Master’s Prayer Network

A — Wives and the Hidden Man of the Heart

Comments: Within the family unit, wives are to be under their husband’s authority, even when the husband is not a believer in Christ. This is the same attitude all Christians are to have to authority over them. The wife, without words may influence an unbelieving husband to consider faith in Jesus because of her pure conduct in submission to God. Peter wants to emphasize how important behavior is over appearance, for spiritual impact; without disallowing some attention to appearance. The prophet provides a verse that places the most important spiritual aspect first, while using the physical aspect of adorning for an acceptable comparison. Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.”

A meek (not weak) and quiet (not smothered) spirit can be indicative of inner strength, and of confident trust that God is in control of events and circumstances. This is the same type of behavior a saintly man should exhibit while under authority. Saintly women of the Old Testament preferred inward adorning as they submitted to the authority of their husbands, and Peter says that saintly women of today should do likewise as long as they can do so without being afraid to the point of terror. This may have been an indication by Peter that women are not expected to submit to marital authority with well doing under unreasonable danger, any more than the submission required of saints under other forms of authority.

B — Husbands and Being of One Mind

Comments: In similar manner to the controlled conduct of the wife, the Christian husband under the control of the Holy Spirit, is to show his wife deference or courteous respect for her opinions and judgment in the day-to-day process of living together. Male and female saints are joint heirs to the grace of life everlasting, and living as such will allow their prayers to be unhindered. All saints in whatever circumstance need to be of one mind to have compassion toward one another as brothers and sisters, showing empathy and courtesy as suits the occasion. Do not repay evil deeds with evil, and do not give a harsh reply to harsh remarks, but dispense blessings to others, knowing that blessing will come to you. Romans 12:17 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” 3 John 1:11 “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.”

C — The Eyes of the Lord Are Over the Righteous

Comments: Peter here seems to want to teach his readers the fear of the Lord, and the benefit thereof, by taking verses from a psalm of David. Psalms 34 “11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Our true reward is not in this life, but as trusting pilgrims, we travel toward the life to come, while those who refuse to trust will be justly separated from God.

D — Be Ready Always to Give an Answer

Comments: Who will harm you if you are doing that which is good? This question proposes a general condition of not being harmed, but if you are in fact harmed, while you have your righteousness in Christ, it is possible to see that as a reason for joy instead of terror, because you are living clearly enough as a believer to be identified with your Lord and be targeted for persecution. The apostles were beaten and released, with this reaction. Acts 5:41 “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” So, make a special place in your heart reserved for the Lord, and be always prepared to voice your defense to anyone who asks you of a reason for your faith. Our confidence is in the Lord for our faith (which is our secure hope), so our answer to others should come in a gentle but unwavering manner, and with the proper fear of the Lord. If it is the will of God for you to suffer even though you are doing good deeds, that is much better than if you suffer justly for things you should not be doing. Matthew 5 “10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

E — Christ Suffered Once for Sins

Comments: What a marvelous and incomprehensible thought this should be to us, that the God-man, totally without sin, would suffer in our place to give us life! Only the righteousness of God can provide for us his great gift of resurrection to life. Jesus stated that he and the Father are equal in this quickening (making alive). John 5:21 “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” Jesus came so that we might believe and live! John 6:40 “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” And in another passage the purpose of Christ, being “once offered” is explained. Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

F — Preached to the Spirits in Prison

Comments: Although all people are captive to sin and need to be released or saved, this concept of preaching to prisoners as Peter states here, is not easily grasped in totality. Part of the content of his statement may be explained from Isaiah’s prophecy and the comment Jesus made about it after reading from the scroll in a synagogue in Nazareth. Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” So, it seems that Jesus is telling us that he has come to set the captives free, among other prophetic word pictures relating to the release from sin. Peter then uses the time of Noah as an example of how God delayed judgment while the ark was being prepared for the salvation of only eight chosen people, who would be saved by rising above the water, while all others perished beneath that same water. Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house.” So, the critical factor is faith, and Jesus came to set prisoners of sin free.

G — Baptism Saves Us by the Resurrection

Comments: Similar to the greater significance that was outwardly symbolized by the building of the ark, for us baptism is more than the outward act that may appear as a physical washing by being immersed in water. By being baptized, we gain no personal merit and can claim no accomplishment of our own. If we undergo water baptism by faith in God as Noah built the ark by faith in God, we symbolize our complete trust in what God has accomplished for us. John the Baptist knew the true work was performed only by Christ Jesus. Mark 1:8 “I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” Paul makes this comment, 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Peter had, not long after the resurrection, boldly declared that Jesus is at the Father’s right hand. Acts 2 “33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” We should have the same confidence as Peter, and be comforted by the fact, that Christ Jesus is at the right hand of God the Father with complete authority over all things.