3:3
The pressure on women is to emphasise their physical beauty. This was true in Peter’s day,and it is true now. Indeed, despite much of the progress in women’s rights the tendency for them to be treated as sex objects seems at least as great as it ever was, perhaps even more so now. Just as men need to resist the pressure to react against authority, women need to resist the pressure from society.
3:4
Instead of focusing on outer beauty, women should focus on inner beauty, that of a “gentle and quiet” spirit. Men too need to focus on our character, rather than any macho display. “which is of great worth to God”. God cares about what we are like, about who we really are. The world focuses on outward appearance, God looks at the heart. So if we want to win God’s approval, to build our relationship with Him, we too should focus in what is in our hearts.
3:5
Note the use of the Old Testament. Paul says that everything in the Old Testament was given for our instruction and to equip us. Peter is saying the same here, particularly in the context of how women in the Old Testament behaved. The women he points us to put their hope in God. See the parallels with Jesus. He endured suffering and put His trust in God. The holy women did the same. Peter is not talking about a passivity, but an active trust in the Lord, which leads us to react differently than other people react.
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