Monday, July 18, 2005

1Peter 3:1-12 Relationships

This portion of scripture is about relationships. Families need to love one another, respect one another. From the family comes the church family. If we do not get along our prayers will be hindered. A strong family and a strong church will be the light to a sin darkened world. God will bless those who seek him and show the character of Jesus. Never are we to show the evil ways of the flesh and the devil. It is possible to be as Jesus, for it is commanded to be holy as he is holy. If we are connected, we shall be able by his power in us to be as he is.  

Wives

1 Pet 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1 Pet 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

Likewise, we are to be servants, as Jesus served us and his Father even to death on the cross. Likewise, ye wives, be help meets and servants to YOUR OWN husbands. This is Peter's spiritual advice given to the wife to make for a more stable loving relationship with the husband. Husbands need the respect and approval of their wives. If the wife obeys God, then her husband, even a disobedient one, will by her good conduct be drawn to her and God in her.

A Christian wife is elevated above any other woman of the world. Look at the Islamic women, forced to be covered and in bondage. A woman who is mistreated should seek help from a Godly Christian Pastor and his wife, not alone. This is one reason we are to attend church, to have supportive relationships.

Peter continues to describe the qualities of a wife.

1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
1 Pet 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

No one wants to be around an adorned wife, if her heart is not submitted to God. A bitter heart and a sharp tongue bring grief to a husband.

Prov 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

Apretty woman and nice perfume with lovely clothing, these attract a man, yet, a woman with a meek and quiet spirit is a great comfort to her husband. If the others are missing, still the husband is blessed by a good companion. A wife with a sweet spirit is a great treasure.

Prov 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

1 Pet 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
1 Pet 3:6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

I don't think "lord," is a term used today for respect of a husband. The NIV Bible uses the word master, how about chief, boss, cool one, my all in all, your the best? You can use any term you choose, but mean it from a heart of love. Be sure, you will be loved in return. A Christian husband loves his wife and children.

Unhindered Prayers

1 Pet 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

Now husbands, dwell with your wife according to knowledge. Now that is not an easy thing for a man. Who can understand the mind of a woman? Who indeed? the Lord knows all things. What you do not understand, ask of the Lord and receive by grace. All we do is by his grace.

Peter gives a couple of hints; the wife is a weaker vessel How do you treat a delicate glass vessel? With care and respect; should not the wife be much more precious?

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Eph 5:28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Eph 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

Peter continues saying honor your wife, being heirs together of the grace of life. Together you live and if both are saved both have eternal life. Now an important reason is given: "that your prayers be not hindered." This may be the cause of much marital discord: the lack of respect one for another. God will not hear your prayers.

1 John 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 Pet 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 Pet 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Eph 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

As our Lord was one with the Father, we are to be one in Christ and of one heart. Be compassionate, caring, polite. In a family we are not to fight, accuse or exchange harsh words. We are children of the God of love and peace, so let his grace fill your hearts and homes. Live as examples of God's family, the family is important. Always go to bed with forgiveness and kind words so your prayers will reach God and he will bless you.

The eyes of the Lord

1 Pet 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

The secret to a long life is to keep from speaking and doing evil, to love and be loved in return.

1 Pet 3:11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
1 Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Do we not want to please God who sees all and knows all?

Let us see the eyes of the Lord, as he is shown throughout the Bible.

He gave grace to Noah saving he and his family.

Gen 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

A new promised land, both on earth and in heaven.

Deu 11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
Deu 11:12 A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.
Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

King Asa, was favored : the homosexuals were removed from his land, these were male temple prostitutes, they were a curse to a society in sin. The idols also were removed.The idols of lust and pleasure and the sacrifice of the children to Molech.

1 Ki 15:11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
1 Ki 15:12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.

Tree worship is idol worship. We should not hug trees, they are for beauty and for wood to build and make fires.

2 Chr 14:2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
2 Chr 14:3 For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

God searches the earth, looking for those he may bless, that wish to do well.

2 Chr 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

What if a nation does evil in his sight? Here is the rest of the story;

Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good stuff Super.
With regard to 3:7 1 Pet 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
For all those men that like to live with their wives and try dominating them or not loving them as Christ loved the church; he can indeed expect his prayers to be hindered. A. T. Robertson comments on this: She is termed "the weaker" (twi asqenesterwi), not for intellectual or moral weakness, but purely for physical reasons, which the husband must recognize with due consideration for marital happiness. Joint-heirs of the grace of life (sunklhronomoi caritoß zwhß). Late double compound found in an Ephesian inscription and the papyri, in N.T. only here, Romans 8:17; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 11:9. God's gift of life eternal belongs to woman as well as to man. In the eyes of God the wife may be superior to the husband, not merely equal. To the end that your prayers be not hindered (eiß to mh egkoptesqai taß proseucaß umwn). Purpose clause with eiß to and the present passive infinitive (with negative mh) of egkoptw, to cut in, to interrupt, late verb (Polybius), as in Romans 15:22, etc. Very vivid to us now with our telephones and radios when people cut in on us.

Anonymous said...

He says: to cut in....It's possible one could interpret that: cut up, snipped; like with a pair of scissors! So if a man does not live in right relationship with his wife; his prayers will be snipped and fall short. Certainly if the husband's prayers are not answered; then he might want to take inventory and see just how he IS living with his wife.
In verses 1 Peter 3:3,4 A beautiful woman as the world sees them, may not be beautiful on the inside. Though she may be on the covers of many men's AND women's magazines. Reminds me of Proverbs 11:22( NLT )  A woman who is beautiful but lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout. ( oink ) God blesss ya. Space, out