WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.560 Father, sometimes your word says things which go so against our culture, 00:00:07.860 --> 00:00:11.519 it's hard for us to even feel comfortable talking about your word. 00:00:13.620 --> 00:00:19.280 And so, Father, sometimes when your word seems to go against what our culture considers wise, 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:23.000 we don't trust your wisdom. 00:00:24.039 --> 00:00:28.600 And we also know, Father, that many sinful people have taken your word 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:32.899 and twisted it to their own power and their own advantage. 00:00:33.140 --> 00:00:36.060 And we confess before you, Father, that there is a part in us, 00:00:36.120 --> 00:00:39.820 that it's not just other people, but there is a part within each one of us 00:00:39.820 --> 00:00:45.320 that likes to twist your word for our own power, our own advantage. 00:00:45.980 --> 00:00:54.040 We ask, Father, that you would do a mighty but gentle work in each of our hearts and minds this morning, 00:00:54.040 --> 00:00:58.219 that the Holy Spirit would come with might and power and deep conviction 00:00:58.219 --> 00:01:03.659 that you would grip us with the gospel, with who Jesus is and what he did for us 00:01:03.659 --> 00:01:08.799 so that by faith in him we can be made right with you, all out of love, all out of love. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:14.980 And so, Father, we ask that your Holy Spirit would so bring the gospel home to us, 00:01:15.039 --> 00:01:18.219 that our hearts are quiet and trusting, 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:22.939 that we might understand your word and learn to live it. 00:01:22.939 --> 00:01:27.299 And all this we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen. 00:01:28.179 --> 00:01:29.039 Please be seated. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:40.560 So, here's what the Bible says. 00:01:41.759 --> 00:01:45.099 Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.659 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. 00:01:48.659 --> 00:01:52.399 In any lesson about how to preach, 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:56.679 they always say that it's best to get something that grabs people's attention right from the beginning. 00:01:57.640 --> 00:02:00.280 Usually, it doesn't mean reading the Bible right away. 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:03.079 Those of you who are watching who aren't Christians, 00:02:03.239 --> 00:02:06.659 that doesn't usually grip Christians' hearts right away, reading the Bible. 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:09.219 But saying, wives, submit to your husbands, 00:02:10.019 --> 00:02:15.199 that qualifies as a very good way to grip people's attention right from the beginning. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:18.199 So, that's what the Bible says. 00:02:18.739 --> 00:02:20.060 Why are we even reading this? 00:02:21.339 --> 00:02:25.699 One of the things that we do at this church is that we preach through books of the Bible, 00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:26.839 as a general rule. 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:29.259 Not all the time, not 52 weeks a year. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:33.659 Our Christmas sermons will be about particular texts of the Bible, 00:02:33.799 --> 00:02:35.259 but we preach through books of the Bible. 00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:37.239 And one of the reasons that we, 00:02:37.319 --> 00:02:39.439 there's several reasons we preach through books of the Bible. 00:02:39.579 --> 00:02:41.819 First of all, everything in the Bible was written as a book. 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:43.900 So, when you preach through the Bible as a book, 00:02:43.979 --> 00:02:46.579 you're actually reading it in the way that it was first heard, 00:02:46.680 --> 00:02:51.659 the way that God, in a sense, and the authors intended it to be read and to be understood. 00:02:52.719 --> 00:02:56.319 And by doing this, it's also the way, then, that's most helpful for Christians. 00:02:56.699 --> 00:03:01.340 It means that we're allowing the Bible to set the agenda for us as Christians. 00:03:01.340 --> 00:03:04.039 We're looking at things that we might not normally look at. 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:07.840 I can tell you, I am very, very, very, very, very Canadian. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:13.300 And in my Canadian bones, I would not read this text in church and preach on it. 00:03:13.420 --> 00:03:14.900 I'm just going to be very honest with you. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:19.340 In fact, I'll also say that for many years, I wouldn't have preached on a text like this. 00:03:19.379 --> 00:03:21.680 I would have found some way to dodge around it. 00:03:22.699 --> 00:03:24.439 That's not something I'm boasting about. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:25.800 It's something that I'm confessing. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:31.060 But it's actually, in fact, the most helpful way for Christians to grow and learn 00:03:31.060 --> 00:03:32.159 is by reading through the book. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:37.900 And we look at things that I would not normally pick and that we wouldn't normally pick, maybe as a congregation. 00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:43.819 It's also the most helpful way for non-Christians who are trying to figure out the Christian faith. 00:03:44.479 --> 00:03:50.259 It'd be very easy if you went to a church that only preached on, well, whatever the church happened to think was important to preach on. 00:03:50.699 --> 00:03:57.419 And there'd be this whole realm of things which are uncomfortable topics, inconvenient aspects of the Christian faith, 00:03:57.419 --> 00:04:02.500 and that you would be left in the dark on, and then maybe even bothered very much if down the road you discovered 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:04.979 that if you're to be a Christian, you're supposed to believe it. 00:04:06.199 --> 00:04:12.619 By reading through books of the Bible, we come upon these inconvenient texts from a Canadian perspective. 00:04:13.699 --> 00:04:17.680 So, we're going to be looking, of course, at other verses, but once again it says this, 00:04:17.719 --> 00:04:20.099 Wives, submit to your husbands as is fitting in the Lord. 00:04:20.419 --> 00:04:23.279 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:28.139 Now, many people who are watching, or many of you who are here, 00:04:28.559 --> 00:04:31.219 probably have certain types of things that go through your mind. 00:04:31.299 --> 00:04:33.379 George, don't you know that this text is very offensive? 00:04:34.159 --> 00:04:36.779 Yes, I do know that it's very offensive to most Canadians, 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:40.179 including maybe the majority of Canadian Christians. 00:04:41.239 --> 00:04:44.119 Don't you know, George, that there's this thing called wife abuse? 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:49.719 And don't you think a text like this will just give power, empower abusers? 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:52.579 I do know that there's wife abuse. 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:55.180 I mean, I know that there's wife abuse. 00:04:55.659 --> 00:05:01.339 I don't think this text empowers abusers, but I know that there is wife abuse. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.979 George, don't you think this text is offensive to Canadians 00:05:04.979 --> 00:05:08.459 because it denies the idea of men and women being equal? 00:05:09.219 --> 00:05:12.699 Don't you think you should empower women rather than disempowering them? 00:05:12.799 --> 00:05:16.879 Don't you think, George, that marriages would be worse if this was followed? 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:21.079 And once again, George, don't you think this would legitimize and empower abuse? 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:24.620 I'm aware that these are all the types of questions that Canadians, 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:27.919 including Canadian Christians, have when they hear this text. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:36.680 So let's walk towards the text and see what's there and why it's there, 00:05:36.740 --> 00:05:38.259 and let's try to have a conversation about it. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:41.759 But before we get any further into actually looking at the text, 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.899 I want you to grant me some mercy. 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:46.980 And this isn't a gotcha moment. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:50.860 I'm not trying to getcha, have a smile, I gotcha. 00:05:51.500 --> 00:05:55.019 But let's just be honest that when we talk about texts like this, 00:05:55.379 --> 00:05:58.719 where the wife is asked to submit and the husband is asked to love, 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:04.420 the obvious question is why aren't husbands asked to submit and wives asked to love? 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:07.340 Or why don't both submit and why don't both love? 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:12.880 Why is it that this text seems to be picking on women and giving men a pass? 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:14.600 They get to just love. 00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:16.540 Women have to submit. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:19.200 So why is it different? 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:21.340 Doesn't this undermine equality? 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:23.660 Just before we get any further in the text, 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:26.660 let's just acknowledge that Canadians are... 00:06:27.520 --> 00:06:33.580 Our culture empowers us to believe contradictory things at the same time 00:06:33.580 --> 00:06:35.200 without realizing that they're contradictory. 00:06:36.820 --> 00:06:39.560 This is what I just want you to give me a bit of mercy about. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:44.460 But I would suggest that our culture regularly allows us to hold 00:06:44.460 --> 00:06:47.320 three contradictory beliefs in our heads at all times 00:06:47.320 --> 00:06:50.320 without ever thinking that they're contradictory, but they are contradictory. 00:06:51.140 --> 00:06:53.580 And any time that I've had a conversation with us, 00:06:53.579 --> 00:06:56.800 at any depth in a coffee place or some other place about this text, 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.560 often what happens is people go from one contradictory objection to another 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:02.959 without ever having the self-knowledge 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.620 that the ideas, in fact, are very contradictory. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.099 Well, what are these three contradictory beliefs? 00:07:08.519 --> 00:07:12.219 The three contradictory beliefs is that women and men are fundamentally equal. 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:15.419 In fact, it used to be said, an old feminist slogan, 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:16.639 that men and women are the same. 00:07:16.699 --> 00:07:18.299 The only thing that was different is the plumbing. 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:20.560 But they're fundamentally the same. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:23.879 Then people will go to another idea, 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:26.780 which would basically be that one of the problems is 00:07:26.780 --> 00:07:29.379 that we don't have enough women in particular positions. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:32.019 And why do we need women in particular positions? 00:07:32.180 --> 00:07:35.879 Well, because there's things that women bring to organizations and leadership 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:36.779 that men don't bring. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:40.100 In other words, that women, in fact, and men are fundamentally different. 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:44.620 And then you can have another go talking, trying to deal with another thing, 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:46.200 trying to deal with this for a couple of minutes, 00:07:46.260 --> 00:07:47.360 and all of a sudden they'll tell you, 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:49.720 but by the way, don't you realize that men and women are just a... 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:52.600 Male and female, men and women, is just a social construct. 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:56.700 Now, once again, this isn't a gotcha moment. 00:07:56.900 --> 00:07:58.100 This is just... 00:07:58.100 --> 00:08:02.680 It's very hard to have a conversation about a text like this 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:07.360 when we're dealing with people holding three contradictory ideas in their head 00:08:07.360 --> 00:08:10.579 at the same time without any realization whatsoever that they're contradictory. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.259 Because really, you can't say all those three things at the same time. 00:08:14.519 --> 00:08:16.259 You have to choose one of those three. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:17.960 Fundamentally, you have to choose. 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:21.360 If, in fact, men and women are fundamentally the same, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:23.560 then, in a sense, you have to say, 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:25.660 it doesn't matter whether there's women in boardrooms. 