"Be subject"—is the last of five participles that spell out the results of being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit filled believer will live in subjection. In our culture it seems like submission or subjection are bad words. Our culture encourages everyone to stand up and fight for his or her rights. The feminist movement promotes women's rights. The homosexual movement promotes so-called "gay" rights. Some advocate children's rights to be free from parental authority. The interesting thing is they never seem to extend those rights to children who still happen to be in the womb. PETA promotes animal rights, often over and above human rights. Everyone is fighting for their rights, but the Spirit filled believer is submissive.

Grammatically, this verse seems to belong to the previous passage and refers to one of the results of being filled by the Spirit. In terms of content, however, the verse appears to introduce the next section on domestic relationships. In fact, it is verse 21 that supplies the verb for verse 22. Thus we must recognize the relationship of verse 21 with both the verses that precede and follow it. It is a hinge verse.

10/26/2014 - Pastor David B. Curtis - Berean Bible Church - http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org - Message #729

View sermon transcript here: http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/ephesians/eph-05_21_mutual-submission_video.php