How Husbands Should Live With Their Wives: Part 1

Christian Conduct, Submission, and the Context for Husbands and Wives

So I'd like to speak to you, it's the Lord's Day, about how husbands should live with their wives. How husbands should live with their wives. This will be a two-part series. The Apostle Peter spent a significant part of his letter covering Christian conduct, as we saw, and the respect that believers should show toward one another and the community at large.

He also gave clear guidelines and instructions when dealing with those having governmental authority. We saw that in 1 Peter 2, verse 17, and the scripture says, Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God.

As Brother Keith mentioned this morning, the fear of God. Fear God and honor the King is definitely the Apostle's comprehensive charge he gives to the church. And having dealt with the society at large in his time period, and also it's relevant to ours as well, he moved on to Christian slaves and the behavior and attitude they should have toward their masters before addressing the relationship between husband and wife.

Now Peter instructs also servants to be submissive to their masters, as we saw, irrespective of whether they are good, and gentlemen, or unreasonable overlords who calls their slaves unjust sufferings.

It's not easy, is it? It's easy to love those that love you, Jesus said. You have no reward, really. The reward comes when we love those that hate us and our enemies. 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 18 and 19 covers that.

And we saw then we moved on and we saw 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 20, that Peter once again reminds them of Christ's teaching, which is paramount. This is where he's getting his, really, like what MacArthur says, the New Testament epistles, everything in the New Testament, really, after Jesus, after the gospel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, told by three different evangelists, writers, everything that is followed after that is commentary on the life of Jesus Christ, and that is so true.

So he reminds them of Christ's teaching, that there is no reward for being nice to those that are good to you, as I mentioned. And we see that in 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 21 through verse 25. He used Christ's sufferings as the perfect example.

I think that's the most important part of this whole letter, is right there, is that Jesus, he says in verse 21, for you have been called for this purpose, for this purpose. And that perfect example of when someone has been reviled and did not respond with threats, that's Jesus is our perfect example.

But kept entrusting himself, he entrusted himself to him who judges righteously. Now beloved, it was in that context, as I just mentioned, of godly submission, in the midst of sufferings to these early Christians, that Peter moved to the conduct of wives and to their own husbands, and had six whole verses of scripture that he addresses the virtues of a godly wife.

We saw that. So, then before attending to the conduct of Christian husbands, now we have come to this section of holy scripture from the hand of the apostle Peter, who himself was a husband, as you can well see in scripture.

He had a mother-in-law, and Jesus healed her from a fever. And he gives instructions, he gives good instructions, doesn't he? I like that word instructions, because scripture mentions that, by the apostle Paul, that scripture gives us instructions in righteousness, in righteousness.

It's the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that was breathing upon this apostle, a breathing upon the men of old, and these godly men moved by the Holy Spirit, as God was breathing upon them, so we know that this is the word of God, not the word of men.

They were just basically moved by the Spirit of God to write in the language of men. And that's wonderful, isn't it? We believe that. So, he is moved by the Holy Spirit about the corresponding conduct of husbands towards their wives, and a beautiful order.

And I love that. There is an order. God is a God of order. What's messed up the order? Sin has messed up the order. Sin has caused chaos. God is not the author of confusion. And today, look around us.

We see nothing but confusion among the married. I was telling my wife, Teresa, I said, it's sad I have to say this. I have to specifically go a little bit further what it means by husband and wife. One man, a male, a husband, and one wife, all of them, all a woman.

Because if I just left it husband and wife, people would think partners of the same sex. We disagree with that, and because of what the Scripture says that from the beginning God made, as one preacher put it, Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.

And I hold to that because the Holy Scripture would be loving to these people that disagree with this, but they're totally, completely out of line against Scripture. This is where we stand, is the Word of God.

So, he speaks of the conduct of husbands toward their wives, and this is very convicting. I told Brother Keith this morning, I said, my toes has already been stepped on before I come up here and I'm going to continue to step on my toes, but I'm going to minister what the Word of God says about this, that there is a beautiful order.

God brings a created order, and that God himself has instituted himself when he created man and out from man he made a woman. Isn't it beautiful? God saw that it wasn't good for man to be alone, and I'm so thankful that he made a woman, and it's not good to be alone.

We're going to look at that, and it becomes very clear. So, today as we look at the instructions given to husbands, this is a word to husbands, a word to husbands, and how husbands should live with their wives.