00:08:26.480 --> 00:08:29.880 But if, in fact, you think that it's important to have women in boardrooms 00:08:29.880 --> 00:08:32.279 as well as men because of the differences they bring, 00:08:32.399 --> 00:08:34.240 then that first belief doesn't work. 00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:37.300 And none of them make any sense if all you're going to say 00:08:37.300 --> 00:08:40.600 is that male and female, men and being a man and being a woman 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:42.040 is just a social construct. 00:08:42.180 --> 00:08:44.060 Well, then, none of that stuff makes sense. 00:08:44.160 --> 00:08:45.580 Like, how can we even have a conversation? 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:46.940 You have to choose. 00:08:47.399 --> 00:08:48.800 If it's just a construct, well, then, 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:52.160 why do we need more women in a position or more men in a position? 00:08:52.160 --> 00:08:54.120 Or why are they equal if it's just a... 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.740 Like, you've got to choose. 00:08:56.759 --> 00:08:57.779 You've got to choose. 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:01.440 So I guess I'm just asking, 00:09:01.539 --> 00:09:03.960 if you just pause for a second and realize 00:09:03.960 --> 00:09:07.120 that rather than Canada and the wisdom of Canada, 00:09:07.419 --> 00:09:08.500 in fact, being wise, 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:12.159 that at a fundamental level it's incoherent. 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:14.139 Now, I'm not saying it's not incoherent 00:09:14.139 --> 00:09:15.620 amongst some of the leading thinkers 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:19.340 who might be very, very laser-focused on particular ideas, 00:09:19.340 --> 00:09:20.759 but for the average Canadian, 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:23.840 the problem we come with the text 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.040 is that we have an unconscious, 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:27.460 not an unconscious bias, 00:09:27.620 --> 00:09:29.100 but an unconscious confusion. 00:09:30.759 --> 00:09:33.220 And because of our unconscious confusion, 00:09:33.780 --> 00:09:36.480 we can't actually begin to listen to the text. 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:39.220 And just before we go any further, 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.019 I just want to say, 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.920 in terms of those three confusions, 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:45.080 and I'd have to do several sermons on each of them, 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:46.759 I'm just going to make the particular claim, 00:09:46.759 --> 00:09:50.059 that there is no ideology, 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:52.179 no religion in the world 00:09:52.179 --> 00:09:54.740 that gives a stronger basis 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:56.259 for the equality of men and women 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:57.240 than the Christian faith. 00:09:58.200 --> 00:09:59.600 Absolutely none. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:03.419 The Bible roots the equality of men and women 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:05.860 in its very story of creation. 00:10:07.159 --> 00:10:08.519 Evolution doesn't give that. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:10.019 Secular evolutionary, 00:10:10.279 --> 00:10:12.159 neo-Darwinian doesn't give that. 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:13.199 Neither does Hinduism, 00:10:13.319 --> 00:10:14.139 neither does Buddhism, 00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.399 neither does Islam. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:17.139 And given that 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:20.819 neo-evolutionary theory 00:10:20.819 --> 00:10:22.659 is the basis of secularism 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:23.319 and Marxism 00:10:23.319 --> 00:10:24.299 and other types of things, 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:25.839 it gives no basis 00:10:25.839 --> 00:10:27.579 for the fundamental equality of women 00:10:27.579 --> 00:10:28.939 as the way that the Bible does. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.860 The Bible is the source 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:34.279 of all secular belief 00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:36.419 of the equality of men and women, 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:37.899 whether it's recognized or not. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:39.159 I make no apologies for it. 00:10:39.159 --> 00:10:40.139 In fact, it is the case. 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:41.779 The Bible also shows, 00:10:41.939 --> 00:10:44.120 it would also claim very wisely 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:45.759 that male and female 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:48.299 are created biological realities 00:10:48.299 --> 00:10:50.779 and that there is an effect. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:52.839 The Bible is very, very wise 00:10:52.839 --> 00:10:53.459 if you read it 00:10:53.459 --> 00:10:54.419 from the beginning to the end. 00:10:54.459 --> 00:10:55.399 It doesn't hold up 00:10:55.399 --> 00:10:56.519 a picture of masculinity. 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:57.399 It doesn't hold up 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:58.500 a picture of femininity. 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:00.779 It very wisely says 00:11:00.779 --> 00:11:01.959 that in fact 00:11:01.959 --> 00:11:02.779 there is something 00:11:02.779 --> 00:11:04.779 about being biologically male 00:11:04.779 --> 00:11:05.519 that is connected 00:11:05.519 --> 00:11:06.699 to what it means to be a man 00:11:06.699 --> 00:11:07.419 and there is something 00:11:07.419 --> 00:11:09.059 about being biologically female 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:10.479 which is connected 00:11:10.479 --> 00:11:11.359 to what it means 00:11:11.359 --> 00:11:12.000 to be a woman 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.059 but there is a lot 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:13.619 of flexibility 00:11:13.619 --> 00:11:15.379 in what that precisely means. 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:16.339 A lot of room 00:11:16.339 --> 00:11:17.779 for cultural context 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:19.719 but it maintains 00:11:19.719 --> 00:11:20.299 that in fact 00:11:20.299 --> 00:11:21.019 there is a difference. 00:11:21.159 --> 00:11:21.279 In fact, 00:11:21.579 --> 00:11:22.359 one of the problems 00:11:22.359 --> 00:11:23.059 that people have 00:11:23.059 --> 00:11:24.079 with the Bible text 00:11:24.079 --> 00:11:24.939 is that this 00:11:24.939 --> 00:11:26.199 and you can see it here 00:11:26.199 --> 00:11:26.699 in the text, 00:11:26.899 --> 00:11:28.039 I'm using a big word, 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:28.559 it's called 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.519 asymmetric commands, 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:31.959 asymmetric commands 00:11:31.959 --> 00:11:33.719 is that when it comes 00:11:33.719 --> 00:11:35.119 to the husband and wife 00:11:35.119 --> 00:11:37.179 and other types of roles 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:37.719 in the Bible, 00:11:37.979 --> 00:11:39.059 there's this regular 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:41.819 asymmetric command. 00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:42.659 It even goes back 00:11:42.659 --> 00:11:43.899 to the creation story 00:11:43.899 --> 00:11:45.519 where the husband 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.059 has certain commands 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:47.639 and the wife 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:48.459 has certain commands 00:11:48.459 --> 00:11:49.359 and they're not the same, 00:11:49.439 --> 00:11:49.919 they're different. 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:51.859 The Bible acknowledges 00:11:51.859 --> 00:11:52.479 that there is 00:11:52.479 --> 00:11:53.779 this creational reality 00:11:53.779 --> 00:11:54.959 that will work itself 00:11:54.959 --> 00:11:55.839 out in certain ways 00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:56.739 but it doesn't dictate 00:11:56.739 --> 00:11:57.279 what it means 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.079 to be masculine, 00:11:58.239 --> 00:11:58.579 what it means 00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.179 to be feminine. 00:12:00.459 --> 00:12:01.159 And for those of us 00:12:01.159 --> 00:12:01.699 who are watching 00:12:01.699 --> 00:12:02.379 and those of us 00:12:02.379 --> 00:12:02.959 who are here, 00:12:02.960 --> 00:12:06.060 if you are one 00:12:06.060 --> 00:12:07.300 of many, many Canadians 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:09.560 who feel not at home 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.280 in your body, 00:12:10.840 --> 00:12:12.320 that your body 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:13.519 is somehow wrong 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.360 to who you are, 00:12:15.320 --> 00:12:16.580 the Bible only has 00:12:16.580 --> 00:12:17.759 compassion for you 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:19.200 and Christians 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:20.000 should only have 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.080 compassion for you. 00:12:22.139 --> 00:12:23.879 That must be so hard 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:26.019 to feel as if you were 00:12:26.019 --> 00:12:27.920 in the completely wrong body 00:12:27.920 --> 00:12:29.759 and all I can say 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:32.200 is that Jesus loves you 00:12:32.200 --> 00:12:34.200 and that he desires you 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.259 to learn his yoke 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:36.939 so that you can walk 00:12:36.939 --> 00:12:37.500 with him 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:38.720 as your Savior and Lord 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.600 as you deal 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:41.360 with how hard 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:42.139 it must be, 00:12:42.379 --> 00:12:44.080 how hard it must be 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.019 to feel not at home 00:12:45.019 --> 00:12:45.740 in your own body. 00:12:46.919 --> 00:12:48.279 But the Bible will always, 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.480 healing will always 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:50.379 be in the direction 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:52.039 towards being at home 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.659 in your body. 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:55.039 That's always the direction 00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.299 the healing will be. 00:12:58.480 --> 00:12:58.720 And I, 00:12:58.879 --> 00:12:59.720 so I think the Bible 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:00.899 in fact is very wise 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:01.379 in general, 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:01.899 but what about 00:13:01.899 --> 00:13:03.220 this particular text? 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:04.660 George? 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:06.019 Okay, you're going to 00:13:06.019 --> 00:13:06.960 give us a bit of a moment. 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:08.040 You've said, 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:08.840 we're going to let, 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.220 George, 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:09.800 you've asked that 00:13:09.800 --> 00:13:11.379 some mercy could be 00:13:11.379 --> 00:13:12.399 shown to you 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.879 because in fact 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:15.759 Canadians are a bit 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:16.639 confused about 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:17.759 what it actually means 00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:18.779 to think about 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:19.680 men and women. 00:13:23.740 --> 00:13:25.220 So what does the Bible say? 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:26.180 What does it actually say? 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:27.139 Well, before we get into 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:27.920 what the Bible says, 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:28.800 there's two other things 00:13:28.799 --> 00:13:29.519 we need to deal with. 00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.599 The first one is that, 00:13:31.359 --> 00:13:32.159 and here I might be 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:33.339 offending some of you, 00:13:33.719 --> 00:13:35.639 and I might be offending 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:36.159 some of you 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:37.279 who are watching this online. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:38.919 I take no delight 00:13:38.919 --> 00:13:39.939 in offending people. 00:13:40.719 --> 00:13:41.919 But many, many 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:42.819 Canadian 00:13:42.819 --> 00:13:44.059 and Western 00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:44.799 Christians, 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.299 very, very well-meaning, 00:13:46.419 --> 00:13:47.899 go in very, very wrong 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:48.659 directions about 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:49.879 trying to read this text. