1 Peter 3:1–7 (NKJV)
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror. 7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
The focus of this week has been God’s commandment to love our neighbor, to put that second great commandment into practice, and that we do it genuinely and sincerely, not with hypocrisy. Today’s lesson focuses on the home, in the context of husband and wife as neighbor to one another.
In the context of marriage, the Lord would have Christian wives submitting to their husbands in love, as the Church submits to Christ. Even if their husband is not a believer, God would have wives loving their husbands through “chaste conduct” and “fear,” that is, respect, which, in turn, may influence their husband toward the faith. God would have women pursue the “incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.” This, in God’s estimation, is what love looks like on the part of a wife, and it is “very precious in the sight of God.” That’s not the message that women hear from the world or that rises up from our sinful flesh. But then, the world and our flesh have never been friendly to Christians. As we heard earlier this week from James, “Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4).
For their part, believing husbands are not to be gruff or uncaring toward their wives, but considerate. They are to cherish and honor them as their equals when it comes to our status before God, as coheirs of eternal life. Part of that honor includes recognizing with thanksgiving that God intentionally designed women as the “weaker vessel,” that is, softer in demeanor, less forceful, less physically strong, so that they might complement their husbands. This “weakness” is not a flaw but part of God’s good design. If we succeed at ignoring the world’s wisdom and if we live together in love, according to God’s design, then husbands and wives will be great sources of comfort, strength, and support for one another.
Let us pray: Lord, in this world that has grown to despise marriage, help us all to lead a pure and chaste life in word and deed, and strengthen husbands and wives to love and honor each other. Amen.
