Steve Rose, for Family Matters, says to give your spouse the greatest respect by acknowledging that there are no boundaries between the two of you.

“Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor”—1 Peter 2:17.

Peter challenges his readers to bestow honor freely.  This challenge is written in a larger context in 1 Peter 2 of dealing with authority.  The early church was commanded to show their devotion to God by respecting and honoring even the emperor who was against them.  How a Christian responds to authority tells a lot about their relationship with God.

Back in 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, Paul writes in terms of marriage, and spells out that husband and wife do not have authority over their own body, but their spouse does.  This is language essentially stating that we cannot be selfish with even our own bodies, but realize that giving authority over them to our spouse is an ultimate action of honor.  For the married person, however, it cannot stop there.  We cannot be selfish with anything of our own, realizing the fullness of the “one flesh” teaching of the Bible.  We respect each other to fullest, and honor each other when we are free with our emotions, our love, our thoughts… with all of ourselves.  We can give our spouse the greatest respect by acknowledging there are no boundaries between us and our spouse.  Truly, what is ours is theirs, and theirs ours.

Written by Steve Rose