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:53.000 Intentions are very good, 00:13:53.139 --> 00:13:53.859 but in fact, 00:13:53.979 --> 00:13:54.899 what is ended up 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:56.139 suggesting is not at all 00:13:56.139 --> 00:13:57.120 what the Bible teaches 00:13:57.120 --> 00:13:58.319 and isn't really 00:13:58.319 --> 00:13:59.120 in keeping with 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.939 the Christian faith, 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:00.980 isn't in keeping 00:14:00.980 --> 00:14:01.600 with the Bible. 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:03.620 First of all, 00:14:03.759 --> 00:14:04.519 people might say, 00:14:04.639 --> 00:14:05.220 is there something 00:14:05.220 --> 00:14:06.259 in the Greek, 00:14:06.379 --> 00:14:07.360 the original language, 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.340 which softens 00:14:08.340 --> 00:14:09.259 the blow of the text? 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:09.960 In fact, 00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:11.460 there isn't anything 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.720 in this particular text 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.559 that softens it. 00:14:13.699 --> 00:14:14.799 Submit is a very, 00:14:14.919 --> 00:14:15.580 very good word. 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:16.379 It has a non, 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:17.120 I'll talk about it 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:17.379 in a moment, 00:14:17.439 --> 00:14:18.279 it has a military 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.699 and a non-military usage. 00:14:20.340 --> 00:14:21.259 And I can say 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.360 that one of the problems 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.139 of Christian interpreters 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.819 is that there are 00:14:24.819 --> 00:14:26.199 many Christian interpreters 00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:27.779 making an opposite error. 00:14:27.939 --> 00:14:28.819 There are a minority 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.759 in the Christian church 00:14:29.759 --> 00:14:30.279 in Canada, 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.899 but there are many 00:14:31.899 --> 00:14:32.899 Christian interpreters 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.679 who interpret 00:14:33.679 --> 00:14:34.419 the word submit 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:36.279 in its military context 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:37.039 as if it applies 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.620 to wives, 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.980 not in its 00:14:39.980 --> 00:14:41.379 non-military usage. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:41.939 So they, 00:14:42.039 --> 00:14:42.500 in fact, 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:43.460 create, 00:14:43.559 --> 00:14:44.279 I've now offended 00:14:44.279 --> 00:14:45.299 a whole pile of 00:14:45.299 --> 00:14:46.419 certain type of tradition 00:14:46.419 --> 00:14:47.120 by saying that, 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:47.679 but that's, 00:14:48.200 --> 00:14:48.419 in fact, 00:14:48.480 --> 00:14:48.860 the case. 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:50.819 Why on earth 00:14:50.819 --> 00:14:51.360 would you think 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:51.899 that a wife 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.740 and a husband 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:54.639 is a military context? 00:14:56.079 --> 00:14:56.480 Like, 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.120 that doesn't make sense. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:14:59.740 Maybe I'll get 00:14:59.740 --> 00:15:00.480 some angry emails 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:01.059 over this. 00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:02.720 But the more common one 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:03.039 is, 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:04.079 there's no particular 00:15:04.079 --> 00:15:04.860 help in the Greek, 00:15:05.240 --> 00:15:06.819 the more common things 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:07.279 is to say 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:08.199 that a text like this 00:15:08.199 --> 00:15:09.299 is culturally limited. 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:11.539 That it applied 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:13.039 in Colossians, 00:15:13.220 --> 00:15:13.759 but it doesn't 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:15.019 necessarily apply today. 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:16.639 And all I would say 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:17.679 is if you take that 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:18.399 as your way 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.220 of reading the Bible, 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.360 nothing in the Bible, 00:15:20.819 --> 00:15:21.299 you might as well 00:15:21.299 --> 00:15:22.159 just throw the Bible 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:23.139 right out the window 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:23.839 and out of the garbage. 00:15:25.219 --> 00:15:26.579 Why then pick 00:15:26.579 --> 00:15:27.679 this particular text? 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:28.759 Why not talk about 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:30.459 Jesus rising from the dead 00:15:30.459 --> 00:15:31.439 or him being 00:15:31.439 --> 00:15:32.159 the firstborn 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:33.799 of all creation 00:15:33.799 --> 00:15:35.740 or the firstborn? 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:36.099 Like, 00:15:36.179 --> 00:15:37.019 why pick anything 00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:37.419 and say, 00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:37.659 okay, 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:38.759 that stuff is universal, 00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:39.419 but this is, 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:39.699 like, 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:40.879 there's no reason 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:41.759 to read the text 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:42.479 and say this is 00:15:42.479 --> 00:15:43.379 culturally limited. 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:43.919 There's absolutely 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:44.959 no reason to read it. 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:46.059 That's just something 00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:46.839 that we throw in. 00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.519 And some people 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:48.919 will say, 00:15:48.919 --> 00:15:49.939 and this is correct, 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:50.479 but they draw 00:15:50.479 --> 00:15:51.699 a wrong conclusion 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:52.219 from it. 00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:53.539 They will say that, 00:15:53.699 --> 00:15:53.839 well, 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:54.479 you have a text 00:15:54.479 --> 00:15:54.979 like this 00:15:54.979 --> 00:15:56.879 and given the culture 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:57.439 of Rome 00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.019 at the time 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:58.740 this was written, 00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.519 this was a very, 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:01.479 very radical text 00:16:01.479 --> 00:16:02.839 because in the 00:16:02.839 --> 00:16:03.639 household codes, 00:16:03.839 --> 00:16:04.759 and this is called 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:05.559 the household code 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:06.479 and the household codes 00:16:06.479 --> 00:16:07.839 in the time 00:16:07.839 --> 00:16:08.379 that the Bible 00:16:08.379 --> 00:16:08.860 was written, 00:16:09.979 --> 00:16:10.620 in fact, 00:16:10.979 --> 00:16:12.039 the household code 00:16:12.039 --> 00:16:12.559 would only talk 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:13.079 to the man. 00:16:13.659 --> 00:16:14.059 It wouldn't talk 00:16:14.059 --> 00:16:14.659 about children 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:15.299 or slaves 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:15.959 or wives 00:16:15.959 --> 00:16:16.299 or anything 00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:16.819 like that. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:17.500 The basically, 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.919 would have been 00:16:19.919 --> 00:16:20.799 good to be a man 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.279 back then, 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:22.039 I'm just joking, 00:16:22.179 --> 00:16:22.759 it wouldn't be. 00:16:23.039 --> 00:16:23.659 The man was 00:16:23.659 --> 00:16:24.240 the dictator. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.259 He was the dictator 00:16:25.259 --> 00:16:25.779 of the wife, 00:16:25.899 --> 00:16:26.359 the dictator 00:16:26.359 --> 00:16:26.859 of the children, 00:16:26.979 --> 00:16:27.439 and the dictator 00:16:27.439 --> 00:16:28.019 of the slaves, 00:16:28.139 --> 00:16:28.579 and they just 00:16:28.579 --> 00:16:29.939 had to salute. 00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:31.159 And so people 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.539 will say, 00:16:31.620 --> 00:16:31.779 well, 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.120 you know, 00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:32.740 it's not a very 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.959 good text for today, 00:16:34.179 --> 00:16:35.259 but back in its day 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.120 it was quite radical. 00:16:36.279 --> 00:16:36.659 And then if you 00:16:36.659 --> 00:16:37.599 see the trajectory, 00:16:38.240 --> 00:16:38.839 but the problem 00:16:38.839 --> 00:16:39.639 was with all 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:40.839 trajectory arguments, 00:16:42.319 --> 00:16:43.240 that's just another 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.719 way of saying 00:16:43.719 --> 00:16:44.219 that we don't have 00:16:44.219 --> 00:16:44.919 to pay any attention 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:45.620 to the text. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.539 Because even if 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:50.919 it looks good 00:16:50.919 --> 00:16:52.099 within that context 00:16:52.099 --> 00:16:52.659 back then, 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:53.899 it still sucks today. 00:16:54.939 --> 00:16:55.979 And to merely say 00:16:55.979 --> 00:16:56.699 that it's pointing 00:16:56.699 --> 00:16:57.339 in the direction 00:16:57.339 --> 00:16:57.899 of today, 00:16:58.719 --> 00:16:59.620 in terms of our 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:00.379 secular wisdom, 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:01.299 then it's not 00:17:01.299 --> 00:17:02.319 leaving us very far ahead. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:03.199 That's been a long 00:17:03.199 --> 00:17:03.979 introduction to the text. 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:04.339 So George, 00:17:04.399 --> 00:17:04.740 what on earth 00:17:04.740 --> 00:17:05.599 is the text saying? 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:07.379 Well, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:11.899 the text, 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.240 all texts in the Bible 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.319 are always addressing 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.899 part of human experience 00:17:15.899 --> 00:17:16.899 and human problems. 00:17:17.859 --> 00:17:18.639 If I was 00:17:18.639 --> 00:17:19.579 preaching this 00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:20.079 in a text, 00:17:20.240 --> 00:17:21.099 a country that 00:17:21.099 --> 00:17:22.200 had arranged marriages, 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.500 it would be speaking 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.240 very directly 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:27.299 into that problem, 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.139 the problems 00:17:29.139 --> 00:17:29.559 that go with 00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:30.319 arranged marriages. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:31.619 If I was speaking 00:17:31.619 --> 00:17:32.259 in a culture 00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:32.779 where there was 00:17:32.779 --> 00:17:33.319 polygamy, 00:17:33.399 --> 00:17:33.879 it would speak 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:34.740 very directly 00:17:34.740 --> 00:17:36.759 into cultural issues 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:37.839 connected to that. 