“First Peter 3:7-12”

Friday, September 08, 2017

"You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, ‘The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

---End of Scripture verses---

With leadership comes a great deal of responsibility. As head of the household, the husband in Christ is to live with his wife “in an understanding way” (verse 7). He is to use his intellect and not his brawn when interacting with the spouse of his covenant. He must understand that God’s will for him is to not treat her treacherously (Malachi 2:15) and to love and cherish her just as Jesus loves His church and gave Himself up for her (Ephesians 5:25-33). To say that a woman is “someone weaker” is not to suggest that she is inferior in a spiritual or intellectual or any other way. Common sense should tell us that men are physically stronger than women more often than not. Husbands must not overpower their wives with brute strength but overwhelm them with kindness and love.

Peter lists two reasons why a husband should show his wife “honor” and treat her with respect. 1) Because she is “a fellow heir of the grace of life.” 2) So that the man’s “prayers will not be hindered.” God has promised all of His faithful children, both male and female, “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4). A married couple shares the honor of being husband and wife, brother and sister in Christ and fellow inheritors of eternal glories. Those are ample reasons to love and cherish and respect one another. But if a man chooses to mistreat his wife he severs the life-line that He has to heaven, and God will shut His ears to his prayers and petitions.

Starting in verse 8 Peter begins to “sum up” all that he had written about proper attitudes toward respect and submission and applied them to all Christians in their dealings with one another. Every brother and sister in Christ should do their individual part in keeping harmony in the family of Christ. We should sympathize with each other’s challenges and burdens, and be “humble in spirit” realizing that we all are fraught with human weakness and frailty. We need to prepare ourselves in advance to resist the urge to return “evil for evil” if someone should “insult” us (verse 9). Look to the example of our persecuted Savior who “did not revile in return” and “uttered no threats” but “kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). If we desire to receive blessings it helps if we learn to give blessings, even in exchange for rudeness.

The apostle quotes Psalm 34 again, as he did in chapter 2 verse 3. In verses 10-12 he cites verses 12-16 of Psalm 34 that promises God’s deliverance for His troubled and afflicted people. As we can see, God’s assistance depends greatly upon our attitudes and efforts. In order to receive the best of God’s blessings on earth and in eternity, His people must strive to control their tongues and avoid all forms of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). As we “turn away from evil” we must actively “seek” and then ardently “pursue” peace. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict and chaos, but also the calm confidence, even in the midst of strife, that comes from having a right relationship with God. The Lord “sets His face against” those who think, speak and do evil, but He sees, hears and lifts up those who pursue righteousness through His Son Jesus.

Please read 1 Peter 3:13-18 for tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day!

-Louie Taylor

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