WIVES AND HUSBANDS – PART 1
There are times that the Bible runs right into the face of cultural perceptions and values. The opening verses of chapter 3 are one such passage:
1 Peter 3
1 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, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 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. 5 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, 6 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.
7 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.
Before we tackle the text, let us acknowledge the words and understandings that contemporary people, especially women in western society, may have trouble connecting with or affirming.
1. Verses 1 – submit yourselves to your own husbands What would be offensive about this concept in the prevailing culture of our time?
2. What do you understand the Bible to mean by this?
3. Verses 5-6 ramp up this issue: “ They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.” What makes this objectionable?
4. What do you understand the Bible to mean by this?
5. The final one comes from verse 7: treat them with respect as the weaker partner What is objectionable here?
6. What does the Bible mean by this?
Before I post the deeper understanding of this text, I’d like to hear from you.
Steve:
Well this is an easy one. Let us look at Ephesians 22-33. We, the husbands are to care for the wife as Jesus so loved the church and as we so love ourselves.
We males are to be like Jesus Christ when dealing with our wives or for that matter with our date or partner.
Whoa, we males have a tremendous obligation to carry.
Mark Ertel
Mark Ertel - November 28, 2011 at 2:33 pm |
These verses from 1 Peter are simple, it works. In a partnership someone needs to be dominate in each situation. Otherwise you have stalemate and no action.
The wife might be better at finances, so be it.
The husband might be better at mowing the lawn, so be it
The wife might be better at cooking, so be it.
So the husband decides who is to cook, handle the finances, or who mows the lawn. So what is the matter with this arrangement. Now back to you.
Mark Ertel
Mark Ertel - November 28, 2011 at 2:53 pm |
If we are to Christ-like husbands, we must be holy and blameless. We must always do God’s will. Sometimes God speaks to me about a situation and sometimes he speaks to my wife. If I think we should make a certain decision and my wife says “God tells me we should do the opposite” then I must honor my wife or more so honor God by not doing my will but God’s will that was communicated to my wife. If the decision is truly God’s Will then we, as a couple, will both agree that it is the right decision.
We both have our God given talents/gifts. We must know when to back off and let our partner do what they are gifted to do. This coincides with what Mark (Ertel) is saying.
Tim Clutter - November 29, 2011 at 9:12 am |
Curious as to what the ladies in our group might be thinking about this text.
sdunnpastor - November 30, 2011 at 10:08 pm |