Monday
06-22-2026
By: Brenda
This study today was by request.
Someone asked about relationships, headship, and submission. Not only in marriage but in all relationships.
We will one day be held accountable for our words and our actions.
This is how I understand it according to scripture.
“Relationships, Marriage, Headship, Submission, and Love”
1. The Bible describes marriage as a covenant, not a contract.
It is a relationship built on:
Love, Sacrifice, Mutual honor, Unity, and Respect.
Marriage is meant to reflect Christ’s relationship with the Church
(Ephesians 5:25–33).
**
God’s order in marriage.
The Bible teaches that the husband is the head of the wife.
(Ephesians 5:23)
But “headship” does not mean control, domination, or superiority.
It means:
Leadership through love. Responsibility, not privilege. Sacrifice, not selfishness.
Protection, not harm.
A husband’s model is Christ, who laid down His life for the Church.
2. The Bible says,
“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands” (Ephesians 5:22)
But this verse is often misunderstood or misused.
Biblical submission is:
A voluntary posture of respect, not forced obedience.
A willingness to support godly leadership. A partnership, not slavery.
Rooted in mutual submission.
(Ephesians 5:21)
Biblical submission is NOT:
Enduring abuse. Silencing your voice. Losing your identity. Allowing sin.
Or Accepting mistreatment.
And a wife is never commanded to submit to sin, cruelty, manipulation, or emotional/mental abuse.
God does not call anyone to stay under harm.
3. Abuse of any kind is a sin, not a “marriage problem.
”The Bible says:
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” (Colossians 3:19)
“Love does no harm to a neighbor.” (Romans 13:10)“
The LORD detests the violent.”
(Psalm 11:5)
A husband who is emotionally or mentally abusive is breaking God’s command for how he is supposed to treat his wife.
A wife is not required to submit to abuse.
Submission never means:
Accepting cruelty. Staying silent. Pretending everything is fine.
Or allowing someone to damage your spirit.
God protects the oppressed.
And He never sides with an abuser.
4. The Bible teaches that all relationships should reflect God’s character.
We are called to treat others with:
Love (John 13:34)
Kindness (Ephesians 4:32)
Patience (1 Corinthians 13:4)
Forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)
Honor (Romans 12:10)
We are NOT to treat others with:
Manipulation, Cruelty, Gossip, Jealousy,
Abuse, Or Disrespect.
God cares deeply about how we treat one another.
5. God sees every act of cruelty, disrespect, or abuse.
Scripture says:
“For the LORD is a God of justice.”
(Isaiah 30:18)
“He defends the oppressed.”
(Psalm 9:9)
“Nothing is hidden from His sight.” (Hebrews 4:13)
Mistreating others, especially a spouse,
is a serious sin.
Is there judgment for this? Yes.
The Bible teaches that:
God will judge every careless word (Matthew 12:36)
God will judge how we treat others (Romans 14:12)
Husbands who mistreat their wives have their prayers hindered (1 Peter 3:7)
Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
1 Peter 3:10
For, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deciet.”
James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridal his tongue but decieves his heart, this person’s religion is hopeless.
Matthew 12:36-37
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Luke 6:31
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Obadiah 1:15
The day of the LORD will come soon for all the world’s people. God will do to you what you did to other people. God will be angry with you because you did those things to them.
1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;
1 John 4:11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
God takes relational sin seriously.
Are we respecting, honoring, loving, and living, as God’s Word tells us too…
Or are our tongues and actions destroying the ones we claim to love…
God has warned us…
because God loves us ❤️
Dear Father in heaven,
May we all come before You seeking wisdom, healing, and clarity.
Teach us Your design for love, marriage, and all relationships.
Help husbands lead with gentleness, humility, and Christlike love.
Help wives walk in strength, dignity, and peace.
Protect every heart from emotional, mental, or spiritual harm.
Restore what is broken, strengthen what is weak, and guide us into Your Truth.
Teach us to treat one another with kindness, patience, and honor.
Let Your Spirit bring healing where there has been hurt, and let Your love be the foundation of every relationship.
In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.
Have a blessed day
God loves you ❤️
and so do I ❤️