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Colossians 3:19
19 Husbands, [aner] love [agapao] your wives, [gune] and [kai] be [pikraino] not [me] bitter [pikraino] against [pros] them. [autos] KJV-Interlinear
19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be embittered against them. NASB
I need to add a note to yesterday’s study. The word for ‘subject,’ means to demonstrate respect, the type of respect demanded by those who approach a judge in a court of law. That is the command to the wife regarding her relationship with her husband.
That is intended to eliminate ridicule, complaints, inordinate competitiveness, gossip, even attempts to withhold ones self from her husband, criticism, and disrespect. All of which can lead to a failed marriage.
Here Paul uses love in the form of the principles of truth, in the husbands relationship with his wife.
The man, generally being the more forceful of the couple, may have inclinations of violence, intimidation, self centeredness, selfishness, ‘boss’ syndrome, ‘know it all’ syndrome, and so forth.
The burden of principle is placed on the male part of the marriage, more so than respect, although respect is certainly a part of truth. However, the man who is given the dominant role, is also given the greater responsibility.
And one of those responsibilities is tolerance. And if you have been married for any length of time, then you, gentlemen, certainly have run up against times when your relationship has been difficult. I think the use of the word, difficult, can keep me out of trouble – for a while anyway.
While both man and woman are bound by the principles of doctrine, here the emphasis is on respect for the wife, and tolerance for the man.
Christ administered both of these principles toward humanity. He respects mans right to decide, even if the decisions are wrong, and Christ also tolerated the behavior of humanity, even when humanity hoisted Him up on the Cross and executed Him.
Both principles can push the respective parties to the edge, emotionally. But with doctrine, self discipline of self control is possible.
Without doctrine, then we see society with liberal minded women and abusive minded men, and an endless array of failures in society.
Only through the principles of doctrine, can a society manage itself. Without it, social decay is inevitable. And the proper marriage is the centerpiece of a stable society.
And you will certainly see public and private attacks on the institution of marriage, because being a part of Gods divine principles of establishment, Satan, has to dilute, discredit and destroy marriage. As he does with all principle categories of establishment.
