22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
-Ephesians 5:22-33
Ephesians 5:22
"It’s sexist and misogynistic to say a wife must submit to her husband."
Sexism and misogyny are defined as treating women with contempt, prejudice, and hatred. However, scripture condemns all of these actions. There’s nothing sexist or misogynistic about wives submitting to husbands since scripture doesn’t allow husbands to oppress or exploit their wives (Colossians 3:19). In fact, husbands are commanded to love their wives in a self-sacrificial way, putting her needs and desires above his own (Ephesians 5:25). While wives are commanded to submit to their husband’s authority, husbands are commanded to submit to their wives needs and desires. This creates a relationship of mutual submission where both parties seek to please their partner rather than themselves. When we look at the whole picture and consider God’s instructions for husbands, the argument that submission is sexist or misogynistic completely falls apart. That’s why critics are always careful to leave it out
Ephesians 5:23
"What does it mean that a husband is the head of his wife?"
Headship in the context of marriage simply means that the husband is his wife’s spiritual leader. His role is to help her grow in sanctification while loving and serving her sacrificially, as Christ loved and served the church (Ephesians 5:25-30). Headship is a metaphor/object lesson God uses to communicate spiritual truths. In marriage, he shows a tangible lesson on how Jesus loves the church and the church submits to him. For more on headship, click here.
"If a husband is the head of his wife, does this mean he's greater than her?"
No. The title "head "cannot mean greater than because the same title is used of God the Father being head over Jesus, yet Jesus is one with the father and completely equal to Him (John 5:18, John 10:30-38) Furthermore, other passages make it clear that men and women are equals created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27, Galatians 3:28). Headship in marriage is simply an object lesson meant to to communicate spiritual truths.
Ephesians 5:22-24
"Does this mean a wife has to submit to everything her husbands says as if he were God?
No. Even though verse 24 says "submit in everything", the husband’s authority is limited since he’s under Jesus’ headship. If a husband oversteps his authority by commanding his wife to do something evil or puts her in danger, she must obey the higher authority (Jesus) instead. It would as if your manager at work told you to do something against the CEO’s company policy. Yes, you should submit to your manager in everything, but if he contradicts the CEO you are obligated to obey the higher authority rather than your disobedient manager. This is also true of abuse. If a husband abuses his wife, she doesn’t have to endure it even if her husband tells her to. The higher authority (God), made it clear that this is a sin so it doesn’t require submission.
Ephesians 5:23-27
"Is this implying that husbands are ‘saviors’ that wash their wives of their sins?"
No. The text is clear that this is an analogy ("...love your wives as Christ loved..."). It would be blasphemous to take the analogy further than intended since Jesus is the only one who can save us from judgment. But just as Jesus’ died for the church (believers) to make them righteous, husbands must guide their wives spiritually, that they may become sanctified. Jesus died for our both husband and wife’s sins, but it’s the job of the husband to lead his wife in spiritual growth.