“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.”
likewise,
“Likewise” – the husband has responsibility in marriage as well as the wife. Like the wife, the husband has a role in marriage. We had this same word for wives in verse one.
Some husband says, “I thought it is the wife’s responsibility to develop interpersonal communication. I don’t have much time for such things. Isn’t it the responsibility of the wife to be the ‘keeper at home’?”
dwell with them
The husband’s primary responsibility in marriage is to “dwell” with his wife “with understanding.” The word “dwell” comes from two words meaning to be at home and with. This is an intense verb in the Greek carrying the idea of sharing home life together. The idea is that the husband is to domesticate with his wife. The husband has responsibilities domestically.
PRINCIPLE:
God expects the husband to share his life with his wife.
APPLICATION:
At times the husband becomes so busy and enamored with his job that he neglects his family. He neglects his children, but he especially disregards his wife’s needs. He is busy as a bee, but someday he may find that his honey is gone!
When a man goes to work, he seldom does this for his wife exclusively. He never says, “This business deal is for my wife.” He is more likely to wonder if it will please his boss. Yet if a husband wants to kill his wife’s spirit, all he needs to do is take her for granted. Husbands give their wives many material things. A husband and wife were arguing. The husband says, “Have not I given you many material things.” “Yes, Jack. You have given me everything but yourself.”
“It is not what we give but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare.”
Some men demand everything from their wives but give nothing. God wants men to master the art of understanding. Mutual understanding deepens the relationship between husbands and wives. God expects the husband to live for his wife next to the Lord. Children are second to her. She is to be precious to him. Apart from the Lord, the most precious person on earth is the wife.
