Husbands and wives

Fabiola 2011.7.6

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.

You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

The apostle Peter wrote this letter to the church during the time of the Roman Empire control.

Usually when a man became Christian he brought his whole family to the church.

An example of this is found in the story of the jailer of Philippi in the book of the Acts 16:29-34

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.”

Acts 16: 29-31

On the other hand when a woman became a Christian she usually went to the church alone.

Under the Roman law the husband and father had absolute power over all his relatives including his wife.

If the husband did not agree with the new belief his wife had, she might put her marriage under jeopardy by claiming the right of a free woman under Christ.

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Apostle Peter is trying to ease the new Christian married women who were married with none believers by instructing them that they should not preach to their husbands. Under those circumstances, the best way to reach them would be through a loving service:

Wives should show to their husbands the same kind of love that Jesus Christ showed to the church.

By being model wives they would please their husbands and they would have the chance to accept Jesus by the behavior of their wives.

If they wouldn’t accept their faith, at least husbands would allow their wives to attend church.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

Should we, Christian’s wives not take care of our personal appearance?

The verse we read doesn’t say so, but it says that we shouldn’t focus all our strength in the beauty of our body but in the beauty of our soul.

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.

You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

What is the meaning of submission?

The spirit of submission apostle Peter is referring to, is the understanding of a woman when she recognizes the state of leadership of her husband under God’s eyes.

Does this submission spirit transform a wife into a sort of slave or servant that a husband can use for his own good or pleasure?

Of course not. A Christian wife will submit to her husband in reverence to God and not to the man.

She submits to her husband as an act of faith and obedience to God’s word

They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.

You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

It is very easy to love the loving one. It is easy to love the loving husband. But many times they are not loving at all and that make it very difficult for us to submit to them.

This is why apostle Peter says:

do not give way to fear.

Don’t be afraid of believing in Jesus Christ, do not be afraid of showing love to the one that is not loving and kind because God is faithful and He will show you his grace and favor.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

“Husbands” Do not think that because the word of God says “be submissive” women are weaker or inferior to you.

On the contrary it is required a very strong spirit to willingly submit.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Husband: How do you live with your wife? Who is she to you?

I will encourage all of us to read the Book of “Song of songs”.

It is in the Bible, and if we understand it literally, the book presents to us a conversation between a man and his wife.

I liken you, my darling, to a mare  among Pharaoh’s chariot horses.

Your cheeks are beautiful with earrings, your neck with strings of jewels.

Song of Songs 1:7, 10

How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!  Your eyes are doves.

Song of songs 4:1 You are altogether beautiful, my darling;  there is no flaw in you.

Song of Songs 4:7

You have stolen my heart, my sister, my bride;  you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes,  with one jewel of your necklace.

Song of Songs 4:9

How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!

Song of Songs 4:10

This is the kind of husband that God wants you to be.

Loving, caring, giving honor to your wife with your life.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

This word weaker does not mean your wife is less or inferior than you, it means she has less physical strength. Also in many cultures, specially at that time women needed the protection of a man, to have a house, to be respected, to have food.

Now a days most women work and probably they can support their lives by themselves, but still there is no woman who can bare a child and work all day at the same time.

Women need protection.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

The way you treat your wife can become the key of your prayers to be listened or not.

If God is not answering you, maybe you have to check how are you doing as a husband.

Summarizing Wives, do not be afraid of submitting to your husbands. Do it out of faith to your God and God will reward you.

Honor your husband.

Husbands, love your wife with your whole heart. Love is not a feeling it is a commandment.

If you did not love your wife before, you can start today a new time in your marriage.

LET’S PRAY