LESSON FIVE

1 Peter 3:1-7

Wives and Husbands (3:1-7)

	1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.  5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.  They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master.  You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
	7Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

	V. 1 Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands—In what “same way”?  Peter has just given three examples of submission: (1) citizens submitting to governing authorities, (2) servants submitting to masters, and (3) Jesus submitting to death on the cross.  In like manner, Christian wives are to be in submission to their husbands.
	so that, if any of them do not believe the word—Why would a godly woman be married to an unbelieving man?  Perhaps the woman herself was an unbeliever when she married him and then became a Christian.  Perhaps the husband was at one time a believer but later fell away.  Or perhaps as a believer she may have gone ahead and married an unbeliever.  Whatever the case, God’s ideal is that believers marry believers (I Cor. 7:39; II Cor. 6:14).  But there are times, such as the above illustrations indicate, where an unequal yoke exists.  How, then, can the unbelieving mate be won to Christ?  Certainly not by the believing mate leaving them (I Cor. 7:13-16).
	they may be won over without talk by the behavior of their wives—Unbelieving husbands can be won to the Lord without a word ever being spoken by their believing wives!  They can be won by the Word that lives in the Christian wife, not by the constant preaching that can nag and irritate.  Seeing the message of Christ lived out before you day after day carries more impact than hearing it “preached” at you time and time again.  A woman who is married to an unbeliever can be a beautiful “silent witness” to her husband by her Christlike behavior.
	V. 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives—What is it that the unbelieving husband should behold?  A lifestyle that is marked by high moral character and devout reverence for God—true holiness of life, nothing manufactured or put on.  Example carries greater weight than words.
	V. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment—True beauty comes from the inside.  It isn’t what’s on your face that will change a man’s life, it’s what’s in your heart.  That’s what has a way of coming through, of changing other people.  
	such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes—As examples of outward adornment, or arrangement (kosmos), Peter mentions these three.  Obviously, there is nothing inherently wrong with hair, jewelry or clothing.  But there is always the potential for going overboard on some things.  Evidently some Christian women had a tendency to spend too much effort on braiding their hair, decking themselves out with an inordinate amount of jewelry, wearing the very finest clothes money could buy.  These things do not make a woman beautiful to God because He looks on the heart (I Sam. 16:7).  Nor will they help win a lost husband to Jesus Christ.
	V. 4 Instead, it should be that of your inner self—The beauty that God seeks and that an unsaved husband needs is inner beauty.  Developing inner beauty is an area where legitimate amounts of time, concern and effort can be spent.  Prayer, Bible study, meditation and person worship can make a woman truly beautiful.
	the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit—Whereas physical beauty eventually fades no matter how much time and money a woman may spend on concealing cosmetics and face-lifts, inner beauty grows more wonderful to behold with every passing day.  Hollywood and Madison Avenue would never buy it but God’s choice of a real woman is one who demonstrates a gentle, quiet spirit.  How different from the shrill, painted images that boldly leer at us from the magazines and television screen.
	which is of great worth in God’s sight—God is looking for women who will be gentle and quiet rather than bold and brassy.
	V. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful—To underscore this point to his New Testament readers, Peter goes to the Old Testament and comments how women—holy women of the past—made themselves beautiful in the sight of God by placing proper emphasis on inner values (such as trusting God).
	They were submissive to their own husbands—If a woman is in submission to the Lord as to His desires concerning true beauty, she will likewise be in submission to her husband.  That will go a long ways farther to converting him than by putting too much emphasis on preaching to him or putting on her face.  Seeing that her religion really means something to her will have a great impact on him.
	V. 6 Like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master—A case in point is Sarah who was in submission to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-5; 18:1-6).  Physically, she was an extremely attractive woman, so much so that Abraham feared other men would desire her (Gen. 12:11, 14).  Sarah undoubtedly had lots of nice clothes and gold jewelry like Rebekah (Gen. 24:53) but she did not let these things become more important in her life than the inner beauty of a submissive, quiet spirit.  When God told Abraham to leave his country and kin there is no record of Sarah putting up a big fight to remain in Ur of Chaldea (Gen. 12:1-5).
	You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear—Christian women today can be “daughters of Sarah” if they will follow her godly example of developing inner beauty and a submissive spirit.  The opposite emphasis and behavior might qualify one for being a daughter of Jezebel!  She went heavy on the outer adornment and was anything but a submissive wife to Ahab (I Kings 21:1-25; II Kings 9:30).  Christian wives should not be afraid of what their husbands will think (or even what other women will think) but rather what God thinks of them.
	V. 7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives—As wives are to be submissive to their husbands, so husbands are to be considerate of their wives.  Consideration was hardly a trait of Eastern men in Biblical times; hence, this timely admonition.  Women are not mere chattel, slaves or even servants.  Woman was made to help man, not serve man (Gen. 2:18).  God wants Christian husbands to treat their wives with love and due respect.
	and treat them with respect as the weaker partner—In what sense are wives “weaker”?  Some women I know are stronger than their husbands spiritually, emotionally and even physically (consider their dawn-to-dusk schedule, Prov. 31:15-18).  The word for “partner” (skeuos) means “a vessel.”  The more fragile the vessel, the more care is needed in handling.  Women are beautiful, fragile creatures.  Men should not treat them roughly, carelessly or thoughtlessly.  Handle them with care!  Under Jewish law a woman was considered a thing, like a pig or a goat.  Under Greek and Roman law a woman had no right.  Christianity placed woman on the highest plane and demands that men treat them with utmost respect.
	and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life—Christian wives should also be treated as equals in life.  God has granted the precious gift of life to woman, as well as man (Gen. 1:27).  In Christ there is no male or female, all are one in Him (Gal. 3:28)  God thought of and planned for “equal rights” for women long before the feminist movements of today.
	so that nothing will hinder your prayers—There are many hindrances to an effective prayer life but one of the quickest ways to short-circuit prayer is to have a wrong relationship with your mate.  How can a person be at one with God when he or she is at odds with his or her mate?  Unresolved differences and bitterness block the avenue of prayer (Ps. 66:18).  Be at peace with each other so you can be at peace with God. 

Study Questions

1.	In what “same way” are wives to be in submission to their husbands?

2.	What does “submission” mean and how far can we take it?  See Colossians 3:18.

3.	What is God’s ideal for marriage?

4.	How is it possible for an unbelieving husband to be won “without talk”?

5.	When does outward adornment become a hindrance?

6.	What inner qualities should a Christian woman strive to develop?

7.	How did women of the Old Testament make themselves beautiful to their husbands and to God?

8.	In what ways was Sarah submissive to Abraham?
9.	What are some ways husbands could be more considerate of their wives?

10.	How are Christian women equal with Christian men?

11.	How can a husband-wife relationship effect prayers?