We're going to look and see what that means. Again, this is a part one of a two-part message. By no means is it exhaustive, okay? I'm just scratching the surface here, but Lord willing we'll look at part two next Lord's Day, and we're only going to look at one verse of Scripture today, verse 7 from chapter 3.

Verse 7 from chapter 3 of 1 Peter. Hear the word of the living God. You husbands, in the same way, some translation says in the like manner, but in the same way, in like manner, live or dwell with your wives according to knowledge or in an understanding way as with someone weaker, a weaker vessel.

Since she is a woman, and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life so that your prayers will not be hindered. May God richly bless the reading of His word from our ears to our hearts this morning.

Let's pray. Father, we would ask, O God, as we look to you and worship you, for your wonderful hand upon us, O God. We would ask, O God, our Father, as we come to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as we worship you in spirit and truth, and that our worship will be acceptable to you as a sweet-smelling aroma, and as we adore you, O God, and you alone, for you are worthy.

We bless your holy name. Lord, we would ask that you would fill us with your spirit. Fill us with your spirit this morning through your word. That's how it comes, is through the word by your spirit. Teach us, for your spirit is the true teacher, the spirit of truth, to teach us your way, your way, O God.

And we would ask for your help and your grace upon us, and anoint, Lord, each and every one here, our hearts, to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Lord, help us within this hour. In weakness we come, in fear and trembling we come, but Lord, we come.

And we would pray that your word would sanctify us and cleanse us, break us, and use us in the end. And we would ask this for your glory, and we ask this in the mighty name of Jesus, amen and amen. Well, marriage is the most intimate relationship that two human beings can experience.

The most intimate relationship that two beings, human beings, can experience, second only to a relationship with God Almighty, the Triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. Marriage brings out the best and the worst in most people.

It seems to be in my case anyway. It definitely is work, and it's rewarding as well. As two separate individuals struggle, and by the way, it is a struggle, but it's a blessing. It has a two-fold to it.

It is because the work that's behind it, and it is one flesh coming together, two individuals and one flesh merged together in holy matrimony and covenant. And at the root of most marriages, there's a problem, and the biggest problem that we all have is self.

I can honestly say that's the biggest struggle I've had, is self. Selfishness, self-centeredness, self-indulgence. Reminds me of John and Charles Wesley's godly mother, Susanna Wesley, who said this years ago, and this is a great quote, the tap root of sinfulness is selfishness.

I want you to think of that. If you want to see how sinful a person is, you can see how selfish they are. Self-centeredness. The more selfish a person is, the more sinful they are, and vice versa. But she was absolutely right.

The tap root of sinfulness is selfishness. And when one or both partners, husband and wife, male and female, choose to live as though their his or her needs deserve priority, top priority, or top consideration, conflict results.

Conflict happens. And it does happen. That's when the conflict comes on, the war is on. What does the word of God say about that? James chapter 4, verse 1 through 3, says this, what is the source of quarrels and the conflicts among you?

Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

There you have the tap root of sinfulness, selfishness, conflict, wars, and it happens in marriage quite often. As sad as that is, but it's true. Tap root of our problems, especially within our home. Conflicts in the home, conflicts in the church arise.

Why? Because people want their own way. People want their own way. The husband wants their own way. The wife wants their own way. They want their way. They won't, won't, won't. Doesn't the word of God say the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want?

They want to lead the group. They want to go in front. They want to be dominant. They push and push and push their way to the top. But beloved, someone who is spirit-filled and that is desiring Christ-likeness more than anything else in this world, doesn't fight for the top.

And by the way, he fights for the bottom. Jesus said, he that is first will be last and he that is last will be first. He that humbles himself shall be exalted and he that exalts himself shall be humbled.

That's the way it works. And what is taught through the word of God, we are called to submit. And this is what this is all about, is submission to God and to His authority. Pastor John MacArthur has a wonderful observation.

I got this quote. I was going to send it to Brother Keith and Keith. No, no, no. He said, hold on. He sent this little meme with a whistle. Stop, stop. I want the fresh bread tomorrow. Okay, and here it comes.

Here's fresh bread. But Pastor MacArthur has a wonderful observation here and he says this, quote, we're drowning in a sea of information on marriage today. Marriage seminars, marriage conferences, marriage encounters, marriage books, marriage counselors.

