What does it mean that Sarah called Abraham lord (1 Peter 3:6)?

A. Adon (lord) first occurs in Gen. 18:12, where Sarah speaks of Abram as "her lord"; and 1 Peter 3:6, says "Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him 'lord.'" This sense — viz., that of acknowledged deference to a party addressed — whether the superiority be in position under a relationship, as of a husband addressed by a wife, or of a landholder to a foreign prince, of a servant to a master, a subject to a king, etc., etc., is the common use.

Sara is specially singled out, the wife of Abraham, the man of faith. She is herself symbolical of the fruitful principle of grace operative in subjection to God. She obeyed Abraham, calling him "Lord." The occasion of this is seen In Gen.18:12, when Sara spoke within herself, not audibly: which shows that this was a willing, habitual practice, not adopted because of others listening. Wives are then in practical reality daughters of Sara when living in true subjection. But subjection is not "consternation." or terror; it has in it rather the calm dignity of faith and of courage, not a slavish servility.

It is clear from these words, that Sarah's words as well as her laughter were within herself, i.e. not uttered audibly. (Comp. Gen. 17:17.) Therefore Sarah's words, "My Lord," as applied to her husband, were not uttered aloud at the time they were spoken; she only spoke them within. What a proof then, that, with her, those words were not a meaningless confession of the lips, but came in reality from the thoroughly submissive and obedient heart of a truly godly wife.

Little did Sarah think, when speaking thus to herself, that those words, "My Lord," whispered in the secret chamber of her heart, should, two thousand years after, be recorded in Holy Writ, by the Spirit of Him, Who was then her husband's guest, as a pattern for godly women of all ages, of genuine submission and obedience of the heart, that it might be spoken of throughout the world, for a memorial of her. Thus it is God owns and honours true obedience of the heart. And where this is, there will be always ready submission in words and action.

But the Lord had a message for Sarah too. He asks Abraham where she was, which was certainly intended to attract Sarah's attention, specially when her name was mentioned (v.9). Therefore she understood well what the Lord said to Abraham, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son" (v.19). However, Sarah did not stop to consider who it was who was speaking in this unusual way. . . She only thought of the fact that Abraham and she were very old, and being far past the age of childbearing. She laughed inwardly (v.12) in total disbelief, and her silent words are forever recorded in the word of God (In fact, to her credit, 1 Peter 3:6 speaks of this very occasion when she called Abraham "lord," indicating her subjection to him even in her private thoughts).

But the Lord had a message for Sarah too. He asks Abraham where she was, which was certainly intended to attract Sarah's attention, specially when her name was mentioned (v. 9). Therefore she understood well what the Lord said to Abraham, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son” (v. 19). However, Sarah did not stop to consider who it was who was speaking in this unusual way.. She only thought of the fact that Abraham and she were very old, and being far past the age of childbearing. She laughed inwardly (v. 12) in total disbelief, and her silent words are forever recorded in the word of God. (In fact, to her credit, 1 Peter 3:6 speaks of this very occasion when she called Abraham “lord,” indicating her subjection to him even in her private thoughts.)

(Vv. 5, 6). Holy women of old are cited as examples for Christian women today. They trusted in God, adorned themselves with meekness and quietness of spirit, and were in subjection to their husbands. Sarah proved her obedience and subjection to her husband by calling him lord, according to the custom of that day. Wives that trust in God, obey their husbands, and do well without fear of consequences, are characteristically children of Sarah.

Therefore Peter was led to speak of ancients witnessing for God in this respect. "For thus also heretofore the holy women that were hoping in God adorned themselves accordingly, being subject to their own husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children ye became, doing good and not being afraid with any dismay." On God their hope rested, not on themselves. Sarah stood at the head of these pious matrons of Israel; but though not alone (for there were not a few saints of like spirit), she was far from forgetting the true ornaments that became saints.

Favoured as Christians were by Christ and redemption come, the wives now ought not to fall short either in moral adorning or in subjection. Sarah obeyed her husband and reverently addressed him (Gen. 18:12); she was not carried away by the common ground for vanity, though she had beauty more than most. Her children such wives now became as were doers of good and not frightened by any scare from propriety. Why should they be who know that Christ's Father is their Father, and Christ's God is theirs? Why be perturbed since He sent His servants to comfort them with the same peace He gave them? The enemy works by fear; God by His love in Christ against every source of alarm.

