Recently a reader posted a reply to one of my posts saying that the word “obey” for marriage was not in the Bible.
Well, it seems that most women don’t want that word to be in the Bible, but if we are those who want to live by truth, we had better check it out. Who wants to check it out with me?
Let’s begin with the word submit. Perhaps that is not as frightening as obey. The Greek word is “hupotasso.”
“hupo” means “to place under, to be under obedience.”
“tasso” is a military word meaning “to arrange in an orderly manner, to assign to a certain position, to appoint.”
Therefore, we see that it is a voluntary coming under the protection, covering, and leadership of the husband for the wife’s blessing.
Isn’t it amazing that in our culture of feminism it seems that even the majority of Christian women now reject any form of submission? And yet where does submission originate? In the Godhead. Our God is one God, but three persons, The Father, His Beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit. All have equal authority, and all are worshipped and adored. And yet in this total unity but diversity there is difference of authority. All have authority but the Father is head over the Son.
The Father sent His son into the world (John 3:34, 5:30; 17:18; 20:21; and 1 John 4:9, 14) and Jesus delighted to do the will of His Father (Psalm 40:6-8) and “obeyed” (Philippians 2:8). Not only does marriage reveal the glorious picture of Christ, and His church, His bride who delights to obey her heavenly bridegroom, but we also represent the Trinity. We are made in the likeness and image of God. And in our marriages, we have the privilege to reveal the relationship of the Trinity.
And why are so many adamant about behind “under” ?
“Hupo” is used in the story of the centurion who was in command of 100 men! He said to Jesus that he was “a man under authority” and yet he had soldiers under him. He recognized the authority in Jesus and told him He didn’t have to come to his house to heal his servant, but to just speak the word.
Although we come under the authority of our husbands, God has also given us authority to manage and rule our homes. We are not without authority, but we must exercise the authority God has given us in the sphere He has given to us, rather than seeking to usurp authority that doesn’t belong to us. Read Matthew 6:5-10.
We have a powerful warning in Jude as Jude 1:7 (ESV) states: “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.”
Jesus used the word “hupo” when He wept over Jerusalem. Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under (hupo) her wings, and ye would not!”
Do you notice the last three words, and with an exclamation mark? “You would not!” Why do we want to refuse “hupo” blessings? "Hupo" is a beautiful word of protection and covering.
God protected the Israelites in the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 1 Corinthians 10:1 tells us that they were all “under (hupo) the cloud.” What a blessing to be under the protection of the cloud, just as it is a privilege to be under the protection and covering of our husbands.
Mark 4:32 speaks of the grain of mustard seed that “groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under (hupo) the shadow of it.” How lovely it is to take respite from the hut sun under the shade of a big tree. It’s the "hupo" blessing!
Because Jesus Christ, the Son, was willing and obedient to go to the cross, God has exalted Him and “hath put all things under (hupo) his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body the fullness of him that filleth all in all” (Ephesians 1:22,23). ” Read also 1 Corinthians 15:24-28, most important Scripture.
But I am getting lengthy although I haven’t finished yet. Tomorrow I’ll give you the specific “obey” word for marriage. Are you ready for it? Or are you too scared?
See you tomorrow.
Love from Nancy Campbell