Let Not Your Prayers Be Hindered

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” (I Pet. 3:7) “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;” (Eph. 5:25)

To what “knowledge” is this passage in reference? It is not the comprehension of computers, mechanics, or any other fleshly labor. God said: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, I will also reject thee, …” (Hosea 4:6) They willingly ignored the knowledge of God and His laws, so God rejected any relationship with them. Husbands are to live with their wives according to the revealed knowledge of God. Well, if the husband is not familiar with the Holy Bible, which unveils the will of God in the conduct of a married man and woman, how can the man keep his marriage in a proper bond with the Father? Husband, study God’s Word and give the proper honor to your wife that God says is due her.

A husband and a wife that are both redeemed by the blood of the Lamb are “heirs together of the grace of life,” (eternal life comes by grace). In this the husband and the wife are joint heirs with Christ Jesus. They stand equal in every way and receive identical access to the promises of God. The Father does not slack one because she is a female. Women are redeemed by the same amount of the Lord’s blood as the man. His grace is bestowed equally upon both.

The husband is to love his wife “even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” If a Christian husband truly loves his wife, he will put her wellbeing above his own desires and needs. The Lord so loved his sheep that their eternal security took priority over His own life. When a husband and wife fail to follow God’s precepts in their marriage, they break fellowship with God, and He will not respond to their prayers until things are set right. Jesus will not intercede on their behalf. Their prayers are blocked by their sin.