The Ninth Commandment: Accountability

The question frequently asked at weddings is: Who gives this woman to be married to this man? Can you hear what is in that question? Can you imagine a wedding where the question is reversed: Who gives this man to be married to this woman? Something just doesn’t work in that latter question. This question is based upon the ninth commandment of marriage, “submit.” The Greek term here means to give away. And the term is intensified with the addition of the Greek preposition, “under.”

As we have noted before, the immediate context of the text is not Holy Matrimony, but rather church policy. How is a church to be organized and to operate? The body is to give themselves to, or place themselves under, the authority of a group of leaders. This process, when followed faithfully, creates a place where blame can be placed. When it is not followed faithfully, blame must be spread around, and then it becomes confusing. This command comes with a clear warning about consequences for its violation. It also includes more than mere obedience. There must not be a bad attitude attached to the following of this command. The followers are required to make leadership a joyous responsibility.

As we have seen in the past, this command can be passed over into the realm of Holy Matrimony. The wife who makes the job of marriage a joyous responsibility will receive a reward from God. The woman who refuses to keep this command will pay consequences of eternal judgment from the Almighty. Everyone I know who is under authority looks for the right and privilege of input but total exemption from fault when decisions are wrong. I am not sure that this option is available.

What very few men realize is the model given for them in Scripture on how a husband is to operate. We have a submissive Savior. Jesus gave of Himself. He gave Himself totally. He gave all that He had to fulfill all that we need, and in so doing, He set a model for husbands to follow. The apostle Peter articulates this truth when he says to the husbands, “… live with your wife in an understanding way” (I Peter 3:7).

The wife is put is the disadvantaged position by virtue of her required submission. Therefore, husbands are to take this truth into consideration when leading, or it will not go well with them in judgment. As we noted last week, function and value are different subjects. Submission is a functional issue, not a value issue. In value, there is no distinction between man, woman, and child. In function, however, there is a big difference, and we shall all stand before God in judgment accordingly.

The Ninth Commandment:

Accountability

The Disaster of Anarchy

A. The subjectivity of modern language

B. The myth of fifty/fifty

C. The lessons from the Scriptures

The Design for Harmony

A. The submissive righteousness

B. The submissive husband

C. The submission of wife

The Delight of Submission

A. The narrowing of practicality

B. The focus for the future

C. The absence of remorse