And Now the Husbands

1 Peter 3:7
1Likewise, 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, 2then they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. 7Likewise, 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.

As Peter contends for strong marriage relationships, he addresses the issue of submission in both wife and husband, for neither is immune. Christianity has gotten a bad rap, as the role of the submissive wife has gotten a great deal of press and wild misinterpretation and role of submissive husband has gotten very little attention. This has led to abuses and a complete lack of living these principles out as God intended.

The traps that Christian husbands might fall into were twofold: (1) using their headship and authority selfishly—to control, abuse, and dominate; (2) seeing their greater physical, and perhaps emotional, strength as making them superior, despising their wives for being weaker than they. Just as society measures young women and
grades them on the basis of their beauty, society measures and grades young men on the basis of strength. Strong young men without Jesus Christ tend not to respect people they perceive as weak. In Christless relationships, the strong prey on the weak.
Jeske, M. A. ©2002. James, Peter, John, Jude (pp. 103–104). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.

All of us do well to examine our own application of the concept of submission, for first and foremost, we are all to be submitted unto Christ. The wife who learns how to be led rather than grabbing the reins in marriage is also learning how to be properly submitted to her Savior. The husband who learns how to sacrificially live for his family has learned that lesson from the Savior who humbly served us all through His death on the cross for our sins. In the meantime, He ate with sinners and washed feet. Submitting to the husband who knows these principles is easy indeed.

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