Can Your Prayers be Hindered? (1 Peter 3:7)
“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”
I Peter 3:7 NKJV
In understanding biblical concepts, it is very important to always keep the context of discussion in mind, in order for us to arrive at an accurate interpretation of what is written.
In the same vein, it is also vital to keep in mind that you cannot derive a different doctrinal meaning from that of the original writer of the text.
Back to our text of interest:
The common interpretation of 1 Peter 3:7, is that a husband’s prayers may be “hindered” if that husband does not honour his wife.
Now, I must state that the Bible expressly encourages and instructs honour between couples, and even between brethren in the church (Romans 12:10).
However, is that what 1 Peter 3:7 is saying?
Note that in the pretext (preceeding texts — 1Peter 3-1:6) the writer had earlier addressed the expected behaviour of the wife. This tells us that the discussion here is not about the husband or the wife in isolation, but an instruction for the benefit of the couple.
So, if the apostle Peter (the writer) says that the wife should be submissive and chaste in her own conduct, and that the husband should honour his wife “as to” the weaker vessel, then the prayer he speaks of CANNOT be solely addressed to the husband, but to the couple.
A more contextual conclusion here is that “if the husband and the wife DO NOT fulfill the instructions that had been earlier outlined, then they will have “their” prayers hindered”.
And this hindered prayers are not discussed in the context of God’s interference or anger towards the erring couple, but a hinderence of the couple’s own making.
In other words, if the husband has a habit of not honouring his wife, and/or the wife is not chaste and submissive in character, THEY would not be able to function together in the place of prayer!
Think about it:
If I am at odds with you, I couldn’t possibly come together and pray or fellowship with you. Malice, insults, discontent, and outbursts of anger are not exactly a premium atmosphere for communal prayers.
