Be Courteous

"...giving honor to the wife as to the weaker vessel..." - 1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)

"Giving honor to the wife" speaks of high rank, reverence, respect. The word "honor" means precious. 1 Peter 1:19 describes Christ's blood as "precious." Peter uses the same Greek word there. We're to treat our wives as precious.

Notice it says "giving honor to the wife"—in Greek, it literally says "to the feminine." It's referencing the fact that she's female. Think about the value we place on certain professions today. Just like now, back then, they had specific professions that stood out and earned respect. For example, you could have said, "Call the physician," and the physician's role would have been highly regarded.

Well, in the same way, he says, honor your wife. Be courteous to her, give her respect, give her reverence. It is really the idea of precious. To treat your wife as precious or in a place of honor.

In our society, no matter what happens outside the church, inside the church, men are to treat women with high regard, reverence, respect, and a position of honor. In Peter's day, Roman law treated women as property. Yet the Christian faith established a distinctive place of honor for women. She's not your property—she's a person who deserves honor and respect. She is precious, to be nourished and cherished.

When others observe how you treat your wife, they should see something that stands apart from the rest of the world. They should see a man who honors the woman God gave him, who treats her with reverence and respect.

Reflection: In what practical ways can you show honor and respect to your wife today? How does your treatment of her reflect Christ's love?

Father, help me honor my wife as the precious gift she is. Let my words and actions toward her reflect Your love and respect. May others see Christ in how I treat her. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from "Husbands, Do Yourself a Favor and Love Your Wife": https://www.joshfranklin.org/media/bbpvr7n/15-husbands-do-yourself-a-favor-and-love-your-wife-1-peter-3-7