In The Same Way Series

In the Same Way

A study through Peter July 16th 2023

A young child was attending their very first wedding. Sitting by his mom, the boy took in all the sights and sounds. Leaning toward her, the child asked ‘Why does the bride wear all-white?’ To which she answered her son, ‘Well dear, white is the colour of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life.’ Thinking about this for a few moments, the young boy again leaned over to ask his mother a second question, ‘So why is the groom wearing black?’

A husband was told by the marriage counsellor to try and be nice to his wife. One day he comes home from work. He’s dressed up in a suit, he has cologne on, he has a bouquet of flowers and a box of candy in his hands. He’s trying to make a good impression. The wife says, “Oh, I can’t believe it! Little Johnny has been throwing up; the dishwasher just broke; your parents are coming to visit this weekend and to top it all off, you come home drunk!”

Marriages should be happy relationships; and in a perfect world all the relationships we have would be, really. It would be great if all of us could say that we have a good relationship with our spouse, our family, our boss, our employees and our friends and neighbours. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we never had a disagreement, or perish the thought, an argument? And further to that perfect scenario would be if we all had the same faith in God and we never fought over how or who or what we should worship…wouldn’t that be just perfect?

Sadly though, we live in an imperfect world with imperfect people. This is a world where we do tend to get into arguments and fights and power struggles over everything from the family finances to the colour of the paint in the bedroom and what to do with our vacation time. Yes, we do have troubles, but that does not mean that we don’t have hope. We may not see eye to eye on everything, but that does not mean we have to go to war over every time we have a disagreement.

I wonder what it is like for the angels in heaven who don’t HAVE marriages? I wonder what they must think of the way we relate to each other as human beings, created in the image of God? Today, we’ll continue our walk through 1 Peter and look at how God explains marriage relationships and how we can also tie that into our other relationships as well.

Turn in your Bible to 1 Peter 3:1-7. (I’m reading the ESV)

Wives and Husbands

Likewise (or in the same way…), 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 (or in the same way…), husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you[a] of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

The first thing that jumps out at many people in this passage is that little phrase ‘be subject to’ or ‘submit’, or ‘be submissive’. People can get hung up in that and lose the intention of what is being said. Again, remember to always take a passage of scripture in context; the context of the letter, the book, other books written by the author, and the bible as a whole. Don’t just pull out one word or phrase and then have your mindset locked by that one thought. That will only lead to confusion, misunderstanding, and perhaps even limit your faith.

Why does Peter tell wives to be submissive to their husbands? It is so that by the actions of his wife, a husband who has not put his trust in the Lord Jesus Christ may be led to do just that, and be saved! How often have you heard it said that you can never ‘argue’ someone into the kingdom of heaven? Oh, you can drag your kids to church, and maybe your husband too, if you’re strong enough, or threaten them enough, but what good will it do if all they see of your faith is a desire for them to spend an hour with you in a place that they don’t want to be in at all?