Bible Study A Woman Should Let A Man Rule Over Her

[ugmug]

A Woman Should Let A Man Rule Over Her


Many times I have been in a church where a male pastor denigrates the bible verse that calls on woman to be subservient to her husband. The pastor enthralls the mostly female congregation with jokes on the ineptitude of men and how they don't warrant any praise or obedience from the opposite sex.


But consider the verse in Genesis 3:16 where God judges the woman for her part in the downfall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.


Genesis 3:16 New International Version (NIV)


16 To the woman he said,


“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;

with painful labor you will give birth to children.

Your desire will be for your husband,

and he will rule over you.”


God said to the woman that the man will rule over you. While many think this is tantamount to slavery it is in actuality a blessing in disguise, for it lays the foundation that will usher in God's son Jesus Christ - God become man - to be the salvation for all that believe in him.


A woman is to be ruled by her husband is actually a placeholder for when Jesus Christ ultimately fulfills his mission on the cross, to suffer death for our sins, then every person who believes in Jesus Christ will become part of Jesus Christ's church. And since the church is called Christ's bride every believer, both male and female, will now be under the word of judgment spoken by God in the Garden of Eden with Jesus Christ being the husband and the woman being any believer in Jesus Christ.


"Your desire will be for your husband,

and he will rule over you.”


So once someone becomes a believer in Jesus Christ they immediately have a desire for the spiritual husband of the church - Jesus Christ - and he will rule over all of us forever!


Notice two important aspects of the verse. When God judged the woman for her disobedience it was in two parts. The first part refers to the flesh and the pain of childbirth (Jesus Christ's torment on the cross to give birth to our salvation). The second part refers to our spirit, God's breath of life imparted to all of mankind, and the aspect of ruling and servitude. While the judgment concerning the flesh and the pain of childbirth will cease upon death. The judgment concerning being ruled by your husband does not end with death. In paradise the 'husband' becomes Jesus Christ and every believer will have in innate desire for Christ and he will rule over all of us.


It is clear that in the second part of the woman's judgment, "Your desire will be for your husband,

and he will rule over you.”, will exist both in God's kingdom as well as here on earth as stated in the Lord's prayer'...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.' So God's judgment of the woman reflects what will happen to every believer in that they will share the same desire for Jesus Christ, irrespective of their own sinful condition, and Jesus Christ will rule over all of us.


This is confirmed by the fact that God, in his judgment, referred to Eve as 'the woman'. It was only after the woman's sin, and God's judgment of her sin in the Garden of Eden, did Adam actually name the woman as 'Eve'. Because the woman did not have a specific name before her judgment this is an indication that the concept of a husband will extend beyond this world and into the Kingdom of God for Christ will be our substitute and he will become the 'husband' that will rule over every believer for eternity.


People often ask why Christians love Jesus Christ so much. It is because of Genesis 3:16! Once we become part of Christ's church of believers our desire is for Christ (the bridegroom) irrespective of anything else, just like a woman having a desire for her earthly husband. A judgment turned into a blessing.


Woman seem to loathe the idea that their husband is to rule over them. But without that command Jesus Christ's death and resurrection would apply only to Christ and nobody else. By God placing the burden of servitude on the woman first, it showed what God expected of everyone who will ultimately become disciples of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus Christ was resurrected the burden that seemed exclusive to a woman, to be ruled by her husband, was placed on everyone, both male and female, of those who believed in Jesus Christ.


Instead of a woman loathing the thought of being ruled by her husband woman should glorify God for even Jesus Christ, while on earth, submitted himself to the will and rule of God the father. Jesus Christ submitted himself to a higher authority as every believer in Jesus Christ will ultimately have to do. Is it any wonder why Satan would want to denigrate marriage and destroy the authority of a husband for Satan is actually trying to destroy Jesus Christ.