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:39.079 In our day, 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.019 I would say 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.939 that in Canada 00:17:40.939 --> 00:17:41.439 right now, 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.860 and this is 00:17:41.860 --> 00:17:42.920 maybe a general 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:43.680 human problem, 00:17:43.779 --> 00:17:44.460 but it's a special 00:17:44.460 --> 00:17:45.360 problem in Canada, 00:17:45.860 --> 00:17:47.120 is that we tend 00:17:47.120 --> 00:17:47.980 to think of marriage 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.840 in terms of love 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.980 and in terms of power 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.779 without realizing 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.440 that the two, 00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.559 the way we frame 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.400 the discussions 00:17:54.400 --> 00:17:55.019 about marriage 00:17:55.019 --> 00:17:55.660 in our culture 00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:56.299 are fundamentally 00:17:56.299 --> 00:17:57.019 contradictory. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:58.880 Because, 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.220 you see, 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.460 you can't have 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.460 power in love, 00:18:02.039 --> 00:18:03.340 at least not 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:04.320 very simply. 00:18:05.120 --> 00:18:06.080 Part of what love 00:18:06.080 --> 00:18:07.080 means is to surrender 00:18:07.079 --> 00:18:07.699 your power. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.919 But if we want 00:18:09.919 --> 00:18:11.119 to enter into marriage 00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:13.480 as a way to empower us 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:15.039 and maintain our power, 00:18:16.039 --> 00:18:17.139 and yet love calls us 00:18:17.139 --> 00:18:18.379 to surrender our power, 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:20.179 it means that the very 00:18:20.179 --> 00:18:21.240 heart of all modern 00:18:21.240 --> 00:18:22.720 advice about marriage 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.480 is a fundamental 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.139 contradiction. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.240 How is it 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:30.220 that I am to love, 00:18:30.419 --> 00:18:31.299 which is what I really 00:18:31.299 --> 00:18:31.759 want, 00:18:31.879 --> 00:18:32.699 and to be loved, 00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.480 and have to surrender 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.439 my power? 00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:36.339 Because that's what 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:37.079 you have to do with love, 00:18:37.139 --> 00:18:37.339 isn't it? 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:38.000 It's a type of 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:38.679 self-effacing. 00:18:38.819 --> 00:18:39.500 You don't think about 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:39.899 yourself, 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:40.599 you're thinking about 00:18:40.599 --> 00:18:40.959 the other. 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.919 You're not thinking 00:18:41.919 --> 00:18:42.759 about your rights, 00:18:43.179 --> 00:18:44.099 you're thinking about 00:18:44.099 --> 00:18:44.500 the other. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.899 You're not reveling 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:46.779 in your power. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.220 That's just a type 00:18:49.220 --> 00:18:49.919 of abuse. 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:51.579 You're reveling 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.759 in this mutual 00:18:52.759 --> 00:18:53.679 type of love 00:18:53.679 --> 00:18:54.179 and of giving 00:18:54.179 --> 00:18:54.839 of yourself, 00:18:55.059 --> 00:18:55.519 and that's what 00:18:55.519 --> 00:18:56.000 we want, 00:18:56.079 --> 00:18:56.939 that's what we desire, 00:18:57.159 --> 00:18:58.679 yet at the same time 00:18:58.679 --> 00:18:59.240 to do that 00:18:59.240 --> 00:18:59.980 always means 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.859 giving up power. 00:19:01.819 --> 00:19:02.319 And whenever 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.319 things start to go 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:04.359 wrong in a marriage, 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:05.619 often what happens 00:19:05.619 --> 00:19:06.279 is we don't 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:07.420 think of in Canada 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.099 going toward 00:19:08.099 --> 00:19:09.259 deeper into love, 00:19:09.379 --> 00:19:10.119 we immediately 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:10.859 start to think 00:19:10.859 --> 00:19:11.559 about power 00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:12.440 and how to 00:19:12.440 --> 00:19:13.240 protect ourselves. 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:14.960 So how is it 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:15.879 that this text 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:17.339 might speak wisdom 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.559 into the human 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.399 problems and the 00:19:19.399 --> 00:19:20.220 human experiences 00:19:20.220 --> 00:19:21.039 that we have today? 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:21.779 In fact, 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:22.480 I'm going to say 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.379 that Christians 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:23.960 should meditate 00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:24.839 upon this text, 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:25.799 believe this text, 00:19:25.879 --> 00:19:26.539 and it's part of 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.299 the oldest 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.980 sexual revolution, 00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:31.079 the perennial 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:32.279 sexual revolution 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.299 that comes from 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:33.779 the Bible, 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:35.160 which is in fact 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:35.980 always wiser 00:19:35.980 --> 00:19:37.000 than the culture's 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:38.119 wisdom about 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:39.119 marriage and 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:39.980 about sexuality. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:41.579 So let's look 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.420 at the text again. 00:19:45.579 --> 00:19:46.299 Now I'm going to 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.980 begin by reading 00:19:46.980 --> 00:19:47.879 at verse 17. 00:19:48.420 --> 00:19:49.420 I think the text 00:19:49.420 --> 00:19:50.059 should be up there 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:50.599 in the Bible. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:52.000 And this, 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:52.500 by the way, 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.180 isn't just an 00:19:53.180 --> 00:19:54.119 arbitrary thing, 00:19:54.220 --> 00:19:54.559 there's a 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.460 grammatic reason. 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:56.539 At the original 00:19:56.539 --> 00:19:57.139 language, 00:19:57.500 --> 00:19:57.839 there's a 00:19:57.839 --> 00:19:58.839 grammatical reason 00:19:58.839 --> 00:20:00.419 that verse 17 00:20:00.419 --> 00:20:01.179 in fact is 00:20:01.179 --> 00:20:01.720 connected 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.599 grammatically 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:05.000 and by grammar 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:05.740 with verses 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.179 18, 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:06.579 19, 00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:06.959 20, 00:20:07.019 --> 00:20:07.259 21, 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:07.659 and all the 00:20:07.659 --> 00:20:08.159 verses that 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:08.459 follow. 00:20:09.399 --> 00:20:09.859 And what I'm 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:10.339 going to suggest 00:20:10.339 --> 00:20:11.119 is that if you 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:12.179 understand that 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:12.839 even though like 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.839 in my Bible, 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.639 and these things 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:16.679 like little headings, 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.179 rules for Christian 00:20:18.179 --> 00:20:18.799 households, 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:19.559 and all of that 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.119 type of stuff, 00:20:20.179 --> 00:20:21.059 that's added by 00:20:21.059 --> 00:20:22.279 translators to help 00:20:22.279 --> 00:20:23.159 you understand it. 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:24.500 But in an odd way, 00:20:24.599 --> 00:20:25.459 it actually makes it 00:20:25.459 --> 00:20:26.359 harder when you put 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.179 something like rules 00:20:27.179 --> 00:20:28.259 for Christian households 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:29.720 as if you have 00:20:29.720 --> 00:20:30.619 this topic that 00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.619 ends at verse 17 00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.660 and now you begin 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:33.500 a completely new 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:33.900 topic. 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:34.779 The way to 00:20:34.779 --> 00:20:35.819 understand the text, 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:36.619 I think, 00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:37.319 grammatically, 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:38.359 is to understand 00:20:38.359 --> 00:20:39.619 that verse 17 00:20:39.619 --> 00:20:40.500 is both a text 00:20:40.500 --> 00:20:40.960 that's bringing 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:41.740 all of the stuff 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:42.480 that's gone before 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:43.119 into a big 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:43.740 conclusion, 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:45.180 and whatever you 00:20:45.180 --> 00:20:45.920 do in word or 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:46.079 deed, 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:46.799 do everything in 00:20:46.799 --> 00:20:47.200 the name of 00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:47.819 the Lord Jesus, 00:20:47.980 --> 00:20:48.680 giving thanks to 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.319 God the Father 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:50.000 through him. 00:20:50.259 --> 00:20:50.799 That's bringing 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:51.539 everything that 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.119 went through to 00:20:52.119 --> 00:20:52.700 conclusion, 00:20:53.299 --> 00:20:54.019 bringing it to 00:20:54.019 --> 00:20:55.460 a real sharp 00:20:55.460 --> 00:20:56.379 focus, 00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:57.000 that once you 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:57.519 commit to 00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:58.180 allowing God 00:20:58.180 --> 00:20:58.660 to be the one 00:20:58.660 --> 00:20:59.200 to grow you 00:20:59.200 --> 00:20:59.720 rather than 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.820 growing yourself, 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.720 that God 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.500 has to grow you, 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.299 God has to be 00:21:03.299 --> 00:21:03.900 the one to fit 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:04.539 you for heaven, 00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:05.519 that you set 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:06.200 your mind in 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:07.640 Christ in all 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:08.380 his risen, 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.360 sovereign, 00:21:09.539 --> 00:21:10.560 Trinitarian glory, 00:21:10.700 --> 00:21:11.299 that you put 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:13.460 off pride, 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.200 and anger, 00:21:14.460 --> 00:21:15.039 and love, 00:21:15.180 --> 00:21:15.799 and envy, 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:17.720 and greed, 00:21:17.980 --> 00:21:18.759 and gluttony, 00:21:18.900 --> 00:21:20.600 and lust. 00:21:20.680 --> 00:21:21.100 You put all 00:21:21.100 --> 00:21:21.519 those things 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:21.720 off. 00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.340 You put on 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:22.860 humility, 00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:23.560 meekness, 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.039 love, 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:25.320 gentleness, 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.099 faithfulness, 00:21:26.659 --> 00:21:27.599 you put these 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.379 things on, 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.879 you let Christ, 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.500 you give him 00:21:30.500 --> 00:21:31.240 permission to 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:31.899 rule in your 00:21:31.899 --> 00:21:32.200 heart, 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.019 to speak into 00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.539 your heart, 00:21:33.960 --> 00:21:34.740 and then it 00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.339 comes to this 00:21:35.339 --> 00:21:36.460 wonderful phrase, 00:21:36.879 --> 00:21:37.500 and whatever you 00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.179 do in word or 00:21:38.179 --> 00:21:38.339 deed, 00:21:38.439 --> 00:21:39.220 do everything in 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:39.700 the name of the 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.179 Lord Jesus, 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:40.939 giving thanks to 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:41.480 God the Father 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:41.980 through him. 