The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 157

mystery and enhances the interest of the Passion of our Redeemer. .At first sight it seems ns though, if undeserved sufferings are to be endured, this must be at least on behalf of the virtuous, the meritorious, the pious. But it was otherwise, it was exactly contrary, with the sufferings of Christ. He died for the unrighteous, for those who had violated the laws of God and the laws of man! IV. THE CAUSE DY AND Fon WHICH CHRIST BUFFERED. He was brought to the cross by the sins of men; and it was on account of those sins that he deli beratcly and graciously consented to die. 'l'he connection between sin and suffaring is obvious in God's providential treatment of men; it is equally obvious in God's merniful redemp- tion of men by his Son Jesus Christ. V. THE INTENT AND AIM WITH WHICH CHR!ST BUFFERED. Nothing more sublime in itself, or more welcome to the sinner's ear, can be found than the statement in this verse of the purpose for which our Lord Jesus accepted the death of humiliation and shame-it was "that he might bring us to God." Surely the simplest and yet the grandest statement of Immanuel's voluntary and sacrificial death! VI. CHRIST'S SUFFERING oun EXAMPLE AND MOTIVE. Let Christians see to it that, if they suffer, it be not for ill-doing, but (like their Lord) for well-doing. Such endurance may be wholesome discipline for them, and it may be the means of good to other~.-J. R. T. Vers. 1-6.-Tlie Christian wife called to heart-culture as the means of winni:ng th~ unconverted husband. The subject of this section is the necessity for a life becoming tbo Christian name; this is applied to Christian citizens and to Christian servants, and, here, to Christian wives. The reason for the conspicuous place here assigned to wives is obvious. 'l'he writer is addressing Churches in pagan countries, many of whose members were wives of heathen husbands. What were these to do? were they to continue in that relationship, or did their Christianity sever the marriage bond? That question occurred more than once; it was brought before Paul by the Church at Corinth, and he deais with it in 1 Car. vii. There was probably another reason for this. Dr.John Brown says, "When we reflect on the character of the conjugal relation among heathens, how much there was of the harshness of the tyrant in the husband, and of the baseness of the slave in the wife, and how much pollution and cruelty prevailed in the home, few things were more calculated to strike heathen observers favourably than the power of Christianity iu introducing an order and purity and enjoyment into the domestic circle beyond what heathen philosophy had ever dreamt of." Peter's words are often appli- cable still. Two hearts, two lives, are often bound together by the closest human ties, one devoted to Christianity, the other not. The case here, however, is not of those who had been united after one had become a Christian; the nature of spiritual life and the direct Word of God forbid union of that kind, and there is no consulation here for the trouble that comes from disobedience in this respect. Here the wife is supposed tn have become a Christian since she gave herself to the ungodly husband. The Divine finger is laid on the secret of many a troubled life, when husbands are here spoken of that "obey not the Word;" but the hand that pains is that which heals, for there is hope and strength and comfort for the wounded spirit in "Ye wivP-", be m subjection," etc. J. 'l'HE CHRISTIAN WIFE 18 HEBE CALLED TO CONSISTENT CllllISTLl.N CHARACTER. 1. And the first point included is fai'thful fulfilment of the duties of /ier relationship. "Be in subjection to your husbands;" equivalent to a summary of the various duties of the position. The expression is harsh at first, but the harshness wears off as we think of it, for love is always in subjection. He whose life was the embodiment of love came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. Love cannot help serving. This word lays no burden on love but what she lays on herself. Nor is this a one-sided requiremeut; for the same Word says," Husbands, love your wives "-so that the subjection is mutual- " submitting yourselves one to another in the fear ol' God." Yet, though the harsh- ness be removed, the commnnd remains and means something, and it is remarkable that in the three instances in the Epistles where the duties of wives are referred to, the ~arne i<lea of subjection occurs (Eph. v. 22; Col. iii. 18; and here). W 011,au Wfl8 made for a" helpmeet for man;" "'l'hy desire shall bo to thy husband, auJ he shall rule over thee;" "Mau was not created for the woman, but the wumau for the wan."  152 THE FIRST EI'ISTLE GENERAL OI!' PE'l'Elt. [dl:t. m. 1-22.