Everyone will one day stand before Jesus Christ as either a person wedded to Jesus Christ through our faith in him and included in the wedding feast. Or a person waiting to be married to Satan in eternal hell. To become a member of Jesus Christ's wedding party, and have an everlasting desire for Jesus Christ where he will rule over all of us in perpetuity, then just believe in the death and resurrection of God's son Jesus Christ, who is God become man!


God Bless


Note:


Satan realized that the 'woman' God created from Adam didn't have a name, like God himself! That is why Satan's temptation on 'the woman' worked and in the mind of the woman it was possible to become like God. God didn't have a name, and the woman didn't have a name, so Satan's temptation of eating the forbidden fruit to become like God was the final piece of the puzzle in mind of the woman in becoming like God. The point of this small detail is that the 'no name' of the 'woman' was intentional for when God judged the woman he would be also judging his son on the cross who was also God with no name. Since the husband in God's judgment will rule over the woman the 'husband' will ultimately be God's son Jesus Christ who is God become man.


Another point about Satan in the Garden of Eden is that Satan thought of himself as God but he had a name. If he could get the woman to sin while she didn't have a name she would then become like God with no name and also have the knowledge of good and evil. Satan could then possess the woman and truly become a new Godhead with no name like God himself. But when Adam finally named the woman Eve, it put an end to the woman ever being like God! Which is why I believe the beast and/or the Antichrist will be a woman with no name.


Also, when the infant Jesus, God's son, was given his name (confirmed by circumcision) he ceased ever being God ever again! Just think of that for a moment. God with no name, by giving himself a name, ceased being God. Truly a great sacrifice by God's Son to bring all of us under the loving, ruling authority, of God the Father.


Amen

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

First, didn't the woman have a name? Wasn't her name Eve? That verse is a curse on woman and Jesus death on the cross broke the curses when we become Christians.

 

[Knotical]

This really isn't what the bible teaches. When you read through Ephesians there is certainly a role women are to play in their marriage (which is to submit to their husbands), but there is also a role a man has in their marriage (that being to be a servant leader). When it comes to the marriage the man is to be the leader, and all responsibility falls with him, but he does no bear this burden alone. Any wise man will recognize the strengths in his wife and leverage that to their benefit. That is not to say he is to give up his authority, but at times he may defer to her input on certain matters.

Marriage is not a dictatorship, but what I would describe as a benevolent theocracy. Meaning that though the man is the head of the household he is still ultimately answerable to God for anything that he, or his family, does.

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

This really isn't what the bible teaches. When you read through Ephesians there is certainly a role women are to play in their marriage (which is to submit to their husbands), but there is also a role a man has in their marriage (that being to be a servant leader). When it comes to the marriage the man is to be the leader, and all responsibility falls with him, but he does no bear this burden alone. Any wise man will recognize the strengths in his wife and leverage that to their benefit. That is not to say he is to give up his authority, but at times he may defer to her input on certain matters.

Marriage is not a dictatorship, but what I would describe as a benevolent theocracy. Meaning that though the man is the head of the household he is still ultimately answerable to God for anything that he, or his family, does.

Amen!!

 

[Deborah13]

1Pe 3:5 for thus once also the holy women who did hope on God, were adorning themselves, being subject to their own husbands,
1Pe 3:6 as Sarah was obedient to Abraham, calling him `sir,' of whom ye did become daughters, doing good, and not fearing any terror.
1Pe 3:7 The husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them , according to knowledge, as to a weaker vessel--to the wife--imparting honour, as also being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers be not hindered.

 

[reba]

In this earthly life my husband is the boss... other men have zero authority over me .... i will and do submit to Godly leadership...

 

[Claudya]

Fun fact: the Bible says: wives, submit to your husbands. It doesn't say: Husbands, subdue your wives. So submission should be a gift freely given by the wife. A choice she alone will make. No man has any Biblical right to DEMAND wifely submission. Thus a man (I suppose) starting a weird thread like this one has no Biblical authority to back himself.

The whole things sounds trollish anyway.