People think the first thing to do when they have a marriage problem is to see a counselor, a psychiatrist, and an analyst, an expert, buy a supply of books, go to a seminar, listen to tapes, and fill out charts.

That's the truth, isn't it? It's true. And then he says this, I don't want to oversimplify this, but if you're not filled with the Spirit, you could do all those things, but none of them will matter. That gets right down to it.

I agree with that 100%. And then he goes on, on the other hand, if you're filled with the Spirit, He'll control your relationships. Now counseling books and seminars can be helpful in giving you practical hints and how being filled with the Spirit should work itself out in your relationships.

And then he goes on to say, but the epitome of the Christian life is to be filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Only when that happens will our families be what God wants them to be. Oh, how true that is, isn't it?

How true that is. We have the wrong focus. The focus should be is, we should be saturating ourselves with the Word of God. And can I say this? So really in effect, the Bible, the Bible, the B-I-B-L-E is the book for me.

I'll stand alone in the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E. Sounds simple, doesn't it? But this is really the best book for marriage counseling, right here. The best and the only. If you want wisdom, if a husband and wife is having conflict, point them here, to the Word of God.

So really in effect, the Bible is the greatest book, this wonderful holy book, the Bible is the best and only book when it comes to guidance and counsel and instructions and righteousness for marriage, for anything in life, for anything that pertains to life and godliness, Peter says.

Praise God, the Word of God. Now verse 7 of 1 Peter gives us wise words, heavenly wisdom to husbands and how they should live with their wives, how should they live with their wives. And this is what we're going to be looking at.

Submission to husbands is the responsibility and the duty given in this verse. So the submission commanded to husbands, though not submitting to his wife, but as a leader, a servant leader I would say, a believing husband must submit to the loving duty of understanding and loving his wife.

That's really the submission, is to God, he submits to God, but he's submitting to God under God's authority as the head of the home, as a servant leader, and the command is to love his wife. That's the command, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it.

A believing husband must submit to that loving duty, and I say it's a duty, because a lot of times it may not feel like it, but you don't do it, and you do it, you don't do it, and do it, whatever, because we don't go by feelings, right?

We don't go by emotions. It's sacrificial love. It's a love of feeling, not love, I'm sorry, a love of willing, not love of feeling. So a being caring and gentle and being sensitive to the needs, the fears and the feelings of his wife, is to care for her in a loving way, in an understanding way.

Well there's three words I'd like to set before you, and this is not original, I got this from MacArthur, but they're simple and there's something for us to remember. Three C's. There's consideration, there's chivalry, and there's companionship, which is communion.

Consideration, chivalry, and companionship. Now this is a word to husbands. Husbands, that's where we're to be. We're to be considerate, we're to be chivalrous, and we're to have companionship with our wife, which is communion.

So let's consider these three important subjects as we look at what the Scriptures has to say to husbands in these important matters of how husbands should love their wives. Verse 7. Let me read it again.

You husbands, in the same way and like manner, live with your wives in an understanding way. Now the word live is interesting, isn't it? Husbands will say, well I live with her. Well there's a lot of husbands that just may share the same house, but they don't really live with her.

Scripture says dwell. That's really a great translation. The godly husband lives, dwells with his wife. It doesn't necessarily mean just sharing a house, but truly lives with her. In communion, intimacy.

Not just sharing the same house, no. He recognizes the great truth of Paul's teaching on marriage in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 28. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. And he who loves his own wife loves himself.

That's what Scripture says. So the godly husband understands the essential unity and oneness. There's a oneness. The two shall become one. Reminds me, I sent Brother Keith a picture of this. I was out doing some yard work and there was this picture that God put right in front of me.

It's a large tree in our yard. And this tree is grown up, but it's literally two trees, but at the base it's one. Now that sounds like a very simple analogy and an illustration, but that tree is one tree.

But it's grown up to be two, but it's one. There's a mystery in that, isn't it? That tree is one tree, but there's like two, but it's two and one. Well, isn't that what God has done? When He's put two different individuals together, they become one flesh.

And that's the way God intends it to be, to be working in unity and companionship and unison. Ecclesiastes chapter 4 verse 9 through 12 gives us some wisdom on this. This is the preacher. Wise Solomon once again, two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. Then he says this, but woe to the one who falls when there's not another to lift him up. Verse 11, furthermore, if two lie down together, they keep warm.

