1 Peter 3:7

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.

It is important to remember the general theme of this section is submission.  The previous section was on wives submitting to their husbands.  This section is on husbands submitting to their wives.  Submission has nothing to do with inferiority and leadership has nothing to do with superiority.  According to Scripture, leaders are called to serve.  Service is an act associated with submission.

HOW HUSBANDS SUBMIT TO THEIR WIVES: The two words Peter uses to describe how husbands are to submit to their wives are understanding and honor.  There are stark differences between men and women.  We look at the world a little differently and think about things differently.  Men will often have a difficult time understanding women in general and their wives more specifically.  A husband’s task is to learn about and strive to grown in his understanding of his wife.  If he is going to serve her well as a leader; he must know her and understand her thought process.  Husbands must also honor their wives as a weaker vessel.  Generally, women are physically weaker than men and tend to be more emotionally sensitive.  This “weakness” can also be woman’s superpower.  Dependence on the Lord and an ability to feel for the needs of others is a gift worth of great honor.  Men are never to use their physical strength to intimidate a woman but to serve her and protect her.

WHY HUSBANDS SUBMIT TO THEIR WIVES:  The two reasons men are to submit to their wives in this way can be summarized by the words heirs and prayers.  Women are joint heirs with men of the grace of life.  Women have the exact same value as men before the Lord.  Their worth in the kingdom of God is equal to that of men.  Men and women are both created in God’s image and need one another to understand God better and worship Him more faithfully.  Men who do not seek to understand and honor their wives will become spiritual cripples because their prayers will be hindered by this sinful way of life.  Men who fail to understand their wives’ thoughts and feelings and use their power to intimidate instead of protect and provide for their wives will not have a productive prayers life.  We cannot treat our wives poorly and then pretend to be right with God.

APPLICATION: We need to be students of our wives in the sense that we learn about them and that we learn from them.  Use our strength to make our wives feel secure, not scared.  Value women as a precious gift that allows us to grow in our understanding of God.  Remember our relationship with God will never be better than our service to our wives.