Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 5:21

"subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ." — Ephesians 5:21 (ASV)

Submitting yourselves one to another. This means maintaining due subordination in the various relations of life. The apostle now proceeds to illustrate this general principle of religion regarding wives (Ephesians 5:22–24), children (Ephesians 6:1–3), and servants (Ephesians 6:5–8). However, at the same time that he enforces this duty of submission, he also enjoins others to use their authority in a proper manner and gives solemn injunctions that there should be no abuse of power.

He particularly enjoins on husbands the duty of loving their wives with all tenderness (Ephesians 5:25–33); on fathers, the duty of treating their children so that they might easily obey them (Ephesians 6:4); and on masters, the duty of treating their servants with kindness, remembering that they also have a Master in heaven (Ephesians 6:9). The general meaning here is that Christianity does not break up the relations of life and produce disorder, lawlessness, and insubordination; rather, it will confirm every proper authority and make every just yoke lighter. Infidelity is always disorganizing; Christianity never.