Husband, how sympathetic and attentive are you? Women are different from men in more ways than seem obvious. Women have different needs, and different ways to meet those needs. These differences require a man to learn about his wife, to give careful thought, to become considerate!
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). M
Just as the wife is to respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33), the husband is to respect his wife (1 Peter 3:7). Does this mean, “Respect your spouse only if he or she proves respectable?” No. This command always applies, for it has to do with the place of honor God gives to the spouse. God orders the husband to respect his wife because of His eternal plan for her, and because of her “weaker” condition. Sinful men see the woman’s weaker body as something of which to take advantage. God sees her as someone needing care. So God commands, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them” (Colossians 3:19).
Among other things, this means the husband does not force his wife into submission. Think about Christ’s love. Did He use brute force to ‘make’ you love and obey Him? Or did He set the example, make the sacrifice, and call you to choose His way? Thus Ephesians 5 never tells the husband, “Make your wife submit.” Rather, it speaks to the wife, so that she submits by willing choice, from the heart, and not from fear of cruel treatment. Husbands that deal harshly disobey God,19 so their example teaches their wives and children the opposite of submission.