Changes many and great have passed over the world. But this fidelity led in olden days when Israel's great progenitors dwelt in tents. Yet Sarah knew to her husband's shame that her beauty commended her to a court and a King's palace for a while, and royal gifts were lavished on him whose selfish fear exposed her to dishonour but for their Almighty protector. But thus aforetime also the holy women adorned themselves as became those whose hope was in God, instead of following the fashion of the world that fleets away. Sarah is singled out as obedient to Abraham, and paying him marked honour, notwithstanding the familiarity of wedded life, which too often has a contrary effect. This example is here set impressively before Christian wives.

But the terms employed are notable: "Whose children ye became, doing good and not being afraid of any dismay." They were far from this in their unrenewed state. The Lord Jesus does not find, but makes, us what pleases God. Self-will reigns in those afar from Him, with ready resentment of all wrongs that may be inflicted, and submission induced through fear, self-interest, or amiability at best. What a change is wrought by the faith of God's grace in Christ! Sanctification of the Spirit, setting apart to God in a new life now given, effects obedience, not legal but after the pattern of Jesus, and faith in the sprinkling of His blood. Thus did those Jewish matrons become Sarah's children in obeying and honouring, each her own husband. It was a divine duty imprinted on the heart by their Saviour. Becoming Christians, they became Sarah's children in deed and in truth. They were not merely lineal descendants, like the unbelieving Jews whom the Lord in John 8 reproached as being Abraham's seed, not his children; else they would do the works of Abraham. They became Sarah's children, "doing good and not afraid of any dismay." On this side is woman apt to be weak.

Is there a gentle hint here of the occasion when Sarah laughed incredulously, as she covertly heard Jehovah promise she should have a son (Gen. 18:10-15)? How graciously the Spirit speaks openly of her comely bearing at that same time toward her husband! Yet did He not spare her then, when she even denied her derision. Here He only records her good conduct, and calls her children to remember it: "doing good and being not afraid of any dismay," as frequent a cause as any other of untruth. For sudden perturbation of any kind is unfaithfulness in women professing godliness. Failing in dependence on God and communion, they fear to own the truth under such pressure. Is not the caution here given therefore seasonable and salutary?

It is not that He is not Lord over them — that He is not their Lord. Not so. He is Lord, most surely, just as, no doubt, Sarah was quite right in calling her husband by that term. It is clear that the Spirit of God thinks so and records her reverence (1 Peter 3:6) for the consideration of others, but, nevertheless, it would have been a very poor and miserable thing if Abraham had been nothing to her but lord. No: Abraham was her husband, and Abraham had responsibilities towards Sarah, instead of Sarah merely having duties towards him. It is a very meagre way of looking at relationships if we only see one side of them, and that the side that suits us. No: relationship always implies moral duties, and the relationship of the Lord Jesus towards the saints is one not only of authority, which is perfectly true, but of love, of care, of cherishing, even as a man his own flesh.

"Not afraid with any amazement." This, at the first aspect, might appear strange to some, as fear and timidity, and not courage or boldness, forms the woman's natural character. But we must not forget, that natural timidity has nothing to do with the quiet courage of faith, that forms a part of our new nature, if in the healthy exercise of faithful dependence, without difference of sex, because there is no male nor female as to the new nature. And whilst it is true, that there is nothing more repugnant and hideous than mere natural boldness in a woman, yet it is, at the same time, a well-known truth, borne out by historical facts of all ages, especially in the history of female martyrs during the persecutions of the earlier Christians, that the most godly, gentle, obedient and submissive women have been, at the same time, those who have given to the world and to angels the wondrous spectacle of a quiet courage of faith, which made them, amidst the most cruel tortures and excruciating suffering, rise superior not only to the fears of their nature, but to the terrors of a persecution, which, as to the most terrible circumstances, were in nothing behind those of the death of Stephen or other faithful martyrs.