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:42.859 And that's not 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.019 just the culmination 00:21:44.019 --> 00:21:44.679 of what's gone 00:21:44.679 --> 00:21:45.059 before, 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:46.200 it is also the 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.000 marching orders 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:47.480 for everything 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.099 that goes on 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:48.480 next. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:51.420 It's the 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.180 marching orders 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:52.920 for everything 00:21:52.920 --> 00:21:53.660 that goes on 00:21:53.660 --> 00:21:54.059 next. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.660 So it's as if 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:59.940 God speaking 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.380 through his 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.279 word has said, 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:01.940 okay, 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:03.099 George, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.420 whatever you 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:04.920 do in word 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.259 or deed, 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:05.839 do everything 00:22:05.839 --> 00:22:06.279 in the name 00:22:06.279 --> 00:22:06.660 of the Lord 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.000 Jesus, 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:07.620 giving thanks 00:22:07.620 --> 00:22:07.900 to God 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:08.299 the Father 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.759 through him. 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:09.160 Louise, 00:22:09.400 --> 00:22:09.900 whatever you 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:10.460 do in word 00:22:10.460 --> 00:22:10.799 or deed, 00:22:10.880 --> 00:22:11.319 do everything 00:22:11.319 --> 00:22:11.799 in the name 00:22:11.799 --> 00:22:12.259 of the Lord 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.599 Jesus, 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:13.200 giving thanks 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:13.500 to God 00:22:13.500 --> 00:22:13.860 the Father 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.319 through him. 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:15.839 Owen and 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:16.299 Shannon, 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.079 for each of 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:17.279 you, 00:22:17.420 --> 00:22:17.920 whatever you 00:22:17.920 --> 00:22:18.420 do in word 00:22:18.420 --> 00:22:18.700 or deed, 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:19.220 do everything 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:19.620 in the name 00:22:19.620 --> 00:22:19.980 of the Lord 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:20.279 Jesus, 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.860 giving thanks 00:22:20.860 --> 00:22:21.160 to God 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:21.519 the Father 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.820 through him. 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:22.039 And we can 00:22:22.039 --> 00:22:22.380 go all the 00:22:22.380 --> 00:22:22.660 way through 00:22:22.660 --> 00:22:23.039 all of the 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.580 different married 00:22:23.580 --> 00:22:24.080 couples who 00:22:24.080 --> 00:22:24.360 are part 00:22:24.360 --> 00:22:24.539 of the 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.080 congregation. 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:26.380 And that's 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.440 the fundamental 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.400 marching orders. 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.080 The fundamental 00:22:32.080 --> 00:22:33.519 marching orders. 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:34.680 And then in 00:22:34.680 --> 00:22:35.360 verse 18, 00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.560 and this 00:22:36.560 --> 00:22:37.300 sometimes 00:22:37.300 --> 00:22:38.220 troubles people 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:39.539 at the level 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:40.180 of the grammar 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:40.880 of the original 00:22:40.880 --> 00:22:41.640 language when it 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.340 says wives, 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.320 submit to your 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:43.920 husbands as 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:44.420 is fitting to 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:44.779 the Lord. 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:45.380 The way the 00:22:45.380 --> 00:22:46.220 word wives 00:22:46.220 --> 00:22:47.160 is used is 00:22:47.160 --> 00:22:47.420 in the 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:47.860 grammatic 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:48.479 construction, 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:48.919 the original 00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:49.399 language. 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.240 It implies 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.019 they're inferior. 00:22:52.939 --> 00:22:53.599 But the 00:22:53.599 --> 00:22:54.979 Bible is so 00:22:54.979 --> 00:22:55.719 funny. 00:22:56.419 --> 00:22:57.819 God is a 00:22:57.819 --> 00:22:58.459 trickster. 00:22:59.659 --> 00:23:00.240 Because this 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:00.679 could really 00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.279 bother you. 00:23:01.339 --> 00:23:01.699 But then you 00:23:01.699 --> 00:23:02.199 read the next 00:23:02.199 --> 00:23:02.599 phrase, 00:23:02.719 --> 00:23:03.099 husbands, 00:23:03.319 --> 00:23:03.799 love your 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:04.379 wives and do 00:23:04.379 --> 00:23:04.959 not be harsh 00:23:04.959 --> 00:23:05.359 with them. 00:23:05.579 --> 00:23:06.099 And at the 00:23:06.099 --> 00:23:06.639 level of the 00:23:06.639 --> 00:23:07.039 grammar, 00:23:07.479 --> 00:23:08.679 husbands are 00:23:08.679 --> 00:23:09.759 described in 00:23:09.759 --> 00:23:10.319 an inferior 00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.019 position. 00:23:12.219 --> 00:23:12.740 Both of 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:13.679 them described 00:23:13.679 --> 00:23:14.959 equally as 00:23:14.959 --> 00:23:16.379 inferior positions. 00:23:16.380 --> 00:23:16.500 positions. 00:23:17.060 --> 00:23:17.660 Why are they 00:23:17.660 --> 00:23:18.060 both in 00:23:18.060 --> 00:23:19.060 inferior positions? 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:19.860 Because all 00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.340 the way through 00:23:20.340 --> 00:23:20.800 the text, 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:21.300 there's only 00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:21.900 one Lord. 00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:24.480 If your 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:25.440 quest is for 00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:25.980 power, 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.060 there's only 00:23:27.060 --> 00:23:27.700 one Lord. 00:23:27.800 --> 00:23:28.340 And who is it? 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:28.940 It's not the 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.220 husband. 00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:30.020 It's not the 00:23:30.020 --> 00:23:30.400 wife. 00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.260 It is the 00:23:31.260 --> 00:23:31.740 Lord Jesus 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.140 Christ. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:32.520 He's the 00:23:32.520 --> 00:23:33.240 only Lord in 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.700 the entire 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:34.240 text. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:36.500 And so 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.940 relative to 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:38.720 my wife, 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.520 we are both 00:23:39.520 --> 00:23:40.220 in inferior 00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.460 positions relative 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.620 to Jesus who 00:23:42.620 --> 00:23:44.600 died because 00:23:44.600 --> 00:23:45.160 he loved us 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:45.759 so much. 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:46.940 For God so 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.279 loved the 00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:47.740 world that he 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:48.240 gave his only 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:49.200 begotten son to 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.600 the end that 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.360 all who believe 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:50.840 in him will 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:51.940 not perish but 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.559 have everlasting 00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.079 life. 00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:55.539 So that's the 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.059 first thing. 00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.380 The second 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.440 thing in it is 00:23:58.440 --> 00:23:58.940 that it says, 00:23:59.259 --> 00:23:59.880 is the word, 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.660 it's very, 00:24:00.779 --> 00:24:01.460 very interesting, 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:03.240 that it says 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.880 for wives, 00:24:04.019 --> 00:24:04.559 submit to your 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:05.460 husbands as is 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.000 fitting to the 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:06.160 Lord. 00:24:06.279 --> 00:24:06.600 Husbands, 00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:07.380 love your wives 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:07.960 and do not be 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.640 harsh with them. 00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:09.420 Children, 00:24:09.700 --> 00:24:10.720 obey your parents 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:11.240 and everything 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:11.680 for this 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:12.319 pleases the 00:24:12.319 --> 00:24:12.640 Lord. 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:14.799 Fathers, 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:15.720 do not provoke 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.360 your children 00:24:16.360 --> 00:24:17.160 or basically 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:17.880 the word there 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.019 is to make 00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.279 them embittered 00:24:20.279 --> 00:24:20.700 or to 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.460 discourage 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:21.759 them, 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.860 to break 00:24:23.860 --> 00:24:24.759 their hearts, 00:24:25.140 --> 00:24:25.660 break their 00:24:25.660 --> 00:24:26.640 wills. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:28.220 Given that 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:28.960 parents, 00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:29.660 and by the way, 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.079 the other thing 00:24:30.079 --> 00:24:30.620 which is very 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.319 neat here is 00:24:31.319 --> 00:24:31.860 that really the 00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.400 word father 00:24:32.400 --> 00:24:32.819 should be 00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.440 translated as 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.019 parents. 