3:7 What lesson is Peter teaching husbands here?
3:7 What lesson is Peter teaching husbands here?
After admonishing believing wives in V1-6 to be submitted to their husbands, Peter now addresses believing husbands, and highlights their reciprocal obligations to their wives. Husbands must always be considerate of their wives' feelings and needs and show them love, courtesy and understanding (cp Eph 5:25; 1Th 4:4).
Vessel (KJV) in 1Th 4:4, is referring to a wife (see comments on 1Th 4:4). Wives generally are weaker than their husbands, both physically and emotionally, and husbands have to make allowances for this.
But wives are not inferior to their husbands, and must never be treated as such (cp Ga 3:28). Christian husbands and wives share spiritual privileges as equals in Christ.
They are heirs together of everlasting life and if husbands do not regard their wives as Peter instructs them here, their prayers will not be answered. The same as wives' prayers will not be answered if they are not submitted to their husbands (cp 1Cor 7:3-4; Col 3:19). 1Cor 7:4 teaches that both husband and wives must recognize their dependence upon each other.
Col 3:19 teaches that if the wife is not submitted to him, the husband must not be bitter against her. He must give it over to God.
(See also comments on Eph 5:22-24, 5:25-32, 1Pe 3:1-6.)