Sermon Tone Analysis

(Opening Prayer)

(Welcome)

(Series Introduction)

Today as we continue our Colossians series.

We come to Colossians 3:18-4:1 and a sermon I have entitled, “Every Step”

(Opening Context)

Colossians 3:18-4:1 deals with relationships within the Christian household.

Similar advice is found in Eph.

5:22–6:9; 1 Tim.

2:8–15; Tit.

2:1–10; 1 Pet.

2:18–3:7.

This ‘house-table’, as it has been called, may have formed part of a larger section of doctrinal and ethical teaching—an early Christian teaching, easily learned by heart and given to new converts.

These verses regulate behaviour patterns within the Christian household and follow on from v 17.

The paragraph contains many references to the Lord, indicating that the whole of life, both thought and conduct, is to be submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ.

No area of life stands outside his control; so there is no final distinction between the sacred and the secular.

A life ruled from above where Christ is reigning (3:1–4) is a life in marriage, parenthood and everyday work.

Three pairs of instructions are addressed successively to wives and husbands (18–19), children and parents, especially fathers (20–21) and finally slaves and masters (3:22–4:1)—from the closest relationship to the most distant.

In each case wife, child or slave is mentioned first and addressed as a responsible partner who is expected to do ‘what is fitting in the Lord’.

This passage follows the same basic structure as Ephesians 5:22–6:9 but is significantly briefer overall.

In each pair there is one party who, in the Greco-Roman society of the day, had a position of authority, and one party who did not.

It is not surprising that Paul would address exhortations to those who were under authority.

It is more surprising that he also addresses exhortations to those who were in authority.

O’Brien summarizes the research of Eduard Schweizer: “Wives, children and slaves are addressed equally with their husbands, fathers and masters.

In fact, the key issue in this code is the question of where true authority lies, which is highlighted by Paul’s repeated use of kyrios throughout the passage.

While the term can be translated “master,” and on some occasions should be translated as such, within Paul’s writings the natural use of this term is to describe Jesus Christ as “Lord.”

All human relationships are set in the context of relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ, and any human authority is relativized by his ultimate authority.

Let’s take a look at how Christ desires to be Lord of Every Relationship.

(Sermon Text)

Colossians 3:17–25 (ESV)

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.

You are serving the Lord Christ.

25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

Colossians 4:1 (ESV)

1 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

1. Marriage Relationship (Col.

3:18-19)

(“Bridge to Life Ministries” Marriage Training — February 16-18, 2023)

A. Wives (Col.

3:18)

Paul begins with a direct address to wives.

The repeated use of this direct address throughout this section provides structure to the passage and calls those in each group to pay particular attention to the instructions directed to them.

Wives are called to “submit” (hypotassesthe) to their husbands (Eph.

5:22).

The middle voice suggests something like “submit yourselves.”

That is to say, this instruction is not a harsh order intended to bring cringing subjugation.

Rather, it is a call to make a deliberate decision, to choose to act in a certain way.

The rationale for such a choice is that it is “fitting in the Lord.”

Thus the primary reason for the wife to choose to respond positively to this imperative is not her husband’s will but the relationship she has to Christ.

A form of the same verb is applied to Christ himself in 1 Corinthians 15:28.

1 Corinthians 15:28 (ESV)

28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

While there are many discussions in commentaries regarding the various social factors that may have influenced Paul’s view of male-female relationships, the fundamental reason for his view is Christological.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (3:18)

Wives are to submit to their husbands as their heads.

This command was not limited to Paul’s day, as is obvious from two reasons he gave elsewhere:

(1) the order of Creation (man was created first, then woman; 1 Tim.

2:13);

(2) the order within the Godhead (Christ submits to the Father; 1 Cor.

11:3).

Submission or subordination does not mean inferiority; it simply means that the husband, not the wife, is head of the home.

If he may be thought of as the “president,” she is the “vice-president.”

Of course there are moral limits to this submission; it is only as is fitting in the Lord.

Just as obedience to government is commanded (Rom.

13:1; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13) but only insofar as government takes its place under God (Ex.

1; Dan.

3; 6), even so a wife’s submission to her husband is only “in the Lord.”

That is, she is not obligated to follow her husband’s leadership if it conflicts with specific scriptural commands.

Paul is not saying that a wife ought to respond to her husband with mindless obedience; being subject to one’s spouse should be voluntary and conscious.

Submission in marriage is not demeaning; it is informed by God’s relationship to the Church (Eph 5:22–23).

The wives, as free and responsible agents, are asked voluntarily to submit themselves to their husbands since this is entirely proper.

“In the Lord” means within the new fellowship of those who call Christ “Lord.”

Submission points to the wife’s calling to honour and affirm her husband’s leadership and to help him exercise his role within the family.

It is not an absolute surrender of her will, for Christ is her absolute authority, not her husband.

Nor is there any suggestion that the wife is naturally or spiritually inferior to her husband.

“Here’s how you’re to live on earth, wives,” says Paul. “Submit to your husband.”

But notice Paul says wives are to submit to their own husband—not to submit to men generally, but to their own husband specifically.

Women, don’t let anyone say, “I need to correct you on this, or deal with you on that,” because, unfortunately, there are men who seem to feel it’s their calling to go around the church correcting women.

They have a “women’s ministry,” where they talk to women about the way to dress, behave, talk or think—and they are unscriptural in doing so, for Scripture says that wives are to submit to their own husbands exclusively.

The first injunction of the apostle is addressed to wives.

They are enjoined to submit to their own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

According to the divine plan, the husband is head of the house.

The woman has been given the place of submission to her husband.

She is not to dominate or to lead, but to follow his leadership, wherever she can do so without compromising her loyalty to Christ.

There are, of course, instances in which the woman cannot obey her husband and still be faithful to Christ.

In such an instance, her first loyalty is to the Lord Jesus.

Where a Christian woman has a backward husband, this verse indicates that she should help him to fulfill his proper place in the home, rather than for her to usurp it.

The heart here is that by the loving response of the wife, the husband might come to know Christ.

The purpose of the wive’s submission is not to give her husband control but to give Christ control.

He is Lord after all.

B. Husbands (Col.

3:19)

The balance which is presented to us in the word of God is beautiful.

The Apostle Paul does not stop with this advice to wives; he now goes on to show that husbands, too, have a responsibility.

They are to love their wives, and not to be bitter toward them.

If these simple precepts were followed, many of the problems of married life would disappear, and homes would be happier in the Lord.

No wife would be likely to object to submitting to a husband who truly loves her.

It is a joy to submit to someone who loves you.

It has been noted that the husband is not told to make his wife obey him.

If she does not, he should take it to the Lord.