Ephesians 5:23

Our study of “The Making of a Man” has been focused on the inherent nature of a man’s make-up. “What makes a man a man?” or “What does it mean to be a man?” are two other ways of stating our premise. We have seen that God created man and then removed a piece of him in order to make woman. Man therefore requires a woman in order to be what he was originally created to be. Having this Requirement met, man is then fully equipped to perform his own Role.

“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23)

God created man in His “image” and “likeness.” As previously noted, this does not indicate that man looks like God. On the contrary, our text in Genesis 1:26 shows us that the “image” and “likeness” of God is primarily the function of a position of authority as a physical representative of God. The Lord made Moses a god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1). This does not mean that Moses was deified, but that he was a representative of God, a spokesman, as it were. Similarly, God created man as a physical representative within His Creation to protect, nourish, and govern it (Genesis 1:28). Oh, how far we have fallen!

As a physical representative of God, man has a very unique Role. This is especially true within the home. Here he is commanded to be the head. He is to be the key decision-maker and actively direct his family in profitable service towards its success and prosperity. He is also the “saviour” of his wife as his body, and by extension, his home. He performs a Role as the priest of the family in leading them in worship and service unto God. He has the Role of mediator, standing between God and his family – he represents God to his family and he represents his family to God.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” (Titus 2:1-2)

“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.” (Titus 2:6-8)

Just as a woman has a role of spiritual productivity, men also have a Role to play in the building up of young and growing Christians. This is played out in his Role as the teacher and guide of less mature believers. In Acts 8:24-26, we see this principle being employed by Aquila and Priscilla in the instructing of Apollos. This was not simply a thing they desired to do, it was a command obeyed by the spiritually mature.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Whereas a man has a Role to represent the Lord to others, it must not be forgotten that his primary area of representation is within his home. As a father, a man represents the Lord in a direct Role as the creator of his children, having joined with his wife (the two now being “one”) to bring physical life into the world. A man further has the Roles of guardian, provider, teacher, and sustainer of his home. As a representative of Christ, a man has the Role of head, director, saviour, priest, teacher, and guide. He is an ambassador of Christ, in the position of overseer of his family.

We must remember that this bears no indication of a man’s perceived qualifications to lead his home. Much has been said in recent years regarding the training of men to be good fathers and husbands. However, our study reveals the matter to be as simple as obeying God’s commands, which are not grievous (1 John 5:3). Just as a woman is commanded to be in a position of submission, the man is commanded to be in a position of authority. He is to be “as Christ,” and so be the authority in his home.