1Peter 3:1-6 In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any [of them] are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. And let not your adornment be [merely] external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but [let it be] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.
Verse five assigns a general example of wives submitting to their husbands, and verse six gives a specific example. The Apostle teaches the preference of a beautiful heart over beautiful looks, reminding women what is the most pleasing to God.
Examples of the past are a useful tool. Consider how important your example might be to those following after you – children, grandchildren, friends, and family. Will they see a heart desiring to honor Jesus? These women are described as holy, hopeful, and submissive. Holiness must come first – a heart yielded to God – this produces hope in His promises and a desire to humbly obey His truths.
Holy – from hagios, means to be morally blameless. A heart which is righteous or holy, is one that follows Jesus. It is a heart yielded to Him out of gratitude for grace and mercy shown at the cross.
Only God can make a heart holy. Yet we have work to do to. Look at the scriptures below. What habits or qualities are seen in those who seek holiness?
Colossians 3:12-13 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Romans 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.
Take a closer look at some of the words in the above verses.
Compassion – inward affection and tender mercies; a deep awareness of and sympathy for another’s suffering
Kindness – usefulness, gentleness, goodness; warmhearted, considerate, sympathetic
Humility – of mind; a lack of false pride; no need for recognition; looking to others as being more important than oneself
Gentleness – meekness, humility; mild, even-tempered, softness
Patience – longsuffering, fortitude; a good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence
Forbearance – endurance; a delay in enforcing rights, claims, or privileges, patience
Forgiveness – graciousness, kindness; compassion that supports a willingness to forgive; the act of excusing a mistake or offense
Sacrifice – surrendering personal ‘rights’, likes, or desires
Service – worship; work which benefits another; help, assistance; to fulfill a purpose, role, or function; to devote one’s life or efforts
These words are not a checklist to complete and then feel good about oneself. Pleasing God begins in your heart devotion to Him. These qualities or habits are developed as we seek to follow God.
John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.
Sanctify is derived from the same root word as holy. Holiness comes from the truth; our responsibility is to seek to know and understand God’s word.
1Peter 1:22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, [But] a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
1Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise, [I want] women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments; but rather by means of good works, as befits women making a claim to godliness.
Look again at the text. “For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God”. Hope means to expect or trust. This expectation is more than wishful thinking. It is to consider that something is likely to happen. Hope in God places trust in Him that He does what He says, He fulfills His promises. Consider God’s testimony to us in His written word. It is alive with His miraculous power and wonder! There is no limit to our hope; there is no limit to God’s power. My favorite definition of miracles comes from a children’s song, “to anticipate the inevitable, supernatural, intervention of God”. Past holy women sought the importance of developing the characteristics spoken of in 1Peter 3:5. They adorned themselves with a gentle and quiet spirit – and this was seen in their humble submission to their own husbands.
“…used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands”. The world is clamoring for our attention, we are encouraged to be like everyone else, and to embrace all philosophies. However, our primary concern should be to develop those inner qualities that have lasting value. Women today are encouraged to follow their own desires and ambitions first, before thinking of others. Words of self are touted, “This is my time”, and “This is for me”. What good is great accomplishment or an aesthetically pleasing outside if the heart within is in disarray? And even beyond and more importantly, whose time is it and for what purpose?
Verse 6 continues to impress submission out of obedience to the Lord and moves on to the more specific example of Sarah. It says, “Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord”. She willingly chose to listen to him, to take heed to his authority. This does not mean she was inferior in her abilities; it does not mean she could not think for herself, or she did not have important responsibilities and goals; it does mean she loved God and therefore was obedient to God’s will. She showed her husband respect by calling him lord. “The word lord has the elementary idea of ruling, and this is the sense here – that she acknowledged that he had a right to direct the affairs of his household, and that it was her duty to be in subjection to him as the head of the family”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary. This is not to say that married woman today should be addressing their husbands as lord. In the time period and place this was written, it was quite common for married woman to address their husbands in this manner. What we can take from this is having an attitude of respect for one’s husband in his position of leadership.
Do you willingly place yourself under the subjection of your husband if you are married, and others who are in authority? Do you encourage those you know to do the same?
Verse 6 uses Sarah as an example to follow. She was not perfect, no one is, but she trusted in God’s promises and is mentioned in the text of Hebrews 11 along with the ‘heroes of faith’.
Hebrews 11:11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised;
We can emulate her faith in obedience no matter the circumstances which surround us.
“…and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear”. In becoming ‘her children’, this may refer to being the heirs of Abraham in Genesis 21. Think of this as being spiritual daughters rather than daughters according to the flesh.
Genesis 21:12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not be distressed because of the lad and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.
Galatians 3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.
Notice the expected condition – “…if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear”.
We have an example in Sarah of acting upon her fears in Genesis 18:15, Sarah denied [it] however, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. And He said, “No, but you did laugh.” Because she was afraid, she denied the truth. We will also fail simply because we are human, yet the determination needs to be that of full obedience to God.
“They were to do well; to be faithful to their husbands; to be firm in their principles; to adhere steadfastly to what was true and good, whatever trials they might pass through, however much they might be threatened with persecution, or however any might attempt to deter them from the performance of their duty. Thus, by a life of Christian fidelity, unawed by fear from any quarter, they would show that they were imbued with the same principles of unbending virtue which characterised the wife of the father of the faithful, and that they were not unworthy to be regarded as her daughters”, Albert Barnes’ NT Commentary.
Compare:
1Peter 3:13-14 And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,
Isaiah 8:13 "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, and He shall be your dread.
1Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
In a yielded and steadfast heart, there is security in obedience to God. When trouble arises, we can pray instead of panic as we rely upon God’s intervention. Remember Peter’s audience – in general it was to all believers in respect to all authority; specifically it was to wives whose husbands were unbelievers. In situations of submission, we need to uphold our loyalty to God’s truths. Fear of displeasing men should not guide our actions. Recall the account of steadfast obedience in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel Chapter 3. Now remember the account of Peter’s fearful denial in Matthew 26:69-75.
Proverbs 3:25-26 Do not be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
1Peter 2:15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
Also remember the beginning of this chapter in 1Peter verses 1 and 2 which correlated holy behavior as a tool in drawing others to know Jesus.
Do you allow the threat of inconvenience or danger to affect your obedience to Truth? How can you combat this?
Are you considering the ornamentation of your heart to be more important than your outside appearance? What steps are you taking to grow in your understanding and trust of God?
Even in those cases where you may be exposed to ill-treatment, are you willing to trust God’s wisdom and promises?
Let’s pray that God increases our desire to grow in His holiness.
