The concept may strike us as strange because our Lord told us to pray and assured us that the Father would hear our petitions (Matthew 7:7–11). Yet Peter plainly says that prayers can be hindered. With this word Peter builds on the Lord’s earlier instruction (Proverbs 15:8; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 1:11–15; Jeremiah 6:20; Malachi 1:10; Matthew 5:23–24; Matthew 6:14–15; James 4:3. Failing to “live with your wives in an understanding way” generates a God-displeasing distance between the spouses and constitutes a failure to extend to her the “good deeds” that triggers glory for God (1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:15). Living in such sin closes God’s ears to the husband’s prayers and isolates him from his God.
7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.