Ephesians 6:1
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right."
“Obey … in the
Lord”: See Col. 3:20. The child in the home is to be willingly
under the authority of parents with obedient submission to them as
the agents of the Lord placed over him, obeying parents as if obeying
the Lord Himself. The reasoning here is simply that such is the way
God has designed and required it (“right”) (Hosea 14:9).
“Children” does
not refer particularly to your children but to all offspring. Sons
and daughters still under their parents’ roof are to obey and honor
them. Obey has to do with action, and honor has to do with attitude.
Although men and
women are no longer under the authority of their parents once they
themselves marry (5:31), special respect and concern for their
parents should continue as long as they live. The child who is
brought up to obey and honor his parents will always be sensitive to
their wisdom, counsel and welfare.
The first step in
promulgating God’s truth was to pass it on to their children. “And
you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you
lie down and when you rise up” Deut.19:7.
Parents were to
continually speak about the things of God, so that knowledge and love
of Him would become a matter of life and breathe for the family. When
the parents were not speaking the testimony would continue. It is
God’s plan for His Word to be passed on from one generation to the
next. And His primary agent is the family.
“In the Lord”:
This phrase grammatically does not modify “parents,” for this
would mean that only Christian parents are to be obeyed. Rather the
phrase goes with “obey,” that is, obey those parental
instructions, whether from Christian or non-Christian parents, that
are in line with the Lord’s will.
Notice, “obey your
parents in the Lord”. One of the lessons most important to the
spiritual growth of a child is to teach them to obey the Lord.
Obedience to the
Lord is taught a child in obedience to his parents who are in the
Lord. Disobedient children are a problem to themselves, their
parents, and to the Lord.
Verse 2-3: “Honor”
means have inward respect and reverence for. It is inadequate for
children to obey parents only outwardly, verse 1; they must also
respect or honor them inwardly. “Which is the first commandment
with promise” (or, “for this is the first command with promise”):
The fifth of the Ten
Commandments in Exodus 20:3-17 is the very first of all God’s Old
Testament injunctions to be given that possesses an attached promise.
The promise is twofold: honoring and obeying parents ensures a long
and a prosperous life upon earth.
While verse 1 speaks
of action, this term speaks of attitude, as Paul deals with the
motive behind the action. When God gave His law in the Ten
Commandments, the first law governing human relationships was this
one (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:16). It is the only command of the 10 that
relates to the family because that principle alone secures the
family’s fulfillment. Proverbs affirms this principle.
Ephesians 6:2
"Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment
with promise;"
The right attitude
behind the right act of obedience is honor (Timao), which means to
value highly, to hold in the highest regard and respect. In both its
verb and noun forms the word is often used as a term of reverence,
preciousness, and honor regarding God the Father and Christ.
“Honor thy father
and mother” is the only commandment of the ten that relates to the
family, because that on principle alone, when obeyed, is enough to
secure the right relationship of children to their parents. A person
who grows up with a sense of respect for and obedience to his parents
will have the foundation for respecting the authority of other
leaders and the rights of other people in general.
"Honor"
means to have high regard for those in authority above you. The
reason they are over you, is because it is by God's plan for them to
be over you. Children are to honor both their father and mother, to
hold them in the highest possible respect.
“The first
commandment with promise”: Although submission to parents should
first of all be for the lord’s sake, He has graciously added the
promise of special blessing for those who obey this command (Deut.
5:16). “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath
commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go
well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
Respect for parents
is of such grave importance to God that Moses commanded, “He who
strikes his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” And
“He who curse his father or his mother shall surely be put to
death” (Exodus 21:15; Lev. 20:9). Either to physically or verbally
abuse a parent was a capital offense in ancient Israel.
If your parents were
to go completely against God teachings, then your first obligation
would be to keep God's law. Children who respect and obey their
parents will build a society that is ordered, harmonious and
productive. A generation of undisciplined, disobedient children will
produce a society that is chaotic and destructive.
