Apr. 12, 2026

“BE HOPEFUL”

“A PRIZED POSSESSION”

1 PETER 3:7

Let’s Look At Four Responsibilities A Husband Has To His Wife:

1 Peter 3:7 “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”

1.  Physical- “Dwell with them…” vs.7

Ephesians 5:31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 

Of course, Christian mates enjoy a deeper spiritual relationship, but the two go together:

1 Corinthians 7:1-5 “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

“Dwell with them” vs.7- also suggests that the husband provides for the physical and material needs of the home.

Titus 2:4-5 “that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”

It is the husband who should provide:

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

2.  Intellectually- “with understanding…” vs.7

It is amazing that two married people can live together and not really know each other!

Ephesians 4:15 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

It is well been said that love without truth is hypocrisy, and truth without love is brutality.

Are you building walls or bridges in your marriage?

3.  Emotional- “…giving honor to the wife…” vs.7

By the way, the name “Sara” means princess. Peter did not suggest that a wife is “the weaker vessel” mentally, morally, or spiritually but rather physically.

The husband should treat his wife like an expensive, beautiful, and highly prized possession, a precious treasure.

“Giving honor”-means that a husband respects his wife’s feeling, thoughts, opinions, and desires.

The husband must be the “thermostat” in the home, setting the emotional and spiritual temperature. The wife is often the “thermometer” letting him know what the temperature is! 

4.  Spiritually- “…that your prayers may not be hindered.” vs.7

Learning affects your spiritual life.

Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”

The Word of God and prayer are basic to a happy, and holy home.

Acts 6:4 “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

A husband and wife are “…heirs together of the grace of life…” vs.7

Inventory Your Marriage:

1. Are you partners not competitors?
2. Are you helping each other become more spiritual.
3. Are you depending on the externals or the eternals? The artificial or the real?
4. Do you understand each other better?
5. Are you sensitive to each others feelings and ideas, or do you take each other for granted?
6. Are you seeing God answer your prayers?
7. Are you enriched because of your marriage, or robbing each other of God’s blessings.