November
22nd 1
Peter 3
Be Beautiful
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; 2: While they behold your chaste
conversation coupled with fear. 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; 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. 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:
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. 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.
Be
an Example
8:
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 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. 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: 11: Let him eschew
evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 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. 13:
And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is
good? 14: But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15: But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear: 16: Having a good conscience; that,
whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed
that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17: For it is
better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than
for evil doing. 18: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the
just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19: By which also he
went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20: Which sometime were
disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight
souls were saved by water. 21: The like figure whereunto even baptism
doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22: Who is gone into heaven, and is on
the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made
subject unto him.
Next
Peter moves on to practical exhortation regarding the daily living of
various people in the family with instruction suitable to their
situations. First he describes the conduct of wives who he says are
to be in subjection to their own husbands. This does not mean that
they are to be the servants of their husbands but that in matters in
which there is dispute the wives are to submit to their husbands as
unto the Lord. And by this means if any of their husbands are not
saved they will be won over by the good living of their wives. He
says that their adornment is not to be only external but it is to be
the hidden person of the heart that is to be beautiful. Peter gives
the example of Godly Sarah who called Abraham Lord. Then he turns his
attention to the husbands and here the focus is much more intense. He
says you men are to give great honour to your wives and to protect
them as weaker in body. However you are heirs together of the grace
of life. Both of you will inherit the kingdom equally. Lastly he says
that your prayers be not hindered. Nothing that we do should hinder
joint prayer. Then Peter gives general exhortation. He asks for
unity, compassion, love, pity, respect, restraint, blessing, Then he
reiterates the principle of the Mosaic law. 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: 11: Let him eschew evil, and do
good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 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. Now this promise
is a fair summary of the Law but its exhortation is true for the
christian. Then Peter speaks of suffering for Christ and contrasts it
with suffering for wrongdoing. Peter says to his readers that they
are to set themselves apart for the Lord in their hearts. And to
always be ready to give an answer to those who would ask a reason for
the hope that they have within them. Christians today should be no
less ready to give testimony to Christ. But they are to do this in
meekness and the fear of the Lord. Two great characteristics of the
Jew who is under the blessing of God. Peter says that they are to
live in good conscience before the Lord so that although people might
speak evil things of them their good lives will speak in their
defence. He reminds then that Christ suffered unjustly and on behalf
of the unjust so that he might bring them to God. He was put to death
in the body, but made alive in the Spirit (or by the Spirit) He tells
them that Christ in death went down to declare the victory he has
achieved in the prison of those who had sinned in the days of Noah.
They had been separated from every contact with the earth. They were
those who rejected the preaching of Noah while the ark was being
built. In a similar way baptism saves these Jews (not because it can
actually clean the sinner but because it is the answer to God of a
clean conscience before God) by the resurrection of Christ from the
dead. Because he has ascended to heaven and now sits at the right
hand of God. And all heavenly creatures are now subject to him.
- How should godly wives behave?
- How should godly husbands behave?
- I what way does baptism save these Jews?
No comments:
Post a Comment