Honor of parents
encompasses providing for them when they can no longer provide for
themselves. Just as parents spend twenty or so years taking care of
and providing for their children, their children are to spend
whatever time and money is necessary to care and provide for their
parents should the parents be no longer able to do so for themselves.
Ephesians 6:3
"That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the
earth."
The command to honor
your father and mother in 6:2 is two fold. That it may be well with
you relates to the quality of life, and that you may live long on the
earth relates to the quantity of life promised.
The original promise
was to Israel and involved many tangible, physical and earthly
blessings. Paul’s reference here shows that it also extends to
believers today. Though its blessings may not always be tangible, a
family where children and parents live in mutual love and submission
will have rich, God given harmony and satisfaction that other
families can never know.
We find in Christian
families that parents are very interested in their children's
welfare. Children, who honor their parents, can learn from the
parent’s experiences. Children, who are obedient to parents, do not
get on drugs and alcohol. They stay in school and do well.
If parents, that are
much older and more experienced, cannot fulfill their
responsibilities without being saved and being filled with the Holy
Spirit, how much less can children be expected to fulfill their
responsibilities without those spiritual requirements?
Discipline follows
in their life and they become responsible adults. Discipline and
success go hand in hand.
Children are just as
much commanded to “be filled with the Spirit” (5:18) and to “be
subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (5:21) as the
husbands and wives of 5:22-23 and the parent of 6:4.
Ephesians 6:4
"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring
them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
The first command to
parents by Paul is negative: fathers, provoke not your children to
wrath. That was a totally new concept for Paul’s day, especially in
such pagan strongholds such as Ephesus. As most families were in
shambles, mutual love among family members was almost unheard of. A
father’s love for his children would have been hard even to
imagine.
“Fathers”: The
word technically refers to male parents, but was also used of parents
in general. Since Paul had been speaking of both parents, verses 1-3,
he probably had both in mind here. The same word is used in Hebrews
11:23 for Moses’ parents.
“Provoke not”:
In the pagan world of Paul’s day, and even in many Jewish
households, most fathers ruled their families with rigid and
domineering authority. The desires and welfare of wives and children
were seldom considered. By Roman law, a father had virtual life and
death power not only over his slaves but over his entire household.
He could cast any of them out of the house, sell them as slaves, or
even kill them, and be accountable to no one.
Harvard University
sociologists Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck developed a test that proved
to be 90% accurate, to determine whether or not 5 and 6 year olds
would become delinquent. They discovered that the four primary
factors necessary to prevent delinquency are: the father’s firm,
fair, and consistent discipline; the mother’s supervision and
companionship during the day; the parents’ demonstrated affection
for each other and for the children; and the family’s spending time
together in activities where all participated.
The apostle makes
clear that a Christian father’s authority over his children does
not allow for unreasonable demands and strictures that might drive
his children to anger, despair and resentment.
“Nurture and
admonition of the Lord”: This calls for systematic discipline and
instruction, which brings children to respect the commands of the
Lord as the foundation of all of life, godliness and blessing (Prov.
13:24; Heb. 12:5-11).
“Fathers” can
“provoke” their “children to wrath” by injustice, loss of
temper, undue severity, cruelty, discouragement, overprotection,
favoritism, pushing achievement beyond reasonable bounds,
suppression, sarcasm, ridicule, and misuse or abuse of authority.
“Nurture” basically means “training,” here denoting spiritual
education. “Admonition” is instruction that points out one’s
responsibilities and duties.
“Of the Lord” is
in Greek a subjective genitive. This indicates that behind the
parents’ rearing and instruction of their children stands the Lord
as the chief teacher in child education. Parents do not rear children
alone.
Parents must
discipline their children in love. To be hateful and short with
children is setting a bad example for them. Parents should be loving
and caring for their children. Criticism of children makes them feel
discouraged. Parents should encourage them every chance they get.
