Scripture References
Matthew 8:14-18; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41
Name Meaning
Both were unnamed
Family
We do not know if there were children or the families from which they came. All we know is Peter had a wife and her mother lived with them.
Introduction
Peter was the only apostle that we knew of who had a wife. There is no mention of the others having wives or mother-in-laws. And even the women of Peter’s household remain unnamed with almost nothing known of them.
But that doesn’t mean we cannot still learn from these unnamed women. Let’s see what new truths we can uncover today.
Lesson
We have no mention of Peter’s wife except in 1 Corinthians, where we learn that his wife traveled with him as he shared the gospel. What a blessing it must have been to have his wife with him in support of his ministry.
“Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?” (1 Corinthians 9:5)
(Cephas was the name Jesus gave to Peter.)
We can assume that there was a great marriage between the two. Not only did she follow him in ministry journeys, but she served as a model for his views on women which was recorded in his own epistles. (1 Peter 3:1-7)
As for her mother…
If you have read through Matthew, Mark, or Luke, you probably recall the story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law.
Early in His public ministry, Jesus enters the home of Peter. There He finds Peter’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever. He goes to her and heals her of a fever. This was done by just a touch. Personal contact with the Master Healer, a brief touch when he took her hand, and her life was changed. She immediately gets up and begins to serve Him and the Disciples. Typically, after one experiences sickness, there is time needed to fully regain strength. But she was able to rise fully restored and energetic.
Women in the New Testament times lived in a patriarchal society. They were responsible for the homes, the children, and taking care of their husbands. Part of this responsibility included hospitality. Therefore it was natural that upon rising from her fever she immediately began serving and offering hospitality.
But we can also assume that this service was a natural outpouring of love and gratitude at what He had done for her. He had healed her in an instant through physical contact. If we are changed by just knowing Him, imagine how much more our lives would be if we had physical contact with Him. It would truly change your life and reshape all of your beliefs as you looked to Him. That is how I imagine it must have been for Peter’s mother-in-law.
Final Thoughts
Though not much is said about Peter’s wife, we have insight into his marriage with her thanks to the words he wrote in 1 Peter 3:1-7. We can assume that it was a blessed marriage since she supported his ministry, traveling with him during his missionary work. And we see the love and gratitude of a woman touched by the Lord in Peter’s mother-in-law.
But how does that translate for women today? Is there any application?
I would love to hear your thoughts about that.
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