00:24:35.259 --> 00:24:35.860 There's a bit 00:24:35.860 --> 00:24:36.660 of a grammatical 00:24:36.660 --> 00:24:37.799 argument for it, 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:39.039 but in fact the 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.579 word should be 00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.220 translated as 00:24:40.220 --> 00:24:40.640 mother and 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:40.980 father. 00:24:41.580 --> 00:24:42.000 And it's very 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:42.720 interesting that 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.700 the contrast is 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:44.380 that one of 00:24:44.380 --> 00:24:44.560 the, 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:45.640 and I'll talk 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.020 about it more, 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:46.480 I'm not going to 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.060 talk about parents 00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:47.840 and children very 00:24:47.840 --> 00:24:48.960 much in this 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:49.700 sermon because of 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.380 the big issue of 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.259 husbands and wives, 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:53.120 but children are 00:24:53.120 --> 00:24:54.380 given the task or 00:24:54.380 --> 00:24:55.220 the quest to 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.640 obey, 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.420 and parents who 00:24:58.420 --> 00:24:59.340 get to in a 00:24:59.340 --> 00:24:59.920 sense provide 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.940 orders to them 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:02.080 are given the 00:25:02.080 --> 00:25:02.980 warning that it's 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.759 possible for them 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.500 to do this in 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.340 such a way that it 00:25:05.340 --> 00:25:05.920 breaks their 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:06.560 spirit. 00:25:07.600 --> 00:25:08.940 It breaks them. 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:10.820 And we have 00:25:10.820 --> 00:25:11.759 seen parents who 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.580 are so harsh, 00:25:12.660 --> 00:25:13.340 all of us know 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:14.240 parents who are so 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.019 harsh with their 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.779 children that it's 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.580 broken them. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.580 It's broken them. 00:25:20.019 --> 00:25:21.000 And this is when it 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:21.740 says don't be harsh, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:23.920 it's saying children 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.720 are to obey, but 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:26.740 gosh, really be 00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:27.420 careful with this 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.920 because you could 00:25:27.920 --> 00:25:29.100 break, you could 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:30.100 break their spirit. 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.000 That's not the 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.640 right thing. 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:37.060 Now here's the 00:25:37.060 --> 00:25:37.860 missing piece in 00:25:37.860 --> 00:25:38.360 the text. 00:25:40.080 --> 00:25:42.200 In a non-military 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:43.120 sense, in a 00:25:43.120 --> 00:25:44.180 military sense, the 00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:45.080 word submission would 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.120 be very similar to 00:25:46.120 --> 00:25:46.700 the word obey. 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:48.280 This is obviously 00:25:48.280 --> 00:25:49.420 not in a military 00:25:49.420 --> 00:25:50.220 case. 00:25:50.840 --> 00:25:51.480 And in a military 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.180 case, the 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:53.060 submission means a 00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:54.300 voluntary attitude of 00:25:54.300 --> 00:25:55.880 giving in, of 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:57.280 cooperating with the 00:25:57.280 --> 00:25:58.060 one who's in a 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.900 sense in authority. 00:25:59.620 --> 00:26:01.180 It's also, it can 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:02.220 be used to carry a 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:02.520 burden. 00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:03.880 And some of you 00:26:03.880 --> 00:26:05.120 might say, if you 00:26:05.120 --> 00:26:06.759 knew my husband, to 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:07.460 submit to him would 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:08.259 be like carrying a 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:08.540 burden. 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.560 Sort of an 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:11.500 interesting thing. 00:26:11.600 --> 00:26:12.360 But here's the 00:26:12.360 --> 00:26:13.759 primary mystery in 00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:14.220 the text. 00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.240 And Andrew, if you 00:26:15.240 --> 00:26:15.780 could put up the 00:26:15.780 --> 00:26:16.420 first point, that 00:26:16.420 --> 00:26:16.860 would be very 00:26:16.860 --> 00:26:17.480 handy. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:19.380 The Lord gives 00:26:19.380 --> 00:26:20.240 the wife the 00:26:20.240 --> 00:26:22.040 quest to submit 00:26:22.040 --> 00:26:23.800 to her husband, but 00:26:23.800 --> 00:26:25.140 the husband is not 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:26.800 given the power to 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:27.220 command. 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.180 The Lord gives 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:30.320 the husband the 00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:32.220 quest to self-eathing 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:34.160 self-effacingly love 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:34.960 his wife. 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.339 But the wife is not 00:26:37.339 --> 00:26:39.600 given the power to 00:26:39.600 --> 00:26:40.059 demand. 00:26:41.960 --> 00:26:42.880 I'm going to say it 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:43.200 again. 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.120 It's on the screen. 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:46.960 This is part of the 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:48.440 great mystery of the 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:48.860 text. 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.019 The Lord gives the 00:26:51.019 --> 00:26:54.339 wife the quest, not 00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:56.059 the duty, not the 00:26:56.059 --> 00:26:58.140 task, not the job, 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.780 but the quest. 00:27:01.320 --> 00:27:02.400 Why do I say the 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.740 quest? 00:27:03.520 --> 00:27:04.360 Well, because what 00:27:04.360 --> 00:27:05.480 does verse 17 say? 00:27:06.800 --> 00:27:07.920 We have this great 00:27:07.920 --> 00:27:08.460 quest. 00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:10.820 The great quest is 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:12.200 that in verse 17, 00:27:12.780 --> 00:27:13.680 whatever I do in 00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:14.720 word or deed, do 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.460 everything in the 00:27:15.460 --> 00:27:16.040 name of the Lord 00:27:16.040 --> 00:27:17.120 Jesus, giving thanks 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:17.900 to God the Father 00:27:17.900 --> 00:27:18.360 through him. 00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:19.140 This is this great 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:19.600 quest. 00:27:20.280 --> 00:27:21.240 I'm on this great 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:23.020 quest that I can do 00:27:23.020 --> 00:27:23.759 everything in the 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.780 name of Jesus so that 00:27:24.780 --> 00:27:25.920 he will be seen as 00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:26.780 great, that he will 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.000 be glorified, that 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.200 the world will want 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:30.079 to know him, that 00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:31.019 people will want to 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.500 praise him. 00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:32.399 That's this great 00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:34.139 quest, that he will 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:36.000 have the supremacy in 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:36.819 all things. 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:38.079 It's a great quest. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:43.359 The Lord gives the 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:45.099 wife the quest to 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:46.119 submit to her husband, 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:48.139 but the husband is not 00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.500 given the power to 00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:51.539 command the wife. 00:27:53.660 --> 00:27:54.579 In fact, look at the 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.379 text very carefully. 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.899 First of all, it's 00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:56.640 using the word submit, 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:57.280 not obey. 00:27:57.700 --> 00:27:58.400 Paul could have used 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.019 the word obey if 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.640 that's what he meant, 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:00.440 but he doesn't use the 00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.320 word obey, he uses the 00:28:01.320 --> 00:28:02.400 word submit, which is a 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.280 voluntary word. 00:28:04.660 --> 00:28:05.600 And he uses it, and 00:28:05.600 --> 00:28:06.680 you'd think, and I've 00:28:06.680 --> 00:28:07.280 used those of you who 00:28:07.280 --> 00:28:08.040 have heard me on talk 00:28:08.040 --> 00:28:09.100 on related texts like 00:28:09.100 --> 00:28:10.320 this, you know, in a 00:28:10.320 --> 00:28:13.280 sense, you know, Jenny, 00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.840 who's the admin person, 00:28:15.060 --> 00:28:16.400 you know, in Canadian 00:28:16.400 --> 00:28:17.440 law and everything like 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.340 that, I can tell her to 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:19.360 do certain things and she 00:28:19.360 --> 00:28:20.120 has to do it. 00:28:20.840 --> 00:28:22.240 If she stopped doing 00:28:22.240 --> 00:28:23.440 things I asked her to do 00:28:23.440 --> 00:28:24.600 that were within the 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.839 normal legal rights, we 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.959 could fire her. 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:30.219 And so, when you see 00:28:30.219 --> 00:28:31.319 the language here of the 00:28:31.319 --> 00:28:32.359 wife submitting to the 00:28:32.359 --> 00:28:33.039 husband, you would 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:35.059 expect then that there 00:28:35.059 --> 00:28:36.419 would be some type of 00:28:36.419 --> 00:28:37.799 description given to the 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:39.039 husband about how it is 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:40.179 that he can order his 00:28:40.179 --> 00:28:41.099 wife or the type of 00:28:41.099 --> 00:28:41.919 commands that he could 00:28:41.919 --> 00:28:43.259 give her or what's in 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:44.399 bounds and out of bounds. 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.399 But in fact, it's not 00:28:45.399 --> 00:28:45.719 there. 00:28:46.019 --> 00:28:46.919 When it comes time to 00:28:46.919 --> 00:28:47.679 speak to the husband, 00:28:48.099 --> 00:28:50.019 it's as if God forgets 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.980 that he's just given the 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.099 wife a task to submit 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.779 and God gives a 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.699 completely different 00:28:54.699 --> 00:28:55.679 command to the husband 00:28:55.679 --> 00:28:56.839 and it has nothing to 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.659 do with being able to 00:28:57.659 --> 00:28:58.639 order his wife. 00:29:00.659 --> 00:29:01.439 You see, here's the 00:29:01.439 --> 00:29:01.879 problem. 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.399 Because this makes no 00:29:06.399 --> 00:29:09.319 sense to the world 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:10.919 and we're part of the 00:29:10.919 --> 00:29:13.519 world, we add things to 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:15.059 the text about the 00:29:15.059 --> 00:29:16.219 husband's ability to make 00:29:16.219 --> 00:29:17.240 certain types of orders. 