Swept Away by Grace—A Study in I Peter (part 3)—In the Same Way, Husbands
In this letter of Peter, we noted that Peter has asked the wives to be gentle kind servants, who are vessels of grace in the lives of their husbands. Then, lest the men took this as a license to be abusive in anyway; he quickly tells the husbands of their responsibility as well. Let us read below:
I Peter 3: (EXB) 7 In the same way [2:18;3:1], you husbands should live with your wives in an ·understanding[considerate] way [Eph. 5:25–33; Col. 3:19], since they are ·weaker than you[the weaker sex; or the less empowered one;L the weaker vessel;C women are typically physically weaker, but in Greco-Roman and Jewish society, they also had less power and authority]. But ·show them respect [pay/give them honor], because ·God gives them the same blessing he gives you—[L they are co-heirs of] ·the grace that gives true life [or God’s gift of life; L the grace of life]. Do this so that nothing will ·stop [hinder] your prayers.
A husband has the responsibility in the home to treat his wife in the same manner as Christ did the church. He is to demonstrate understanding and kindness. He is to be her protector. He is to have the responsibility to also lead her in understanding the grace of God by example. He is to give her honor, respect and love
. Ephesians explains this one step further—
Ephesians 5: (TLB) “ 25 And you husbands, show the same kind of love to your wives as Christ showed to the Church when he died for her, 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s Word;[b] 27 so that he could give her to himself as a glorious Church without a single spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, being holy and without a single fault. 28 That is how husbands should treat their wives, loving them as parts of themselves. “
Just as God’s Grace sees each of us as the spotless, unblemished bride that he died for, husbands are to gently guide their wives to reaching their greatest potential through love, kindness and encouragement—never through criticism or anger.
The only way that any human heart can love that way is to first know and love God so that the Holy Spirit can remove all those selfish, self centered desires which stand in the way of love.
Listen to this song: The Marriage Prayer
Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”