110 – Should women always be submissive to their husbands?

One of the most often quoted Bible verses used by those who believe women should submit to their husbands on all matters, is from 1 Peter 3:5, 6

    "For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. "

Sarah actually referred to Abraham as "her lord" one time in Genesis 18:12. Does this mean that Sarah always submitted to her husband?

When you read the whole story of Abraham and Sarah, starting in Genesis, Chapter 11 all the way through Chapter 25, you get a very different  picture of the kind of relationship they had.

It was not one of submission on Sarah's part at all. She did, in fact, obey her husband's wishes at times, but there were also times when Abraham told her to do what she wanted and others when he actually did what she told him.

And on one occasion, God Himself told Abraham to obey his wife. Does that sound like Sarah is a submissive wife at all times. Not at all!

In this week's episode I talk about all these examples and why we should never let a person or institution bully us into believing what they say the Bible says.

You can read the Bible for yourself and let it speak to you.

Here are some of the  key points this week:

• Abraham and Sarah had a marriage based on equality and respect.
• Sometimes Sarah did what Abraham asked. Sometimes Abraham did what Sarah asked.
• Abraham told Sarah to do what she thought was best at times
• God actually told Abraham to obey his wife one time
• Are gender roles ordained by God?

Thinking about the story of Sarah and Abraham and their relationship, how can their situation apply to marriage today? 

For me it means both husband and wife should seek God’s guidance directly and freely talk about what they should be doing individually as well as how to work together as a team. 

These ideas may be different from what you've been taught. But no one told me to believe these things. I studied the Bible for myself

Text me your questions or comments.

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James Early, the Jesus Mindset Coach, is a Bible teacher, speaker, and podcaster. His focus is on getting back to the original Christianity of Jesus by embracing the mindset of Christ in daily life.

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