Parents who are
unstable tend to have unstable children. Parents who are disciplined
loving people have disciplined loving children. The most important
thing to teach a child is the love of God. They can always depend on
God, even when things are going bad in their life.
The key to right
discipline and instruction of children is its being of the Lord.
Everything parents do for their children is to be of Him, according
to the teaching of His Word, by the guidance and power of His Holy
Spirit, in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to His own glory
and honor.
Ephesians 6:5
"Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according
to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart,
as unto Christ;"
In this passage Paul
continues to deal with the practical effects of the Spirit filled
life (5:18), without which none of God’s righteous standards can be
met, including those with regular working relationships. Verses 5-8
teach about the submission of slave, or workers, and verse 9 teaches
about the submission of master, or employers.
Servants, be
obedient”: Servants (Greek meaning doulas or slaves). Slaves in
both Greek and Roman culture had no rights legally and were treated
as commodities. Roman citizens came to look on work as beneath their
dignity and the entire empire gradually came to function largely by
slave power. Slaves were bought, sold, traded, used, and discarded as
heartlessly as if they were animals or tools. There was much abuse
and seldom good treatment of slaves. The Bible does not speak against
slavery itself, but against its abuses (Exodus 21:16, 26-27; Lev.
25:10; Deut. 23:15-16).
Paul’s admonition
applies equally well to all employees. The term “obedient” refers
to continuous, uninterrupted submission to one’s earthly master or
employer, the only exception being in regard to a command that
involves clear disobedience of God’s Word as illustrated in Acts.
4:19-20.
Because the command
of mutual submission is possible only to the Spirit filled believer,
Paul is addressing Christian slaves, just as he later addresses
Christian masters, verse 9. He calls them to have the right behavior,
the right perspective, the right attitude, and the right commitment
that reflect their right relationship to God through Jesus Christ.
“Your masters
according to the flesh” means “your human masters.” Servants
are to carry out their slave duties “with fear and trembling,”
that is, with careful concern to do a good job and with referential
respect for their masters. Believers are not to obey simply when they
desire to or when their employers are fair and reasonable. They are
to obey in everything and at all times, the only exception being when
they are instructed to do something immoral, idolatrous, blasphemous,
or the like.
The first obligation
of a Christian is to please his Lord and to be a faithful testimony
to Him. One way to do this, Paul tells us, is to give willing
obedience to those under whom you work, regardless of who they are or
what their character is like. Being a Christian should always make a
person a better, more productive and more agreeable worker. People
will not be inclined to listen to the testimony of a Christian who
does shoddy, careless work or who is constantly complaining.
“Singleness of
your heart” refers to a mental disposition, and attitude that
renders obedience out of sincerity, not hypocrisy. “As unto Christ”
explains why servants should obey masters in the manner prescribe
here: obedience rendered to their masters is obedience rendered to
Christ.
We must be careful
to see in this that the servant is a servant in the flesh. To keep
your job and to advance in that job would be more likely, if you were
obedient to your boss. Sincere loyalty toward an employer, not just
lip service, will make you an employee who never has to look for a
job. How a believer works in his job reflects on His Lord, regardless
of who his human master or employer may be.
The boss rewards
such loyalty. One thing in our society that I believe this is leading
to, is after you have agreed to work for a certain sum of money for a
certain time, do not go back and renegotiate. Be true to your own
word.
Verses 6-7:
God’s credits and rewards will be appropriate to the attitude and
action of our work. No good thing done for His glory will go
unrewarded.
Ephesians 6:6
"Not with eyeservice as menpleasers; but as the servants of
Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;"
“Eye service”:
Working well only when being watched by the boss.
“Men-pleasers”:
Working only to promote one’s welfare, rather than to honor the
employer and the Lord, whose servants we really are.
“Singleness of
heart” or sincere disposition excludes “eye service,” that is,
duty performed only when the master is watching; but it includes
“doing the will of God from the heart,” that is, enthusiastic
service coming from within and not having to be coerced by external
pressure.
