October 3, 2024

Today's Reading: Catechism - Table of duties: To Husbands

Daily Lectionary: Deuteronomy 4:1-20; Matthew 7:13-29

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Table of duties: To Husbands may seem like a strange topic for a devotion where almost no one in the intended audience is a husband yet, and half of the intended audience will never be one. Despite this, there is more than enough here for everybody, regardless of sex or marital status. Young men need to learn how to treat their future wives, and young women need to learn that they are indeed worthy of respect and honor. In fact, the words of Peter deal with more than the relationship between husband and wife and instead point to the relationship between men and women.

This is where the language of ‘weaker vessel’ comes in. The Roman Empire had clearly defined roles and social spheres that men and women were supposed to occupy. Men were by nature believed to be better at defending the home, while women were thought to be better at keeping watch over it. Men were made for the outdoor tasks and women for the indoor ones. Men and women were mutually dependent on one another, but men were thought to be superior and had more social status and opportunity in the empire than women did. This is one area where the culture of the Roman Empire ran into friction with the theology of the church.

The salvation won for all by Jesus on the cross does not recognize any difference in social status between men and women. They are equally saved and have the same status before God. All Christians are heirs of the grace of life. This is what lies behind Peter’s words about living in an understanding way and showing honor to women as the weaker vessel. Their status as fellow believers is what determines how they are to be treated, not their status according to the culture. The words here are addressed to the husbands because they are the ones who held the authority in Roman culture. The gospel is not limited by social norms. Men, you can treat women with honor because of what Jesus has done for you, and women, you are worthy to be treated with honor because of what Jesus has done for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Most gracious God, we give thanks for the joy and blessings that You grant to husbands and wives. Assist them always by Your grace that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honor and keep their marriage vows, grow in love toward You and for each other, and come at last to the eternal joys that You have promised; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

-Rev. Grant Knepper, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church Modesto, California.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

In Embracing Your Lutheran Identity, Author Gene Edward Veith Jr. will guide readers through that heritage, starting with the Early Church and moving through the Reformation to Lutheranism today. Readers will learn about key people in the history of Lutheranism, from two teenagers who were the first martyrs of the Reformation, through the Saxon immigrants who left everything behind so they could practice Lutheranism freely, to the Lutherans who have stood strong for the faith in our own day.