Tag: Marriage

⁷ Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (I Peter 3:7).

How may a husband display a responsible self-sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:25) to and for his wife? The Apostle Peter gives two examples of how this must occur in the home for marriage to be God glorifying.

First, the husband must live with his wife in an understanding way. Understanding (γνῶσις; gnosis) means possessing knowledge. A husband must not only live with his wife having knowledge from God’s Word regarding his responsibilities as a husband, but also having knowledge about his wife’s personality. He needs to understand his wife’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.

Second, he must honor his wife as the weaker vessel. To honor (τιμή; time’) means to give and recognize one’s wife as possessing a high status and deserving high respect. He does so because she is the weaker partner in the marriage. Weaker (ἀσθενής; asthenes) refers to physical weakness but not emotional or intellectual inferiority.

The husband carries out both of these responsibilities since the wife, if both are believers, is an heir with the husband of God’s grace. This refers to salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone.

One of the results of such biblical behavior on the part of the husband is that the prayers of both he and his wife will not be hindered. To be hindered (ἐγκόπτω; enkopto) means to cause someone not to do something. Husbands are to be obedient to God’s instruction so the prayers of his wife, along with his own, will never stop. If one’s prayer life is in trouble, the marriage is in trouble.

Living in harmony with your spouse should be a lifelong goal. It can be consistently achieved as each partner follows God’s Word regarding their individual responsibilities in the marriage. Pursue it today, and keep on pursuing it ladies and gentlemen.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁷ Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (I Peter 3:7).

I often hear husbands demand submissiveness from their wives, while never understanding that husbands are to also be submissive to their wives. Even though husbands are the head of the home (Ephesians 5:22-24), they are likewise to be responsible to and responsible for their wives. In a word, they are to likewise be submissive.

How may a husband display a responsible self-sacrificial love (Ephesians 5:25) to and for his wife? The Apostle Peter gives two examples of how this must occur in the home for marriage to be God glorifying.

First, the husband must live with his wife in an understanding way. Understanding (γνῶσις; gnosis) means possessing knowledge. A husband must not only live with his wife having knowledge from God’s Word regarding his responsibilities as a husband, but also having knowledge about his wife’s personality. He needs to understand his wife’s spiritual, emotional and physical needs.

After 40+ years of marriage, I believe I know and understand my wife. My wife Diana does not cry easily or often. So if and when I receive a phone call from her and she is crying, I know it is a big deal. I need to immediately stop whatever I am doing and focus on loving my wife and meeting her needs at that moment in time.

Gentlemen, as you read this article, ask yourself this question: do you understand your wife and God’s instruction to you regarding your ministry to her? Second to your worship of God, this is your highest priority. Do you know what makes your wife sad, happy, angry or frustrated? If you don’t, you should. If you do, then minister to her today by demonstrating your understanding of who she is and how you may best love her.

This will truly bring God glory, and fill your home with happiness.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵ For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening” (I Peter 3:5-6).

In continuing his thoughts of submissiveness within the home, the Apostle Peter describes a truly beautiful woman as one who was holy. As we have already seen (I Peter 1:16), the word holy (ἅγιος; agios) means pure, divine, dedicated and separated from sin.

These holy women of the Old Testament were individuals who hoped (ἐλπίζω; elpizo) or possessed confidence in the character of God. Therefore, they believed God’s promises.

These were women who adorned or beautified themselves by submitting to their own husbands. They were responsible to and responsible for the husband God gave them. One such example was Sarah.

As one theologian explains, “Sarah is chosen as a specific example of a woman who was submissive to her husband. She obeyed Abraham and called him her master. That is, she recognized him as the leader and head of their household (Gen. 18:12). Like other holy women of the past, Sarah put her hope in God. This kind of conduct gives women the spiritual heritage of Sarah: You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear (ptoēsin, “terror”—used only here in the NT). Wives who are fearful (perhaps because of disobeying their husbands) are not putting all their trust in God.”

Some women fear being submissive to their husbands. Many husbands give their wives reason to fear. Holy is the woman who trusts in the Lord and is obedient to God. This results in her specifically being submissive and responsible to her man.

Ask God to give you the courage to be obedient to Him today.

Soli deo Gloria!

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (I Peter 3:1-2).

What are wives responsible to do in the marriage relationship? They are to be submissive (ὑποτάσσω; hypotasso). As one commentator explains, (Hypotasso) is “a Greek military term meaning to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader. In non-military use, it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.” This second meaning is what Peter is referring to when he calls wives to be submissive.

Wives are not to be forced or physically compelled to submit to their husbands. They are not to be abused, either verbally or physically. Rather, they are to submit willingly. God calls wives to be voluntarily responsible to their husbands and for their husbands. This is a lifelong commitment in the marriage, which continues until death.

What is the purpose for wives to be submissive to their husbands? The phrase “so that” introduces a purpose clause to the preceding statement in vs. 1. The purpose of a wife’s submission to her husband is that if a husband is not a Christian and the wife is, she may lead her husband to the Lord because of her godly behavior.

Many a wife has found herself married to an unbelieving spouse. Rather than verbally hound her husband to come to Christ or to church, a wife should mostly remain silent and display godly behavior each day before her husband. Peter mentions behavior which is respectful and pure.

Titus 2:3-5 says, ^3 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

Marriage is not always easy. It should be entered into with great care and seriousness because marriage requires great seriousness and care.

Have a blessed day.

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² when they see your respectful and pure conduct” (I Peter 3:1-2).

Peter continues his examples of submission in chapter three. Building upon the illustrations of citizens to government, and servants to their masters, the apostle now delves into the relationship of marriage. Peter begins chapter three with the transitional word “likewise” (ὁμοίως; homoios) which means similar, or to be similar to something else.

He directs his attention, as he did with the God created social institutions of government and work, with the social institution of marriage and the home. He begins with the wife, much like the Apostle Paul does in Ephesians 5:22-33.

The word wives (γυνή; gyne) is plural. Peter is speaking to all wives. This instruction will be binding to all women who are in a covenant relationship with their husbands. Peter also affirms heterosexual marriage in this particular section. Without apologies, so do I.

What are wives responsible to do in the marriage relationship? They are to be submissive (ὑποτάσσω; hypotasso). As one commentator explains, (Hypotasso) is “a Greek military term meaning to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader. In non-military use, it was a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden.” This second meaning is what Peter is referring to when he calls wives to be submissive.

Wives are not to be forced or physically compelled to submit to their husbands. They are not to be abused, either verbally or physically.

Rather, they are to submit to their godly husbands willingly. This means that God calls wives to be voluntarily responsible to their husbands and for their husbands. This is a lifelong commitment in the marriage, which continues until death.

This relationship is uniquely between a wife and her own husband. She does not, and must not, be compelled to display this submissive behavior towards anyone else including her own husband. On the contrary, she willingly submits to only to her own husband and this becomes a sacred and holy bond of oneness between the two.

If you are a wife, do you find yourself misunderstanding the responsibility of biblically submitting to your own husband? Many Christian women do. So too do Christian men. May husbands and their wives strive to foster a biblical relationship in their marriage. To do so brings glory to God who created marriage in the first place.

Soli deo Gloria!