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:18.539 We have books that 00:29:18.539 --> 00:29:19.839 describe what he can and 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.399 cannot do or what the 00:29:21.399 --> 00:29:22.279 wife has to do and 00:29:22.279 --> 00:29:23.019 doesn't have to do, but 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.000 the text doesn't say any 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:24.699 of these things. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:25.899 The fact of the matter 00:29:25.899 --> 00:29:27.039 is that the Lord gives 00:29:27.039 --> 00:29:28.059 the wife the quest to 00:29:28.059 --> 00:29:28.980 submit to her husband, 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.039 but the husband is not 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:31.359 given the power to 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:31.759 command. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.379 And the Lord gives the 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:34.759 husband the quest to 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:37.220 self-effacingly love his 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:39.199 wife, but the wife is 00:29:39.199 --> 00:29:40.740 not given the power to 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.119 demand. 00:29:42.099 --> 00:29:42.959 And the word here, 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:44.179 which is used for love, 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.599 I've tried to give it in 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.959 my point as self- 00:29:46.959 --> 00:29:48.519 effacingly loving. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:50.200 So it's not the word 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.759 for romance, it's not 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:53.259 the word for eros, in 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:54.460 other words, as long as 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:56.420 the husband gets to just 00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:57.639 sexually know his wife 00:29:57.639 --> 00:29:59.279 and she has to submit to 00:29:59.279 --> 00:30:00.619 him, that's not what the 00:30:00.619 --> 00:30:01.299 text is saying. 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.299 It's not saying the 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.220 husband gets to be all 00:30:03.220 --> 00:30:04.980 romantic, but the wife 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.779 has to submit. 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:07.079 No, it's not talking about 00:30:07.079 --> 00:30:08.000 that at all, but there's 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:09.079 lots of different words 00:30:09.079 --> 00:30:10.180 for love in the original 00:30:10.180 --> 00:30:11.180 language, well there's 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.579 four, and this one here 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:14.079 is very clear, it's the 00:30:14.079 --> 00:30:15.799 word agape, and it's a 00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.960 type of word for 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:18.360 self-effacing love. 00:30:18.400 --> 00:30:19.640 In other words, it's the 00:30:19.640 --> 00:30:20.680 type of love which is 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.840 consumed by thinking 00:30:21.840 --> 00:30:22.559 about the other. 00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.319 Self-effacing means you're 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.220 not thinking about 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.460 yourself, you're thinking 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:28.340 about the other, and 00:30:28.340 --> 00:30:29.360 you're thinking about the 00:30:29.360 --> 00:30:30.220 other for their true 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:30.640 good. 00:30:32.740 --> 00:30:34.240 Affection can come into 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.620 it, emotions might or 00:30:35.620 --> 00:30:36.799 might not come into it. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:39.600 Like a perfect example of 00:30:39.600 --> 00:30:41.039 self-effacing love is the 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:43.160 parent who has a baby that 00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:44.740 starts waking up and 00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:45.640 screaming at three in the 00:30:45.640 --> 00:30:47.100 morning, or the toddler 00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:48.340 nine months or a year old 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.880 and they have to go to 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:49.780 the bathroom or something 00:30:49.780 --> 00:30:50.280 like that. 00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:51.860 You might feel absolutely 00:30:51.860 --> 00:30:53.660 zero affection for your 00:30:53.660 --> 00:30:55.180 child at that moment. 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:58.620 In fact, zero might be a 00:30:58.620 --> 00:30:59.380 high mark. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:01.280 Your affectionate feelings 00:31:01.280 --> 00:31:02.160 for the child at that 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.160 moment are probably 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:04.020 negative. 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:08.200 But you don't say, well, 00:31:09.440 --> 00:31:11.860 you know, self-effacing 00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.960 means you think about the 00:31:12.960 --> 00:31:13.680 needs of the child. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.460 I mean, you're also in a 00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.000 sense thinking about 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:15.700 yourself so you can get 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:16.940 back to sleep, but you're 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.700 thinking of the needs of 00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:18.060 the child. 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:20.140 You get up and you love 00:31:20.140 --> 00:31:21.620 the child, thinking 00:31:21.620 --> 00:31:24.180 primarily of them, dealing 00:31:24.180 --> 00:31:25.660 with the poopy bum or the 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:27.060 wet diaper or whatever it 00:31:27.060 --> 00:31:28.380 is, or the night fears or 00:31:28.380 --> 00:31:29.400 tremors or whatever it is. 00:31:29.480 --> 00:31:31.360 You self-effacingly love. 00:31:32.860 --> 00:31:33.799 And that's what's going on 00:31:33.799 --> 00:31:34.460 here in the text. 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:36.700 Remember I said that the 00:31:36.700 --> 00:31:38.060 human problem we have is 00:31:38.060 --> 00:31:39.720 how do we balance this need 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:42.039 for power and yet at the 00:31:42.039 --> 00:31:43.079 same time the need that at 00:31:43.079 --> 00:31:43.879 the very heart of all 00:31:43.879 --> 00:31:45.000 things there's this aspect 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:45.619 of surrender. 00:31:45.879 --> 00:31:46.700 And one of the things that 00:31:46.700 --> 00:31:47.779 the Bible does here very, 00:31:47.899 --> 00:31:49.940 very wisely is it puts the 00:31:49.940 --> 00:31:50.539 same God. 00:31:50.879 --> 00:31:52.019 See, the interesting thing 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:53.180 here about this is that the 00:31:53.180 --> 00:31:54.500 God who's giving this 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:55.859 command from all eternity, 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.039 the Father has loved the 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:57.259 Son. 00:31:57.500 --> 00:31:58.440 You're going to get being 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.720 bored with me saying these 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:00.039 things. 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.839 Of the Son from all 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:03.019 eternity having loved the 00:32:03.019 --> 00:32:03.299 Father. 00:32:03.399 --> 00:32:04.539 Of the Holy Spirit being the 00:32:04.539 --> 00:32:05.420 love that goes from the 00:32:05.420 --> 00:32:06.700 Father to the Son as well as 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.899 the Holy Spirit being a 00:32:07.899 --> 00:32:08.420 person himself. 00:32:08.420 --> 00:32:10.640 In a sense, the Son is 00:32:10.640 --> 00:32:12.720 perennially submitting to the 00:32:12.720 --> 00:32:13.800 Father's will while the 00:32:13.800 --> 00:32:15.580 Father is perennially pouring 00:32:15.580 --> 00:32:17.340 himself out for his Son and 00:32:17.340 --> 00:32:19.140 revealing himself to the Son and 00:32:19.140 --> 00:32:20.680 giving of himself to the Son as 00:32:20.680 --> 00:32:22.460 the Son gives of himself to the 00:32:22.460 --> 00:32:23.539 Father and the Holy Spirit. 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:26.420 It's this constant move of love 00:32:26.420 --> 00:32:28.440 and delight and of giving and 00:32:28.440 --> 00:32:30.120 that's the story of the whole 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:30.539 universe. 00:32:31.160 --> 00:32:32.720 That's what is out of that 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:34.880 being, that triune God that the 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.019 universe has come into 00:32:36.019 --> 00:32:36.539 existence. 00:32:36.539 --> 00:32:39.599 It is for that reality, it is 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:41.279 from that reality that when we 00:32:41.279 --> 00:32:43.099 fell, when we chose to think 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.480 that we were greater than God, 00:32:44.559 --> 00:32:45.500 that we wanted to be the 00:32:45.500 --> 00:32:47.359 center, that we wanted to be the 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:48.779 power, we wanted to be the 00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:50.819 arbiter of right and wrong, that 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.399 the world had to revolve around 00:32:52.399 --> 00:32:53.960 ourselves and creation gets 00:32:53.960 --> 00:32:56.299 broken when Adam and Eve enters 00:32:56.299 --> 00:32:58.920 into this understanding and God 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.839 in love sends his Son. 00:33:01.279 --> 00:33:03.500 The Son submits to the Father 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:06.200 by saying, yes, I will set aside my 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:07.779 divine prerogatives, I will set 00:33:07.779 --> 00:33:09.559 aside my appearance as God, I 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:11.059 will set aside all of those 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:14.740 things out of obedience to you 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.700 and out of love for human beings, I 00:33:16.700 --> 00:33:19.559 will set all my prerogatives 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:21.559 aside and out of love for human 00:33:21.559 --> 00:33:24.440 beings, I will descend into the 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:26.059 womb of the Virgin Mary, the 00:33:26.059 --> 00:33:27.420 weakest of the weakest of the 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.860 weakest of the weakest to be a 00:33:28.860 --> 00:33:30.860 zygote connected to Mary's womb. 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:33.039 I will enter the human race like 00:33:33.039 --> 00:33:35.299 that so that I can do that great 00:33:35.299 --> 00:33:36.940 act to save them that they cannot 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.019 do for themselves. 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:40.740 I will submit to Roman imperial 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:42.399 authority, I will submit to the 00:33:42.399 --> 00:33:44.220 authority of my parents only without 00:33:44.220 --> 00:33:46.399 sin, I will live a normal lower 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:49.720 working class life only without sin, 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:51.220 I will suffer the trials and 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.500 temptations that human beings 00:33:52.500 --> 00:33:54.980 suffer only without sin, I will do 00:33:54.980 --> 00:33:56.379 it all out of obedience and 00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:58.059 submission to my Father and out of 00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:00.299 love for human beings, and I will 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:02.299 become even poorer than poor by 00:34:02.299 --> 00:34:04.659 taking upon myself all of the 00:34:04.659 --> 00:34:06.440 wrongdoing that human beings have 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:08.599 done, I will be their sacrifice for 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:11.119 sin, I will take that upon myself, I 00:34:11.119 --> 00:34:12.940 will do that out of submission to my 00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:14.719 Father and out of love for human 00:34:14.719 --> 00:34:17.019 beings, and I will die the death that 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.659 they deserve and that will be their 00:34:18.659 --> 00:34:20.880 doom, I will take their doom upon 00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:23.019 myself out of submission to my 00:34:23.019 --> 00:34:24.940 Father and love for human beings. 