The One Thing Needed (10)
Our passage is not only or even mainly about female piety, but it has a lot to do with it. In a marriage relationship, the husband's position is analogous to that of Jesus' here, having the authority to either encourage or hinder the woman's spiritual progress, and to pursue a normal course of discipleship.
The husband's first duty is to love the wife, and this is expressed by imitating the way that Christ loves his church, in sanctifying her by the word of God. That is, as a husband, you must love your wife by helping her progress in sanctification, in knowledge and in holiness. Therefore, to imitate Jesus' example in our passage, you must defend and protect her right to learn as a disciple of Christ, hearing and obeying the word of God.
This has a number of practical implications. For example, it might mean that when your wife wishes to serve you or the home in a particular way that she considers as part of her duty, you should sometimes encourage her to read a systematic theology or biblical commentary instead. But does it not remain that some things in the home must get done? This is true, so you go do them.
The point is that you must assist your wife to grow as a disciple of Christ, in both thought and conduct, in knowledge and in holiness, even if this entails making some sacrifices on your part. You must acknowledge that she is a fellow-heir to eternal life (1 Peter 3:7), that she is just as much a disciple as you are, and then you must act like it. This is the fruit of true love, as Christ loves his Church, and also your duty as a husband.
(end of series)
August 22 2005 | Expositions, Spirituality