But how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Companionship, companionship. God has designed the husband and the man and the wife, the female, the husband being the man, the servant, and the wife and the female to be two but one flesh.

So that's what scripture says. So their companionship, the husband is to live, to dwell with his wife in an understanding way. He is to be considerate to her and to her needs and to her feelings in an understanding way.

Don't you love what Peter says right here? He says it. Live, dwell with your wives in an understanding way. So how is he to do this? Well that's a good question, isn't it? How? Well the text answers that question.

The husband is responsible for taking his understanding and applying it in daily living and dwelling with his wife. And can I say this, and there's a footnote here, it seems that this is where us men fall and have trouble.

The most conflict, the most of the conflict comes for the husbands, is to follow through. Because we may know this in our head and knowledge, but applying it to our wives is where we have trouble. We must apply it.

Now they may have an understanding to some degree about their wives, but they don't use it as that they dwell and live with their own wives. Now scripture gives us the instructions in righteousness. That's important, isn't it?

But what's more important than just knowing it in our head? James says it, be you doers of the word and not hearers only. Because if we just hearing it and not applying it, not doing it, not practicing it, it's like beholding ourselves in the mirror.

We just sit there and it's not going anywhere. The scripture wants us to lay this out bare in shoe leather faith. To practice it, to walk it. That's what God talks about, our character, walking it, living it, who we are.

But that's the most important thing is to apply the instructions that God gives us. There's a reason He's given us the instructions. So that we apply it to our personal daily living. Now may God help us in this.

And I'm praying for God's help myself to practice this. Submission, obedience to God, shoe leather faith in an understanding way. Well let's look at this. Well in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, as to someone weaker, what does that mean?

A weaker vessel. She's a weaker vessel. Now here we see consideration. The consideration is that the husband is to be considerate to his wife because she's weaker. Now what does that mean weaker? Does it mean she's weaker spiritually?

By no means. She is fully equal in Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact she just may be stronger than husband spiritually. She's not inferior spiritually. Why? Because she's a woman. Galatians 3 .28. There's neither Jew nor Greek.

There's neither slave nor free. There's neither male nor female. For you are all one. Notice that. One in Christ Jesus. It's talking about the heir of God in Jesus Christ. This is your sister. It's speaking to husbands.

This is your sister in Christ. Spiritual children together in Jesus Christ. Heirs of God. Join heirs. Heirs of God and join heirs of Jesus Christ. So in the context here in 1 Peter 3 .7 the weaker vessel speaks of a woman's relative physical weakness in comparison to men.

And that is proven that a man has a stronger physical physique. Stronger built. Now there are in our day, sad to say, a handful of women that's in the feminist group that are taking steroids that literally physically want to be stronger than men.

There are some cases there but we know how out of line that they are. Right? That's not according to God's order but most likely and most women, women are weaker physically. That's proven. Men aren't necessarily stronger spiritually than the women but they are generally stronger physically.

Generally. And as Peter brought in the idea of woman's feminine nature. Don't you love that? The feminine nature of the woman with the words of his wife. He continues appreciating the feminine nature and how a husband should respond to it.

Therefore a godly husband realizes whatever limitations his wife has physically. See? She has limitations. The husband has to come alongside in an understanding way and to be considerate to her. This is just really 101 Christianity.

It's simple that the husband should care for her and be considerate. He realizes whatever limitations he has and she has and he does not expect more from her than is appropriate and kind. So husbands in the same way dwell with your wives in an understanding way as with someone weaker since she is a woman.

And then what? To show her honor. To show her honor because of being the weaker vessel the husband is to be her provider. Her provider. That's considerate. I'm thankful I'm a provider for my wife and for my family.

1 Timothy 5 .8 is a serious warning to all believers, especially men here. You can turn with me there if you like, but it's one scripture. It's a powerful scripture. It's one that we should memorize. It's a warning.

But 1 Timothy 5 .8. But the Apostle Paul, but if anyone does not provide for his own, speaking of his own household, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith. He has denied the faith.

That's serious. He's denied the faith. And he's what? Worse than an infidel. What's that word infidel? Unbeliever. A pagan. That's such a warning. There's two warnings here. The one that's very serious and has been given in this verse that any believer who fails to obey this command is guilty of.

