Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives.”
that even if some do not obey the word
“Do not obey” means to be disobedient, to refuse to be persuaded, to refuse belief. This is a very strong term in the Greek. It means to set oneself against the Word, the Bible. It means not to be persuaded, to be obstinate.
In this verse the meaning is to refuse to believe the Christian message — to refuse to be a believer, to reject the Christian message. This woman, unfortunately, is married to an unbeliever.
Even though the Word is designed to win people to Christ, some husbands are obstinate to the Word. The only way the wife will win her husband is through her life or behavior. She will win this unbeliever to Christ through submission to his leadership in the home.
Some men mix the gospel with their wife’s manipulation. He refuses to believe because he is so busy fighting her manipulation. He thinks that this is a dictum from his wife. He confuses his wife’s commands and the gospel. Therefore, he resents and rejects the gospel.
they, without a word
What should a wife do if she is not able to win her husband into the kingdom? Her first role is not to nag or bully her husband. Her first role is to live out the grace of God in her life.In their zeal to win their husbands to the Lord, some women nag their husbands. When this happens, it destroys the concept of fulfilment in marriage. Instead of accepting her husband’s leadership she regurgitates criticism. She criticizes him for his bad habits.
The average woman thinks that if her husband would just straighten up, he would be a good candidate for becoming a Christian. “If he goes on the wagon, he will go to heaven.” Many women drive their husband from the gospel with this approach. She calls this “witnessing.”
The silent witness is the best witness when it comes to people who live close to each other as husbands and wives. Note the wife wins the husband without “a word.” The wife does not have to talk her husband into receiving Christ. In close relationships the life is more important than the lip in witnessing. They will be won without talk.
I found this with my own father. When I first became a Christian, I was so enthusiastic about it that I wanted him to receive Christ immediately. He revolted against my witness because he took it as his son telling him what to do. Until I stopped talking and started showing him that I loved him, he was not open to the gospel. He received Christ 20 years later.
Some think that submission means that a wife is to be a doormat for her husband, and that she is not free to express her opinion. Submission does not remove her freedom. It allows for it. A train has its greatest freedom when it is on tracks.
may be won
“Be won” means winning souls into the Kingdom of God by the Gospel, (
1 Corinthians 9:19, 20 (twice), 21, 22 ) or by godly conduct (1 Peter 3:1 ). A wife will win her husband to Christ if she follows the principles of this verse.
Principle:
Wives win their husbands to the Lord, by respecting their leadership in the home.
Application:
Many women have husbands who are obstinate to the Bible. One reason for that is that their wives have tried to ram the gospel down their throat. This is a mistake. They will never win their husbands by badgering them with the gospel. Some Christian wives ride their husbands about moral issues — drinking and smoking. These things are inconsequential. If the husband refuses to receive Christ, the wife must grant his desire.
As soon as some women say “I do” they try to “redo” their husbands. Their husbands will fight for their personhood. Some women have the belief system that if they degrade their husbands, they will straighten them out. Others feel they need to invade every area of their husband’s life. These husbands will hide their needs from their wives due to fear of criticism. If a wife is not sensitive to this, she will be met by self-induced deadness from her husband.
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