 

[Chopper]

If a husband loves his wife like Jesus loves his church, the woman will have no problem submitting to her husband! I honor my wife. One of the meanings of "honor" is "high and lifted up" I treat her with more value than myself. She is more important than me. She will do anything for me because I will do anything for her, even die for her. I am the head of our home because of the way I love her. Love is an action word. I still open and close the car door for her. When we enter a store, Debi waits till I open the door for her. The general public See's my love in action!

 

[Deborah13]

If a husband loves his wife like Jesus loves his church, the woman will have no problem submitting to her husband! I honor my wife. One of the meanings of "honor" is "high and lifted up" I treat her with more value than myself. She is more important than me. She will do anything for me because I will do anything for her, even die for her. I am the head of our home because of the way I love her. Love is an action word. I still open and close the car door for her. When we enter a store, Debi waits till I open the door for her. The general public See's my love in action!

That word translated as honor, is the same Greek word used in the verses about honor your parents and even honor the Lord.
In the Hebrew it is a word described as 'heaviness' as in the idea of 'weight', as in value.
So I think you have really hit the nail on the head here as to how much you value your wife.

Taking into consideration the Proverb about the virtuous woman and her abilities, she is to be highly honored. Her advice in many things should carry weight with her husband.
Not that all woman have these same abilities but if she does a wise man might listen.

 

[Chopper]

That word translated as honor, is the same Greek word used in the verses about honor your parents and even honor the Lord.
In the Hebrew it is a word described as 'heaviness' as in the idea of 'weight', as in value.
So I think you have really hit the nail on the head here as to how much you value your wife.

Taking into consideration the Proverb about the virtuous woman and her abilities, she is to be highly honored. Her advice in many things should carry weight with her husband.
Not that all woman have these same abilities but if she does a wise man might listen.

Thank you Deb for those words. I was on public display as a pastor for almost forty years. My first wife, Jennie, died of cancer at the age of fifty. We were childhood sweethearts. When I first started my service to Jesus as a pastor of His church, I decided that if I was going to preach that that a wife has to be in submission to her husband, I'd better be an example. Jennie just loved the way I treated her, especially in public. Now that I'm not a full time pastor, I still treat my present wife, Debi, the same....I have found that there are other benefits derived from how I treat my wife. Every woman I come in contact with I try and honor and respect her. Respect for women means that I will not invade her privacy by checking out parts of her body. Most women I have contact with are church women and they deserve to have their bodies reserved for their husbands or boy friends, not for other men to leer at them, just saying. I still make mistakes, I'm not perfect, but at least I can treasure the value that women have and contribute to their little world.

 

[Eugene]

I'll just paste an excerpt from a marriage seminar I transcribed from CD's my friend Gene Hawkins gave.

(Eph. 5:26). "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." He must sanctify her to himself. That doesn't mean that he had to straighten her out. I know a man that demanded that his wife get down and pray for forgiveness because she violated his authority; I don't have to tell you that that marriage didn't last. How does a man sanctify his wife under himself? Well, how does Christ do it? Here is the answer in word and actions. Christ sanctifies her to himself with the washing of water by the word, and so today a husband literally woos his wife unto himself by the words and the actions that he dictates. The words and the actions that he uses, the way that he treats her, and when he does this, and again swing it over in the same spiritual way; how does Christ separate us unto Himself? He gains our confidence, He gains our trust, and that husband has to do exactly the same thing. Husbands, the words we use toward our wives are vitally important and you will notice as we find here, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church. I don't know how many of you husbands have realized that your wife is the greatest testimony that you're ever going to have of you. You see, your wife is going to reflect you. If you have a wife with a joyous glorious countenance, that is a reflection of you. If you have a wife that is happy and bubbly, a wife that is in victory, a wife that literally radiates the love of God, she is a testimony of you. It is to your advantage to treat her in such a way that she has that kind of reflection that she is a glorious wife. You will never be sorry of developing that kind of a relationship. She becomes a glorious wife due to the treatment that she receives by her husband.

 

[Kathi]

What??? That is ridiculous.No one rules over anyone in a marriage.