Number one is, first, denying the principle of compassionate Christian love. That's what he's denying. That he's not providing. Jesus provides for us. He provides all for us. So should not the husband provide for his own wife in the same way Christ has provided for us?

And that is referring to the needs, by the way. Denying the principles of Christian compassionate love. And the second warning is being worse than an infidel. That one right there really strikes hard.

Worse than a pagan. Worse than an infidel. Serious. Very serious. God's love always provides. The husband's love should be providing. And by the way, most pagans naturally fulfill this duty. We see pagans out in our world today that even has some ethics.

Now will you realize today that work ethics is going down the tubes? Unfortunately. I know that sounds negative but look around us. It's true. But we are to provide as husbands for our own wives. If we don't, we're worse than the infidel.

If we disobey, we behave worse than the pagans. So husbands are to be providers. Providers in one way to honor his wife. To honor his wife. Now let me bring up something here what Peter is speaking about.

And you might find interesting. In Peter's day, this teaching was absolutely radical. Why did I say radical? But it's really basic Christianity 101. In the ancient culture, a husband had absolute rights in that time period over his wife.

Completely absolute rights. And the wife had virtually no rights whatsoever. And Peter is writing this to believers. And even in the marriage. And now this word that Peter gives and the instructions he gives is revolutionary and why do I say that in the ancient world?

Because in the Roman world, if a man, here's an example, if a man caught his wife in an act of adultery, he could have her killed on the spot. But if a wife caught her husband, she could do absolutely nothing against him.

That's the truth. Not fair. And it wasn't fair. But that just is an example of how wives and women were treated. And Peter comes here and he turns it upside down with the duties and obligations of marriage.

And I just keep imagining that time period, that would be a very heavy burden for women. But aren't you glad for the gospel? The gospel reverses it. The gospel turns it all around. The gospel brought liberation to the women.

The gospel does that. And Peter turns it all upside down, so to speak, through the spirit of God. Now Peter teaches us that the husband has God-ordained duties. These are God-ordained duties. And these are obligations toward his wife.

Husbands, show her honor. Show her honor. I like that word show, don't you? It's an action word. You know what that word show means? Demonstrate it to her. Just don't talk it, demonstrate it. I think a woman would love that, a wife would love that, just to see it demonstrated and not talking.

I have to keep my mouth shut a lot of times and just shut up and be a servant. Honor her. Honor to the wife. That's a huge word, isn't it? Honor. Why? As a fellow heir of the grace of life. In marriage, this is the best earthly life has to offer.

It's a little bit of heaven. A little taste of heaven. It's like the church, but first it starts in the home. Right there in the church. Jonathan Edwards said this, every home unit should be like a miniature church.

And that's the microcosm of it. And then it's carried over into the church. Husbands, show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. Honor is given to his wife in action. Demonstrate it. Demonstrate it.

A fellow heir of the grace of life. Marriage, this is the best earthly life outside of this side of heaven. I'm sorry. A man's attitude toward his wife should recognize the fact that she is a fellow heir of the grace of life.

I love that. She's a fellow heir. She's alongside with you. A helpmeet. To help you get through this life. That's her purpose is to help and submission and love as she loves the husband. But overall, the most important thing is for the husband to love his own wife as Christ loved the church.

Now, I want you to think about this in comparison to our relationship to Jesus Christ and the husband's relationship with the wife. And that two shall be one. That's what Paul was talking about. It's a mystery here.

And the beauty of this is the two shall be one. We're in communion, union with Jesus Christ. And Jesus loves us. And what motivates us as believers to love him back and submit to Jesus? It's his love.

His intimate love for us. Paul says it compelled him. Oh, isn't that beautiful? So the fact that she is a fellow heir of grace, therefore the husband is to be strongly committed. First to Jesus Christ, to his master.

Second to his marriage, and third to his helpmeet. How? Ephesians 5 .25 -31 answers that. And I like to get into that later on, but we're not going to go there right now. But I believe that has a great deal to do.

He is to be sacrificial. The husband is to be sacrificial in his love toward her as Christ was. And he is to be submissive to Christ as Christ was submissive to the command of his father in giving her honor.

For they are heirs together. Wayne Grudem says this in his commentary, this reminds husbands that even though they have been given great authority within marriage, their wives are still equal to them spiritually in privilege and eternal importance.

