Title: Responsibilities of Husbands / 1 Peter 3:7
Contents
husband's responsibility
1 Peter 3:7
Most of them talk at length about the responsibility of the wife, but the Bible verses that point out the responsibility of husbands are very simplistic.
If you read the introduction to 1 Peter 3, the talk about women's responsibilities is quite long, but it ends with just one or two words about the conduct of husbands toward their wives. This is also the case with Paul, who in this chapter wrote six verses about wives and only one verse about husbands.
However, there are many very important lessons in the text that are not to be overlooked. Although Peter talks briefly about husbands in Chapter 3, it is not to be rushed.
There is an article in a book titled "The Men Women Seen".
"Men blame their wives when they lose things. They unbutton their shirts and pull their necks drooping when they take off their sweaters. They load cars better than wives. "They claim to be able to do it, and they see television sports programs as news. They don't cook except for barbecues, which seem like a man's prerogative."
These are common stories in the West, but I think it's something we men should also consider.
So what does Peter say about husbands?
Respect your wives.
The counsel of this verse is that husbands should respect their wives. The word "respect" has the meaning of respect and preciousness. A husband should always respect his wife. Why? The groom took over the bride from his father-in-law. The bride's father hands over the groom's son-in-law to take care of his daughter. Because the groom has taken on that responsibility, he must take care of his wife, just as the mother-in-law once looked after her daughter.
A husband must show respect to anyone if he is a Christian, even if he does not take his wife from his father-in-law (2:17).
If you have to respect someone you don't even know, how much should you respect your wife? A husband should not regard his wife as a slave or plaything, nor should he take her service for granted.
Christian husbands should remember that their wives are precious. Husbands should treat their wives as precious jewels. Peter teaches that husbands should treat their wives as they would with valuables. The wife is one of the living stones being built into a spiritual house for the glory of God (2:5). Just as Jesus is precious to believers (2:7), so are wives to husbands (3:7).
Consider your wives.
Husbands should think of their wives. In all things, the views of wives must be taken into account. Since the husband is, of course, the head of the household, the wife should submit to her husband, but the husband is not always right. That is why Christian husbands should listen to their wives so that they can compromise their views.
A “weaker vessel” does not mean that women are less intelligent or less able to plan and organize. Successful female entrepreneurs are not a phenomenon unique to modern society.
(Proverbs 31:10) Who can find a virtuous woman, and her price is greater than pearls.
In the past, there were many virtuous women.
a virtuous woman
(Proverbs 31:13) He seeks wool and linen, and works diligently with his hands (Proverbs 31:14), like a ship of merchants, bringing food from afar (Proverbs 31:15); (Proverbs 31:16) They rent and buy fields, and plant vineyards with what they earn (Proverbs 31:17); When he realized that his trade was profitable, he did not put out the lamp at night (Proverbs 31:19);
In this way, the role of a wife can be said to be large, wide and long, but it is called "a weaker vessel."
So what does it mean that wives are weaker vessels? Peter here seems to be pointing out that women are generally weaker physically and sometimes emotionally than men. Wives are often more deeply wounded by marital conflicts and the heartless conduct of their husbands. So husbands should think more about their wives.
Peter did not say that wives were weak. He exhorted husbands to “honor” their wives because they are “weaker vessels.”
Husbands are usually strong, but they are like wives in that they are vessels made of earth. Therefore, both husband and wife are weak, stained with sin, and can get caught up in various foolish things.
The word “living with your wives according to knowledge” has the same meaning as “know” in the Old Testament. In other words, it shows deep love. Husbands should think and respect their wives when they come to the most intimate moments of love in their marriage.
A very beautiful verse that describes the personal relationship between husband and wife is Ephesians 5:23, 25-26.
(Ephesians 5:23) For the husband is the head of his wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, he himself is the Savior of the body. (Ephesians 5:26) For sanctifying by washing with water, cleansing with the word
This is spontaneous and devoted love. Christ sacrificed himself on the cross of Calvary for the church. Husbands should love their wives the same way.
gracious gift of life
Marriage is companionship. If a husband and wife go separate ways, it is not marriage. Of course, couples may have different hobbies and interests. However, husbands and wives should generally agree and keep pace as partners in marriage.
In partnership, each has a special role. For example, the husband is good at fixing chores in the house, and the wife is better at the kitchen. This does not mean that we cannot share our responsibilities with each other.
Marriage is a partnership with a certain goal. A wife is “the one who will inherit the grace of life together.” Earth Life Can Be Very Joyful The companionship of a loving husband or wife is a great joy. So, even if one side dies first, the other side can look back on the happy times of the past and receive comfort. It is a great joy to have children and watch them grow. But the greatest joy is the fact that husband and wife are moving towards the joy of heaven together. Earth life is nothing compared to the divine joy that awaits those who trust in Jesus as Lord of salvation. Eternal life is not simply living long in time. Then the question 'Isn't heaven a boring place?' Eternal life is to see and know Jesus face to face. In other words, entering into the joy and wonder of the Lord's presence is eternal life. When Peter spoke of “the grace of life,” he did not simply refer to the joy of raising children. It is the joy of eternal life that awaits every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
blessing to pray together
There is an old Western proverb that says, "Families that pray together live together." Believers with families will know the value of the privilege and grace of praying together as a family. Here are the words of Barbieri: “In physical accompaniment there are children, in spiritual accompaniment there are answers to prayer.”
Prayer is important in the lives of believers. If we do not draw close to our Creator and Redeemer, life will inevitably be barren. If a husband and wife cannot come to the Lord together, it means that something is missing in their commitment to each other. If a husband does not think and respect his wife, and if the wife does not accept and obey her husband as the head of the household, there will be no answers to prayers to be received together.
If the husband does not assume the responsibility of the head of the household, the wife should always be the husband. This creates discord in the home and “clogs the airway.”
This lesson is not limited to married couples. All believers should be able to bow their heads before the Lord together as God's family. It is a beautiful and precious thing for the church to pray to the Lord like a family in order to please God in our words, actions, thoughts and lives.