The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
Having previously looked at:
The Importance of Making God the
Priority of Our Families,
Implementing God as the Priority
Choice of Our Families,
Understanding How Priority Choices
Affect Our Families, and
Husbands/Fathers in the Christian
Family,
Let’s spend a few minutes on this
vitally important aspect of the
Christian Family.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
As was emphasized last time regarding
husbands/fathers, the order of these separate
but potentially related roles is important,
Gen.2:18-24 > 4:1-2.
 When counseling a young couple regarding
marriage, I typically recommend that they wait a
few years before having children.
 The reason is simple: It takes a couple of years to
learn to be a husband and a wife according to
biblical directives.
 Having children immediately (or previously)
usually complicates the process unnecessarily.
 So, learn to be husbands & wives first, then
becoming fathers and mothers is easier., Heb.13:4.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
As husbands should learn proper “headship”
through sacrificial love, physical & spiritual
provision and protection for his wife first
(before fatherhood), so too wives must learn
to be a biblical wife (preferably) before
becoming “mothers.”
 She must learn submission, Eph.5:22-24.
 This is literally arranging oneself under the control
of another. (Greek hupo + tasso)
 Such underscores the importance of a proper
choice of a husband who is worthy of her love,
trust, honor, respect, and commitment, vv.25-31.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
As husbands should learn proper “headship”
through sacrificial love, physical & spiritual
provision and protection for his wife first
(before fatherhood), so too wives must learn
to be a biblical “wife” (preferably) before
becoming “mothers.”
 She must also learn biblical love, Titus 2:4.
 This is neither immature “gooey” infatuation nor
lust- but is instead mature appreciation of his true
character, and a lifetime commitment of dedication
to him, Matt.19:3-6; Rom.7:2-3; Gen.2:18 >
1Cor.11:8-9.
 Such again emphasizes the importance of the
choice of a “right” husband. No other decision,
save our commitment to Christ, is so important.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
Once the wife has learned biblical submission
to and biblical love of her husband (and he of
course has likewise learned his biblical role and
responsibilities), she is ready to be a biblical
“mother.”
 Like with her husband, she must learn to love her
children, Titus 2:4.
 Such is not always “natural” – Rom.1:31 (Greek
astorgo is “without natural affection”- stergo is to
“cherish affectionately)
 This learned love is the one that permits the
wife/mother to still feel and act biblically toward a
husband or children who are being or acting
decidedly “unlovable”! cf. 1Pet.3:1-2
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
Another role (in addition to love and submission)
of the biblical wife is that of a teacher.
 Although hers is not the primary responsibility,
Eph.6:4; she still has an important part to play.
 She may have to teach her husband, 1Cor.7:1314,16; 1Pet.3:1-2.
 And she certainly must take part in teaching her
children, Titus 2:4ff!
 However, she is not required to be the public
instructor of the assembly- in fact, she is clearly
prohibited from this role, 1Tim.2:11ff.
 The man is given the public responsibility of
teaching, and she is given a more private role, cf.
1Tim.2:8 > 11-12.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
So, what is the biblical wife/mother to be/teach?
Look closely at Titus 2:4-5:
 Love of family, v.4- as already discussed; but also
what she has learned and developed as she has
matured as a wife & mother so that Prov.31:28-31
comes to pass.
 Sensibility, v.5- Greek word is sophron and means
to be “of sound mind, self-controlled.” Translated
as “prudent” in 1Tim.3:2. It seems to suggest
“having good sense” and capable of
reasonableness.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
So, what is the biblical wife/mother to be/teach?
Look closely at Titus 2:4-5:
 Purity, v.5. Greek word here is hagnos and means
“clean, innocent, modest, perfect, chaste, pure.”
Obviously sexual purity is the primary application.
Mothers, are you teaching your daughters to dress,
speak and socialize with purity? If not, such could lead
to sexual impurity.
 Workers at Home, v.5- Literally, oikourgos is the
combination of oikos (home, household) and ergon
(worker). Understand that oikos refers not only to the
house itself, but also the occupants, Prov.31:27. She is
not home-bound as Prov.31:16,24 make clear; but does
have this primary responsibility.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
So, what is the biblical wife/mother to be/teach?
Look closely at Titus 2:4-5:
 Kindness, v.5. This is typically, and unfortunately
thought of as inherited rather than taught. Agathos
is also rendered “good”- Matt.7:18; 1Pet.2:18.
Surely such is also part of 1Pet.3:4.
 Subjection, v.5- Obviously, this has been previously
covered in this lesson. Let’s add that it is the same
word as in Rom.13:5, and the same concept as
1Cor.11:3. Such does not require slavery, nor
forbids independent thought. It does require one to
humbly submit and arrange themselves under the
control of another. 1Pet.3:1-6.
The Christian Family:
The Role of Wife/Mother
What about it, wives and mothers?
Are these things being lived, demonstrated,
and taught in your home?
Ladies, I know some of you are doing simply
terrific jobs in your homes of being godly
wives and mothers. Trust me, it shows and
is much appreciated.
And it will bear fruit to the Lord for
generations to come!