Ephesians 5:22

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
- Ephesians 5:22

Why weren't the wives being subject to their husbands? In some areas of their lives, the wives considered Christ to be their Lord and thus negated the headship of the husband. This was being caused by a false teaching in Ephesus. Paul responds by saying that they should obey their husbands just like they obey Christ. This matters in this time period because of the marriage contract. Paul is not commenting as to how marriage should be, but that the contracts that have been agreed upon, should not be broken because of the false teachings.