 2:1-11). In that same way—because of Christ and what He did for us—we should value others. That means being willing to give ourselves up for others or, as Paul put it, to regard others as more important than ourselves «Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. », (Philippians 2:3). To submit to one another is literally to align oneself below others in rank—to perceive ourselves as lesser in rank for the benefit of the other.

The idea that we need to submit to one another is the most important principle undergirding every relationship a believer might have. Paul gives instructions for various familial and societal roles all based on the principle that believers submit to one another. Wives are to align themselves under their husbands to illustrate the response of the church to Christ (Ephesians 5:22-24, 32-33). Husbands are to align themselves under their wives by loving them selflessly for their sanctification, illustrating Jesus’ love for His church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Children ought to align themselves under their parents in honor and obedience (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Fathers need to align themselves under their children by not provoking them to anger and by training them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord «And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.», (Ephesians 6:4). Next, Paul addresses slaves and masters. In the culture of Paul’s day, slavery was generally much like employment is in today’s culture. Slaves should align themselves under their masters with sincere obedience, knowing that they are serving Christ (Ephesians 6:5-8). Finally, masters should submit to their slaves by treating slaves “with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart” «Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;», (Ephesians 6:5,9) «And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.», (Ephesians 6:5,9). In this final example, it is evident that all of these people are equals in Christ, and even in those familial or societal roles where there may be rank or hierarchy, each person should submit to one another as if he or she were of lower rank.

At first glance, it may seem difficult to submit to one another or to treat others as greater than oneself because it makes the submitting person vulnerable to the other. However, when both parties are treating the other as worthy of more honor than themselves, the needs of both are met wonderfully. In this approach, no one person is independent of the other; rather, both are serving the other. It seems this is

God’s beautiful design illustrates the roles He has established to ensure that the needs of each individual are met.