7 Husbands, likewise, intimately dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor (2:17} to the wife, as to the weaker (lesser authority) vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered/cut off.

Grace 1Pt 1:2,10,13,19; 2:20; 4:10; 5:5,10,12; 2Pt 1:2 be multiplied through the knowledge of God, 3:18 grow in grace and knowledge

I. Understanding Wives

God has assigned wives the responsibility of submitting to the authority of their husband (see previous Submission outlines esp 1Pt 3:1-6)
1Pt 5:10 God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. Rom 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
1Cor 1:27 But God has chosen…the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all, that I might by all means save some.

1Cor 12:22 those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (28 hierarchy)

II. Honor is Hearing not Obeying   (Delegation is not Abdication)

God has assigned husbands responsibility of loving, honoring and leading their wife, at the expense of themselves
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 28…love their wives as their own bodies.33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Col 3: 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

We honor and VALUE others by putting their interests above our own (but not above God’s will) Phil 2  Gal 3:28
Rom 2 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life 10 But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that do good 12:10 Be devoted one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues…tribute…custom…fear; honor to whom honor is due.                                    (Pr 31)
2Pt 1:17 he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came a voice This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Authority is for building up  2Cor 10: 8 even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up…
Mt 20:25 You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave 28 Son of Man

III. If we Fail to Honor, God Fails to Hear   Conditions for answered prayer include: (See Survey of Prayer on Truthbase.net)

Justice Isa 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen…16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong,17 learn to do right! Seek justice

Abiding Jn 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you  Ps 37:4

Obedience  Pr 28:9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayers are detestable. Ps 50:16 But to the wicked, God says: "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.

Teachability Pr 1:25 since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you 28 Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. 29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke

Acting Righteously 1Pt 3:12=Ps 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; 16 the face of the Lord is against those who do evil…17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit 19 A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all

IV. How to Honor

• Die to self and abide in Christ and His Word so your needs are met and THEN you’re free to meet needs of others. Lk 9:22-26 Jn 15
• Be a better hearer/observer; solicitous of other’s input, needs and interests, then put their needs and desires ahead of your own (ego).
• Be self-sacrificially other-centered, like Christ,  (not concerned about own needs and agenda but only God’s will) in serving others.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why do some folks object to the idea of a hierarchy in marriage? How does that relate to issues of worth and reward?
2. What’s the difference between obedience and honor? How should a wife respond if a husband doesn’t “honor” her?
3. What to do if a husband doesn’t believe in heirship/reward, nor have a prayer life and wouldn’t even know if his prayers are hindered?
4. What should a husband due if his wife is a unsubmissive/rebellious/ungodly nag, with infinite needs, who doesn’t have 1Pt 3:1-6 in her Bible?
5. How can you fulfill your responsibilities to honor others this week?