They are joint heirs. End quote. And then last we see that for the reason so that your prayers will not be hindered. Hear the communion. There is to be communion. This refers specifically to the husband's prayers.

Love leads the way. Love leads the way. When there is discord, prayers are hindered. When there is discord, prayers are hindered. Commentator Bigg says this, the size of the injured wife come between the husband's prayers and God's hearing.

The size of the injured wife come between the husband's prayers and God's hearing. Most important biblically we have consideration, we have chivalry and communion. That's what we looked at. Let me cap it off one more time on this.

Let's look at those words real quickly again because we need to get that. I'm preaching to myself. I said, Pastor David, you need to get this. Consider it. Consideration. Dwell with your wives according to knowledge.

What does that mean? The meaning of it is be sensitive, be understanding, be considerate. Be sensitive, understanding, considerate. This is how husbands are to love their wives. Most women, most women will say this about husbands.

My husband never understands me. My husband doesn't know where I'm at. Even though I'm here, he doesn't really know me. He's insensitive to my needs. We never talk. He doesn't know what I feel. He doesn't know what I'm thinking about.

He doesn't understand my hurts. He doesn't really know me. Isn't that what most women, wives say about their husbands? Yes. That's what they say. Peter says, dwell, live with your wives according to knowledge, to understanding.

Basically, be sensitive. I'm preaching to myself here. I need to be sensitive to my wife's needs. I need to be understanding to her feelings, to her. I'm devoted to her. I'm married to her in covenant love.

What she feels, what she's about, her feelings, her feelings, her interests, it isn't what we get out of marriage, right? It's what we give. That's where the reward comes. That's where the blessing comes.

And we're going to look at more of that, Lord willing, next week as we look at verse 8 through 12. Peter says to sum it up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, and humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for this very purpose that you might inherit a blessing for, and then he quotes a psalm, the one who desires life to love and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it for the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears attend to their prayers. See, there's the answer of the prayers being hindered, right there.

Then God comes, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. And we're going to look at that, because I really believe he's speaking to husbands and wives in that context. But we'll look at that more later.

Dwell with the wives according to knowledge, basically be sensitive and understanding. It's not what we get out of marriage that counts, it's what we give. What about chivalry? How about being chivalrous?

That's, that is a, that's almost like a foreign word in our culture today, isn't it? That's sad. Can you say amen, women? You know what I'm talking about. You just don't see chivalry. It's as almost rare as dinosaurs.

It's almost, basically, it's stinked. But a God-fearing man, a God-fearing husband, a spirit-filled husband will give honor to his wife, to the weaker vessel, by being chivalrous. In other words, husbands realize physically and emotionally that they are stronger than the wives and he is to help in every way to be chivalrous.

What is chivalry? Well, it's basically whatever happened to chivalry. That's, that's the question. Whatever happened to chivalry? Well, it's being considerate. It's being kind. It's being, showing good manners.

That's very plain and it's very practical. Makes me think, you could be 20 feet down the driveway while she still has one foot in the door and the husband will literally run to the door and open up the door and say, here sweetie, I'll catch the door for you.

I do my best to do that. Sometimes Teresa beats me to it, but she's pretty fast. I need to practice this myself. We need to be chivalrous men. Practice chivalry. That's pretty simple. Last, communion, communion.

Being at air together, the grace of life that your prayers be not hindered. Charles Spurgeon put it this way. Don't you love Spurgeon? On a sermon he preached on, from 1 Peter 3. Indeed, he says, indeed, to true believers, prayers is so invaluable that the danger of hindering it is used by Peter as a motive why in their marriage, relationships, and household concerns, they should behave themselves with great wisdom.

And he bids the husband dwell with his wife according to knowledge and render loving honor to her, lest their united prayer should be hindered. And Spurgeon goes on to say, anything which hinders prayer must be wrong.

Anything that hinders prayer must be wrong. If any management of the family or want of management is injuring our power in prayer, there is an urgent demand for an attention. Well, let me give you some application here, and I think this is what we need.

Husbands, I think the great command is here, and this is the application. I'd like to pick up more on this, but I'm going to put it in a nutshell. We'll look at this more, Lord willing, next week. But in application, I'm going to give this one application.

I think this is enough. It's the great command as husbands to love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave up Himself for it. That's the application. Can I say this? What did Jesus, how did He love His church?