00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:29.059 And when we put our faith and trust 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:33.840 in Christ, he is doing all of that 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:36.460 so that the end of every single one 00:34:36.460 --> 00:34:37.940 of our stories who have put our 00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:39.940 faith and trust in Jesus, the end of 00:34:39.940 --> 00:34:44.039 our stories, well that we can be in 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.779 the presence in the midst of the 00:34:45.779 --> 00:34:47.460 Father loving the Son and the Son 00:34:47.460 --> 00:34:49.480 loving the Father and the Holy Spirit 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.739 is the love itself, we will be in the 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:54.619 very middle of that reality. 00:34:54.619 --> 00:35:01.059 And when that day comes, we will say, 00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:05.719 my chains are gone, my heart is free. 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:13.639 We will say, free at last, free at last. 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:17.539 Praise God Almighty, I'm free at last. 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:22.320 Because God who designed you and me to 00:35:22.320 --> 00:35:24.860 be in the midst of that reality from all 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:26.699 eternity without embarrassment, without 00:35:26.699 --> 00:35:29.119 shame, but with great affection and 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:30.679 delight and to be filled by that, 00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:33.480 everything that God is doing is to 00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.759 prepare us for that day. 00:35:34.760 --> 00:35:43.480 If you could put up the second point, 00:35:43.620 --> 00:35:44.900 Andrew, I'm going to ask you to toggle 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:46.240 back to the first one in a moment. 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:49.280 Together the husband and wife illuminate 00:35:49.280 --> 00:35:51.340 how God saves us in Jesus. 00:35:52.100 --> 00:35:52.720 Do you notice that? 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:55.760 The Son's submission to the Father, 00:35:56.020 --> 00:35:57.340 the Son's love for you and me. 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:01.940 That's part of the great quest for the 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:04.080 husband and the wife is how can I so live 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.480 with? 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:08.059 Louise is vastly better than I am. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:12.019 She's not perfect, just like I'm vastly 00:36:12.019 --> 00:36:13.239 more imperfect than her. 00:36:13.799 --> 00:36:15.239 Every marriage has to figure out how to 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:17.299 solve and how to survive the sinfulness 00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:19.440 of your own heart and the sinfulness of 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.739 the other. 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:24.279 And there's this great quest of how can I 00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:26.440 so live with Louise and how can she so 00:36:26.440 --> 00:36:27.099 live with me? 00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:30.900 That how God saves human beings is 00:36:30.900 --> 00:36:33.219 illuminated to our children. 00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:36.239 To the church and to the world. 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.980 It's a great quest. 00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:46.179 Now because the wife embarks on this quest 00:36:46.179 --> 00:36:49.000 at the command of Jesus, who's given her this 00:36:49.000 --> 00:36:49.559 task. 00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:53.139 And because the husband embarks on this quest 00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:55.579 at the command of Jesus, who gives him this text. 00:36:55.579 --> 00:37:00.480 It means, and because the husband isn't given the 00:37:00.480 --> 00:37:03.079 power to command his wife and the wife isn't given the 00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:05.219 power to demand of her husband. 00:37:06.179 --> 00:37:08.719 It means that both the husband and the wife need to 00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:11.519 have very serious regular conversations, not only with 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:13.239 each other, but more importantly with Jesus. 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:19.459 And the shape of the other will determine the shape of what that 00:37:19.459 --> 00:37:20.539 submission looks like. 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:30.179 And this text nowhere that forbids, I mean, if the husband or the wife 00:37:30.179 --> 00:37:33.360 commits adultery, there might be the possibility of the marriage coming to 00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:35.779 the end if there's abuse that has to be dealt with. 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:40.079 This text doesn't tell the wife to submit to any type of abuse. 00:37:40.259 --> 00:37:40.380 Why? 00:37:40.460 --> 00:37:44.219 Remember, she's submitting, but she's doing it for Jesus' sake, to show his 00:37:44.219 --> 00:37:49.779 glory and submitting to abuse doesn't illuminate how Jesus came to save us. 00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:52.599 He was meek, but not weak. 00:37:53.959 --> 00:37:56.339 Meekness requires strength. 00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:01.839 People who are weak can't really be gentle. 00:38:02.599 --> 00:38:05.379 Those of us who are strong need to learn to be gentle. 00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:11.819 And so when you have a very, very, very bad husband, the shape of what that 00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:15.440 quest for submission will look like will be very, very, very, very, very 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:21.000 different than a husband who's trying to embody this self-effacing love. 00:38:23.280 --> 00:38:25.380 That's why, you see, the text isn't absolute. 00:38:26.160 --> 00:38:29.100 I mean, it's absolute on one level, but it's not absolute in terms of what the 00:38:29.100 --> 00:38:30.000 other person is like. 00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:34.539 This quest of what it would mean to submit and this quest of what it means to 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:39.320 self-effacingly love is going to be shaped by the life of the other. 00:38:39.320 --> 00:38:44.160 But it's still the quest that I'm to embark on as a husband. 00:38:44.740 --> 00:38:47.760 And those of you who are wives, husbands have the same quest, and those of you who 00:38:47.760 --> 00:38:50.660 are wives have the same quest of submission. 00:38:50.659 --> 00:39:05.259 The beauty of this text is that it is all part of this wonderful story where the end is that 00:39:05.259 --> 00:39:14.259 you embark on this quest, not just by yourself. 00:39:14.399 --> 00:39:16.639 That's why verse 17 is so important. 00:39:16.639 --> 00:39:20.559 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks 00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:21.699 to God the Father through him. 00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:28.519 You do it in Jesus, with Jesus, for his glory, within the limits that he is going to set, 00:39:28.599 --> 00:39:31.699 not your husband, not your wife, the limits that he will set. 00:39:33.079 --> 00:39:39.400 To have this great task of illuminating how God saves us in the person of Jesus, knowing 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:49.460 that when we put ourselves in a posture of attempting to obey this text for the glory of God, that 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:52.780 God in his grace will do this work of transformation in us. 00:39:53.160 --> 00:39:57.260 Even if part of what it means to lovingly submit to your husband means to say you have to stop 00:39:57.260 --> 00:39:57.860 the abuse. 00:39:57.860 --> 00:40:04.360 The text doesn't say you never say that, right? 00:40:04.579 --> 00:40:06.480 Because it's voluntary. 00:40:06.940 --> 00:40:08.300 It's done in the honor of Christ. 00:40:08.519 --> 00:40:10.480 It's done in a way to illuminate Christ. 00:40:11.140 --> 00:40:13.519 It's done in keeping with the end of the story. 00:40:14.460 --> 00:40:19.260 And it's a posture whereby to the best that you can figure out in this particular mess, 00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:25.460 that the way forward in the way of this mess isn't necessarily to cling to your power, 00:40:25.460 --> 00:40:31.099 but to cling to Jesus and the task that he's given you within the limits of how your life 00:40:31.099 --> 00:40:35.780 is working out, which can be talked about in the context of a congregation committed to 00:40:35.780 --> 00:40:43.340 the word, but hopefully wisely, that you put yourself in this position where God's grace 00:40:43.340 --> 00:40:44.420 can work. 00:40:45.119 --> 00:40:50.960 That's the quest, to put yourself in a position where God's grace can work. 00:40:52.300 --> 00:40:53.360 Please stand. 00:40:53.360 --> 00:40:58.280 Andrew, could you put up the first slide again for me, please? 00:40:59.140 --> 00:41:03.559 The Lord gives the wife the quest to submit to her husband, but the husband is not given 00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.599 the power to command. 00:41:05.340 --> 00:41:11.059 The Lord gives the husband the quest to self-effacingly love his wife, but the wife is not given the 00:41:11.059 --> 00:41:12.480 power to demand. 00:41:13.579 --> 00:41:16.519 Why is it that God organized it this way rather than another? 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:18.519 I am the vaguest idea in the world. 00:41:20.180 --> 00:41:20.940 Nobody does. 00:41:21.680 --> 00:41:22.660 But that's how he's put it. 00:41:22.659 --> 00:41:24.980 We know he's good and wise. 00:41:25.099 --> 00:41:25.980 We know he only loves us. 00:41:26.079 --> 00:41:28.059 We know he's preparing us for an eternity with him. 00:41:29.759 --> 00:41:36.139 And it is part of this whole mystery, this whole mystery that somehow a husband and wife, 00:41:36.299 --> 00:41:40.799 sinners though they are, but under the lordship of Christ, knowing that he is their savior, 00:41:40.960 --> 00:41:49.579 that there might be this means by which somehow or another through this living these quests, 00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:58.980 that people can look at them and have some sense of what it means that Jesus came to die on the cross to save us. 00:42:00.519 --> 00:42:01.900 Let's bow our heads in prayer. 00:42:01.900 --> 00:42:09.480 Father, this text goes against the grain for how we normally think. 00:42:11.160 --> 00:42:18.860 And Father, we know that you don't deny us means of police or jobs or protections, 00:42:18.860 --> 00:42:23.280 and you don't deny us to use those things when they are necessary. 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:27.560 And sometimes in marriages, they really are necessary and need to be taken. 00:42:27.559 --> 00:42:34.239 But we give you thanks and praise, Father, that for those of us who are called to the holiest state of matrimony, 00:42:34.380 --> 00:42:40.500 that you are the savior and the lord of our marriages, just as you are the savior and the lord of each of our lives. 00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:44.860 And we give you thanks and praise that you have given us a quest, 00:42:45.539 --> 00:42:48.619 some great task that we can accomplish for your glory, 00:42:49.260 --> 00:42:51.639 some great way to illuminate the gospel, 00:42:52.260 --> 00:42:57.860 some great way to trust that you are good and that what your word says is good and true, 00:42:58.039 --> 00:43:02.659 some great way that we can trust that if we put ourselves in a posture of obedience, 00:43:02.659 --> 00:43:10.079 that it is the means by which your grace comes to change and transform us and to fit us for that glorious day 00:43:10.079 --> 00:43:15.559 when we will spend all eternity with you and the Son and the Holy Spirit 00:43:15.559 --> 00:43:20.460 in the love and delight and affection and beauty and glory 00:43:20.460 --> 00:43:25.899 that flows unendingly between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 00:43:26.019 --> 00:43:27.940 that that is our end, that that is our destiny. 00:43:27.940 --> 00:43:32.860 And to have that not just as ourselves, but in the company of others, 00:43:33.639 --> 00:43:39.000 all the others from every age and every race and every nation who put their faith and trust in you. 00:43:40.220 --> 00:43:43.940 And so, Father, we thank you for this great word of yours, 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:49.000 this great way of live, this great quest for those of us in marriage. 00:43:49.340 --> 00:43:54.720 And we ask, Father, that the Holy Spirit would move with might and power and deep conviction in each of our lives, 00:43:54.719 --> 00:43:58.319 that we might die to sin and put on virtue, 00:43:58.819 --> 00:44:03.619 that we might let Jesus speak deeply into each of our hearts to rule, 00:44:04.359 --> 00:44:08.980 that we will do everything in the name of Jesus for the honor and glory of the Father, 00:44:10.399 --> 00:44:15.219 and that, Father, for me as a husband, that I will learn more and more how to self-effacingly love my wife, 00:44:16.279 --> 00:44:22.139 and for the wives who are here, that they will learn how to submit to their husband as is fitting to the Lord. 00:44:22.139 --> 00:44:27.739 Father, we ask for your help, and we give you thanks and praise that you hear and you help. 00:44:28.400 --> 00:44:32.579 And all these things we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son and our Savior. Amen.