 

[Chopper]

What??? That is ridiculous.No one rules over anyone in a marriage.

What does Genesis 3:16 say? So how do you interpret that verse?

 

[th1b.taylor]

What??? That is ridiculous.No one rules over anyone in a marriage.

Somebody has not read the Word of God as they were being led by the Holy Spirit. The greatest blessing God has poured over me on this earth is my Salvation and second to that by just a hairs thickness is the lady He brought alongside of me. God did not put her behind me to follow, nor did God place her ahead of me to lead. God put her just to my right side, less than an arms reach away, paced there for my protection and to assist me as I labor to protect and to provide for her.

Our friend must feel chastised by now, I think.

 

[Danus]

Well, I go back to the advice an old lady once gave me. Women are like flowers. If you take care of them they will open and bloom for you with many colors.

I think that's a good analogy for what the bible means about men leading in love like Christ to the church and women submitting to that type of love and leadership. After all, you can't force a flower to bloom. It will only do so when it is given the right environment. ....note: this is the same old lady who once told me women are like street cars, you miss one another will be along shortly LOL.

 

[Deborah13]

Well, I go back to the advice an old lady once gave me. Women are like flowers. If you take care of them they will open and bloom for you with many colors.

I think that's a good analogy for what the bible means about men leading in love like Christ to the church and women submitting to that type of love and leadership. After all, you can't force a flower to bloom. It will only do so when it is given the right environment. ....note: this is the same old lady who once told me women are like street cars, you miss one another will be along shortly LOL.

I have to give this more than a like, I love it.

 

[Kathi]

A man rules over his wife with kindness and respect.They have an equal partnership in marriage.The man is the spiritual head of the household.The man should never be domineering or use his wife as a doormat because he is labeling himself "Ruler of the household".

 

[th1b.taylor]

A man rules over his wife with kindness and respect.They have an equal partnership in marriage.The man is the spiritual head of the household.The man should never be domineering or use his wife as a doormat because he is labeling himself "Ruler of the household".

Kathi,
Like myself my wife would have been called Damaged Goods in the fifties and the first two idiots she married were abusive. I labor, daily, to convince her I will never treat her that way. What I am saying is, in the eyes of God I am responsible for every action she takes because He placed me in the position of "Head" of the family. In spite of the position, as per scripture, and the responsibility for her actions, I do no and will never rule over her. We, together, are the Masters of this family unit, ruled by the Christ, Jesus.

Since my diagnoses of MS She has stored my Certificate of Life so that after the required 72 hour period she can order the machines unplugged. I forget the name of the second document but, against her protestation, I had the certificate made giving her the right to sign my name on any document before and after I pass over. She has also, for legal reasons canceled our bank account and move all of my Government Checks to be wired into her personal account so that no one can lock the money up until some judge can trun it loose because of the law.

When two people love one another they do not need to rule, one over the other. My wife is my equal, except physically. she is so much stronger than I am today.

 

[Christ_empowered]

whoa there. The initial post smacks of misogyny.

Men and women are supposed to complementary. Men do their things, women do theirs, especially in marriage and the church. Make things go smoothly.

Keep in mind that when those verses were written, women were expendable. Maybe some upper class women weren't so expendable and could do stuff, but most women were treated quite poorly. When applied correctly, the rules re: gender roles helps both sexes. It restrains men from being domineering and keeps women from being mistreated and then divorced at will.

Of course, throughout history some men have used these verses to "keep women in line." Then again...throughout history, The Bible has been misused to reinforce the social order, no matter how oppressive it was. Sad times :-(

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

Fun fact: the Bible says: wives, submit to your husbands. It doesn't say: Husbands, subdue your wives. So submission should be a gift freely given by the wife. A choice she alone will make. No man has any Biblical right to DEMAND wifely submission. Thus a man (I suppose) starting a weird thread like this one has no Biblical authority to back himself.

The whole things sounds trollish anyway.

Trollish, I like that.