Family Catechesis—God’s Word to Wives
To Wives
Ephesians 5:22–24 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”
Ephesians 5:33 “…let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Other Scriptures To Wives
1 Peter 3:1–6 “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”
Colossians 3:18 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”
Genesis 3:16 “To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.””
Ephesians 6:5 “Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ;”
Summary Words To Wives
Submit
Luke 2:51 “Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.”
Romans 13:1 “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
1 Corinthians 14:34 “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.”1
1 Corinthians 16:15–16 “I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.”
Ephesians 5:21 “submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
Titus 2:9 “Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,”
Hebrews 12:9 “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”
James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
1 Peter 2:13 “Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,”
1 Peter 2:18 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.”
1 Peter 5:5 “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.””
Respect/Fear
Luke 12:4–5 ““And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
Romans 13:4 “For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.”
Luke 1:50 “And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.”
Acts 10:35 “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”
1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
Revelation 14:7 “saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.””
Chaste/Pure/Innocent
2 Corinthians 11:2 “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
James 3:17 “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
1 John 3:3 “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Gentle
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 21:5 ““Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ””
1 Peter 3:4 “rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
Quiet
1 Timothy 2:1–2 “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” 1 Peter 3:4 “rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”
Trust in God
2 Corinthians 1:8–11 “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”
Obey
Matthew 8:27 “So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?””
Do Good
Mark 3:4 “Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.”
Luke 6:9 “Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?””
Luke 6:33–35 “And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
1 Peter 2:15 “For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—”
1 Peter 2:20 “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.”
3 John 11 “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.”
Don’t Fear
Luke 21:9 “But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.””
Luke 24:37 “But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.”
A Wife’s Prayer
Gracious God, faithful Father, forasmuch as You have graciously called me to the holy estate of marriage for the management of a household in which it is possible for me to serve and please You, my God, grant grace that I, Your servant, may always have Your divine fear before my eyes, and love You, my Maker and Redeemer, above all things, and trust in You, and after You, that I may fear, honor, and love my husband, and covet no other. Help me, according to Your commandment, to subject my desires to my husband, and to obey him in all willingness. Let my adorning be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable beauty of a gentle, quiet spirit, and all manner of virtues, as were the holy women long ago who trusted in their God, and obeyed their husbands. Give me, Your maidservant, chaste, self-controlled conduct, in fear and humility, that with soft and seasonable words I may turn away and appease the wrath and displeasure of my husband, and counter him with kindness, that I may bring up my children and servants with gentleness to the praise and glory of Your holy Name, that I may be a true helper for my husband, and diligently keep the provisions which You graciously grant us, that I may lose nothing but labor and help to produce what is available to me in my vocation, so that I may have something to give to the needy and reach out my hand to the poor. Defend us from unfaithful laborers and wicked servants who diminish and squander our possessions. Grant me grace also that I may patiently bear the cross in the estate of marriage, and not at once grow shy or timid when suffering appears, knowing that by tribulation and adversity our faith is tested. O Lord God, into Your almighty power I commend myself, my dear husband, and all my children and servants. Defend us from sin, disgrace, and all suffering, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of a Wife Who Has a Bad Husband
O merciful God and Father, omniscient Lord, You know my misery better than I can relay and describe it to You. My spouse, whom You have joined to me, is, I regret to say, not as he ought to be, and I suffer from a heavy and almost daily domestic cross with him, so that I do not know what I will do in this miserable and troubled condition, whereby Satan makes my marriage very difficult by way of my ill-natured husband. We cannot leave each other, since we have already been joined together, so that nothing but death can separate us. Now I turn to You, O Lord my God, without whose counsel and will, and without whose permission, nothing can be done. I must accept that You wish to chasten me with the evil behavior of my husband, as with a special cross which I have certainly deserved from You otherwise. Yet give me the patience for it, and with Your loving fatherly hands, help me to bear this burden. Neither let us live together always in such conflict, but govern the heart of my husband so that he may change and act as befits and becomes a devout Christian husband. Restrain the vile demon which attacks marriage and other wicked mouths by which my husband is often deceived, and in his heart plant true fear of God and an upright, honest love for me, that we may dwell with one another in peace and unity from now on, and our domestic life and livelihood may continue together, so as to afford pleasure to both God and man. Bless us also from above with Your heavenly blessing, that we may as obedient children walk according to Your commandments, and always be the blessed of the Lord, both here in time and hereafter in eternity. Amen.
Prayer of a Woman Who Has a Gloomy and Unfriendly Husband
Lord God, Heavenly Father, I know and am certain that this estate in which You have placed me is pleasing to You, and that all that I do and endure in my estate and vocation is a sacrifice acceptable to You because of Your dear Son, my Redeemer and Savior, Jesus Christ, whom I honor, love, and confess. But You see in what misery and sorrow I am, and that I am in such danger that no human help can deliver me out of it. I, a poor, troubled wife, am unfortunately in an unhappy marriage with my husband because of his stubborn, undutiful, wicked, and remiss behavior in the support of the family due to his drinking, gambling, violent anger, and slothfulness in his vocation, and it strikes me as unbearably difficult in this way of life to live and share a house for much longer with my spouse. I cannot find a moment of happiness, peace, or quiet with him, and am concerned that my family will be entirely destroyed by it. Therefore, I cry to You with a troubled heart in this time of need and implore You to intervene in a fatherly and gracious way and do what is necessary to amend the situation in due time and to grant my husband the grace and spirit to live with me in a reasonable, understanding, and Christian manner, to be kind, patient, and gentle with me at all times, to love me honestly, hold me dear, and not be so contrary and stern with me that the wicked, evil foe may not be given the opportunity to incite any more discord and strife between us, lest he hinder us in our prayers, and so in all happiness and welfare of body and soul. O Lord, teach us to do Your will and let Your good Spirit lead us on level ground, that we may walk in true, unadulterated, and honest love, and especially that we may pursue the worthy goal of domestic peace, forgive one another, and defer to one another, that in goodly peace and worthy prosperity, as befits Christian spouses, we may live our lives to the full until we lay aside our state of marriage here and live with You forever in Your heavenly Kingdom hereafter, and extol and praise Your glorious wonders. Amen.
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