Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Wives, be subordinate to your husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.
Paul provides this good advice for families: Put on love and let the peace of Christ control your hearts. Much easier said than done to be sure. Few families are capable of living up to this expectation. Nevertheless, it’s easy if we try to be kind, humble, gentle, and patient bearing with one another and forgiving one another. That’s how families stay intact and become holy.
Now what about wives being subordinate to their husbands, as is proper in the Lord. Really? Here’s one reasonable explanation for Jews following Jesus at that time.
Men are stubborn and resistant to change especially if that change challenges their authority within the family. Women knew (and still know) that. How to get their husbands to follow Jesus and his demanding way that was very favorable to women? Use their wiles and gentle persuasion to direct their husbands in the right direction. A “subordinate” wife would stand a better chance of convincing her obstinate husband that it was his idea. A wife insisting her husband must follow Jesus was unlikely to change his obdurate mind.
Husbands, love your wives, and avoid any bitterness toward them. That likely was made easier when wives were or pretended to be subordinate to smooth the male ego.
Today is New Year's Eve. A good resolution would be to follow Paul's advice: Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Very good guidance for 2024 to prevent or at least deal with expected political chaos and violence stemming from hate and intolerance that has spread and grown throughout our nation.
Deacon David Pierce
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