WORD From The Woods
1 Peter 2:18-3:-7
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Likewise, 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, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 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. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered”
Ephesians 5:22-33
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
In the first part of this passage, Peter talks about the servant/master relationship, which would apply in todays context to the employee/employer relationship. Even if you boss treats you unfairly, you are still called too to treat him with grace, kindness and respect. The most important job we have is representing Christ to the world around us, and the way we respond especially in unfair and unjust situations can be a much more powerful witness than any words we can say. Peter, also addresses the marriage relationship, but it’s pretty brief when it comes to the husband’s role. So, I included Paul’s teaching on this subject from his letter to the Ephesian church because he focuses more on the husband’s responsibility. This is one of those passages that doesn't get a lot of attention these days because it is thought to be politically "in-correct." I've never been accused of being politically correct, but this passage is in God's word so it must be important and correct. Since God is the one who created all things, He probably knows what He's talking about. A lot of teachers like to say that Paul is calling for mutual submission within the marriage relationship, but in verse 22 he clearly tells wives to submit to their husbands, as to The Lord, he never calls husbands to submit to their wife. Paul says that husbands are to be the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, and as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husband. Now this may sound quite harsh and overbearing, but Paul is comparing the marriage relationship to Christ and the church, I don't think that any of us as believers would say that Christ is harsh or overbearing. Paul devotes most of this passage to the husbands responsibility as the head or leader of the marriage relationship. Husbands are commanded here to lead and love and cherish his bride as Christ does the church! Husbands are given a tremendous responsibility in this command. Paul tells us, that since we are one flesh with our wife, we must nourish and cherish our wife, because if we don't then we are hurting ourselves! God has clearly called men to be the leader of their household both physically and more important, spiritually. This is not in any way demeaning or disrespectful of women, quite the contrary, this biblical model protects women and honors them with the utmost dignity and respect. Husbands are to love, honor, cherish, respect, provide for, and most importantly, lead their wives and children by exemplifying Christ. If men are doing that, it is a great joy for their wife to respect and come under the leadership of the Godly man that they are married to. I hope that the men that read this will strive become the husbands and fathers that God has commanded us to be. The Godly leadership of biblically masculine men in the home, is so critical to raising up the next generation to fear and honor the Lord! I can’t emphasize this enough!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-
1 Peter 2:18-3:-7
“Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Likewise, 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, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 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. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered”
Ephesians 5:22-33
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
In the first part of this passage, Peter talks about the servant/master relationship, which would apply in todays context to the employee/employer relationship. Even if you boss treats you unfairly, you are still called too to treat him with grace, kindness and respect. The most important job we have is representing Christ to the world around us, and the way we respond especially in unfair and unjust situations can be a much more powerful witness than any words we can say. Peter, also addresses the marriage relationship, but it’s pretty brief when it comes to the husband’s role. So, I included Paul’s teaching on this subject from his letter to the Ephesian church because he focuses more on the husband’s responsibility. This is one of those passages that doesn't get a lot of attention these days because it is thought to be politically "in-correct." I've never been accused of being politically correct, but this passage is in God's word so it must be important and correct. Since God is the one who created all things, He probably knows what He's talking about. A lot of teachers like to say that Paul is calling for mutual submission within the marriage relationship, but in verse 22 he clearly tells wives to submit to their husbands, as to The Lord, he never calls husbands to submit to their wife. Paul says that husbands are to be the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, and as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husband. Now this may sound quite harsh and overbearing, but Paul is comparing the marriage relationship to Christ and the church, I don't think that any of us as believers would say that Christ is harsh or overbearing. Paul devotes most of this passage to the husbands responsibility as the head or leader of the marriage relationship. Husbands are commanded here to lead and love and cherish his bride as Christ does the church! Husbands are given a tremendous responsibility in this command. Paul tells us, that since we are one flesh with our wife, we must nourish and cherish our wife, because if we don't then we are hurting ourselves! God has clearly called men to be the leader of their household both physically and more important, spiritually. This is not in any way demeaning or disrespectful of women, quite the contrary, this biblical model protects women and honors them with the utmost dignity and respect. Husbands are to love, honor, cherish, respect, provide for, and most importantly, lead their wives and children by exemplifying Christ. If men are doing that, it is a great joy for their wife to respect and come under the leadership of the Godly man that they are married to. I hope that the men that read this will strive become the husbands and fathers that God has commanded us to be. The Godly leadership of biblically masculine men in the home, is so critical to raising up the next generation to fear and honor the Lord! I can’t emphasize this enough!
God bless and have a great week! -Terry-