But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. Thus we must be very cautious about praying when we are controlled by a natural spirit of wrath. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. No doubt a primary reason we have women and children now in places of civil authority is because men have failed in their godly responsibility in society. Men carry the primary responsibility for a godly society.
Men are to lead in prayer.
Men are to lead in reaching the lost with the truth and for Christ. Our prayer is that God would raise up men to do his work. The goal is a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, and reach all classes of men with the gospel, vv. Just as important as praying for those in authority, there must be proper authority in the church and proper authority in the home. Paul is writing instructions to Timothy who has been left behind to organize probably over a hundred small churches in Ephesus, meeting in homes.