The Conduct of a Holy Mother

The Conduct of a Holy Mother

1 Peter 3:1-6

Introduction:

“Holy Mother” is meant to portray spiritual mothers in this lesson (see v. 6).

The Bookends: “be subject” or “submissive” (v. 1); “obeyed” or “followed instructions” (v. 6) (i.e., Sarah is the perfect example of the things Peter uses to describe a “holy mother.”

Discussion:

What exactly does Peter have in mind here by referring to Sarah?

Sarah “obeyed” Abraham and called him “lord.”

Genesis 18:12: This does say Sarah called Abraham “lord,” but the context is her laughing at having a child and making fun of Abraham’s age, hardly an example of obedience. Some people argue that this is making too much out of Sarah laughing, and her calling Abraham “lord” shows her respect for him. Also, she did so “to herself,” which shows an additional amount of respect (i.e., addressing Abraham directly would have been expected).

Genesis 12:10-20: This may be intended by Peter to show the disobedience of the husband (cf. 1 Pet. 3:1-2) and the purity and obedience of the wife (vv. 5-6) through suffering in a foreign land (v. 6).

Genesis 12:13; 20:13: These are two places where Sarah was obedient to Abraham.

The Testament of Abraham—it includes all ideas in verse 6 with reference to Sarah.

The longstanding Jewish tradition of Sarah being the epitome of a virtuous woman.

These things allowed Sarah to be a mother, not just to Isaac, but to all women who choose godliness over everything else (v. 6b).

Holy Lessons from Holy Mothers:

Holy mothers view suffering as a means of practicing their faith (v. 6).

Proverbs 3:25-26

In 1 Peter 3:6, the suffering these women are enduring is likely from their own husbands at home. (cf. The husband “suffering” because his wife is a Christian, the family undergoing physical persecution from the Roman state because the wife is a Christian, the husband simply not liking his wife having another “lord,” etc.)

Holy mothers are faithful, even when their husbands are not (vv. 1-2)

This is a revolutionary teaching in the 1st century because wives were expected to practice the same religion as their husbands. (cf. Husbands being much older than wives, but women being obligated to remain faithful to Jesus, even when society said something different)

The result is the conversion of the husband, which is consistent with:

“Respectful and pure conduct” or “your pure conduct with respect” (i.e., they don’t beat down their husbands or make them feel guilty; they simply live their lives like the church is the most important thing to them).

“Without a word” (cf. Making more sense in the 1st century because wives were much younger than their husbands (ideally, 15 vs. 30)

Cf. The example of Abigail when Nabal was “foolish” (1 Samuel 25:29-31)

I don’t know why there are more women than men in the church. But I wonder if it has something to do with the submissiveness of a wife. (cf. Embracing their role as the “weaker vessel” and being more primed to be humble and reliant upon another authority figure)

Holy mothers are committed to their husbands (vv. 3-5)

Think of everything Sarah went through to be a good wife to Abraham. (cf. Picking up and moving, pretending to be Abraham’s sister twice, and dealing with Abraham sacrificing Isaac)

VV. 3-5: Women dressing or not dressing up had several applications in the ancient world:

Men often displayed their wealth through dressing up their wives. (cf. A “submission” issue for Peter here?)

Women were also told not to wear fancy attire so they would not disrupt men’s sound minds.

Since wives were very young, they were likely tempted to beautify themselves. (cf. Epictetus: Being called “ladies” by men at 14 and wanting to cater to that)

Husbands may often allow their upper-class wives to attend church and the wives would take advantage of this situation and flaunt their apparel. (cf. Always being modest and seeing an opportunity to show off a little or simply make themselves feel special)

Cf. The wife that wears things, goes places, does things, and interacts with people just because her husband is not around (i.e., she would never do these things with her husband).

Women should not be concerned with adorning their outward appearance just to be seen by others; they should be concerned with her inward appearance to be seen by others (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9-10).

Conclusion:

Mothers are irreplaceable because of the special characteristics God has given them. (cf. Always asking mom things before dad)

When I think about this, I cannot help but think about Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel and their place in the promise of Abraham.

Simple but important: We would not be here if it wasn’t for our mothers. Let’s make sure to thank them and/or pray about them today.