Last 5 Days
Submission in the Household
1 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. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but 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. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.
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.
As a continuation of 1 Peter 2:13-25, Peter further explained his principle of denying sin and conducting one in holiness, this time describing being subjected to a third group: wives and husbands. In 7 verses, he addressed both wives and husbands, spending more time in his exhortation to the wives. It is likely that his emphasis on the wives in this passage was a result of a large number of Christian women, whose husbands were not yet Christians, who were present in his context. Hence, Peter had to address the situation in which a wife has become a Christian while her spouse remains an unbeliever, and how the wife was to conduct herself in the household.
Peter began his exhortation to the wives by asking them to be subject to their husbands, so that they can win their unbelieving husbands to faith on the basis of their good behaviour. Being subject to, John Piper had explained, was to honor and affirm her husband’s leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts. They were reminded to not just care for their external adornment but also their internal virtue and beauty. As with the other units in this section, Peter’s exhortation to be subject to, particularly in the household, was with the hope that the conduct of living a holy life will have a positive impact on the unbelieving family. He was urging the Christian women to live a life that is respectable so that they will be able to maintain a good reputation for the gospel, and in so doing, win their husbands to the gospel.
Peter then turned to the Christian husbands, exhorting them to live with their wives (assumed to be Christian wives) with understanding and consideration. They are to protect their wives physically and emotionally. They are, also, to treat their wives with respect, because wives, too, are heirs, together with their husbands, of God’s gracious gift of life.
Dear sisters, if your husband is yet a believer, help him to be glad through your behaviour and commitment to Christ. Help him to see that your loving him is because of your love for God. Dear brothers, do not try to dominate your wives just because they are the “weaker vessel”. Seek to keep her safe, treat her with respect and care, and consider her an equal heir with you of God’s grace.
Dear brothers and sisters, if you are in a marital relationship, live your marriage lives well. Be considerate and respectful of your spouses, honour them and love them. If you are not in a marital relationship, live your lives well. Our behaviour, and the way we live in a better manner after surrendering our lives to God, affects how others see us and respond to God. We are the “fifth gospel” that others are reading. Our love for people around us, helps to point others to Jesus. May we all be that shining light that points people to Christ.