This is just saying
again, that you should be loyal to your boss. The heart is what makes
you loyal to your boss. This is saying the person is loyal when the
boss is looking, and then he is sneaking around and doing things he
should not when the boss is not looking.
This person does not
need to be checked up on, because he always does his work to the best
of his ability, whether or not anyone else is around. And he works
just as hard when he is passed over for a raise or promotion as when
he is being considered for them.
All of us, whether
we are servants, or the boss, will stand before the Judge of the
entire world to be judged. We can have no secrets from Him. He knows
even the thoughts we have. If you find yourself in a position of
serving, be the very best servant you can possibly be. Do it as if
you were serving God.
Ephesians 6:7
"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:"
“Good will”
means “good intention.” The Christian servant (employee) seeks
the best interests of his master (employer). This reinforces what
Paul has just said. With good will expresses the attitude of the
worker who does not need prompting or compelling. When a Christian is
where God wants him to be and is obedient to render service, as to
the Lord, that is the most challenging, productive, and rewarding
place to be.
We will be judged by
what we did in the position the Lord put us. Everything we do in this
life is as unto the Lord. Whatever position you are in, if you are a
Christian, you are there because that is where God wants you for the
moment.
You really are doing
the job for yourself, your boss, and for God. To be the head of the
company, it is better if you start at the bottom and work yourself
up, because then you know the functions of all the jobs.
Every day should be
a day of service to the Lord. “Whatever your hand finds to do”,
Solomon tells us, “do it with all your might” (Eccles. 9:10-11).
In his letter to Rome, Paul tells us not to lag behind in diligence
but to be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (12:11), and in
Colossians, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the
Lord rather than for men” (3:23). That is the work attitude of the
Spirit filled Christian.
Ephesians 6:8
"Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same
shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free."
The basis for the
servant’s “good intention”, verse 7, toward his master is his
being recompensed by the Lord, both in this life and in the one to
come – “the same” good he has performed in his servant duties.
The rewards for
every job well done, is given in heaven. The boss will be judged, and
so will the servant. Each person must give an account unto God. Those
who have more are judged more harshly, than those who have less to do
with. Lay up your treasures in heaven.
God’s credits and
rewards are always dependable and always appropriate. An employer may
not appreciate or even be aware of the good work done, perhaps
because he is indifferent or because someone else takes credit for
what is done. But God knows and God rewards. No good thing done in
His name and for His glory can pass His notice or fail to receive His
blessing.
Ephesians 6:9
"And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is
there respect of persons with him."
“Ye masters, do
the same things unto them”: There should be mutual honor and
respect from Christian employers to the employees, based on their
common allegiance to the Lord.
A Christian
employer’s relationship to his employees should have the same
motivation and goal as a Christian worker’s relationship to his
employer: the desire to obey and please the Lord. An employer is to
use his authority “as to the Lord,” just as workers are to submit
to authority “as to the Lord.” That is an expression of their
mutual submission in being “subject to one another in the fear of
Christ” (5:21).
“Forbearing
threatening”: The Spirit filled boss uses his authority and power
with justice and grace, never putting people under threats, never
abusive or inconsiderate. He realizes that he has a heavenly Master
who is impartial (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; James 2:9).
The Spirit filled
employer is careful to give up threatening. The term used suggests
the idea of loosening up, or releasing. He uses his authority and
power as little as possible and does not throw his weight around or
lord it over those under him. He is never abusive or inconsiderate.
Earthly masters are
to behave in a reciprocal manner toward their slaves, (i.e., with
respect, sincerity and careful concern). For earthly masters have a
heavenly Master who will judge them without partiality.
He realizes that his
own authority, though God given, is strictly functional and
temporary. He knows that he and his workers alike are under the
supreme authority of God, that their Master and his is not on earth
but in heaven. The faithful Christian employer knows that he is a
fellow servant of Jesus Christ with his employees, and is accountable
to the same Master.
Everyone has someone
over them. Someone who is in charge on the earth will have to answer
to His boss in heaven. We will receive the same type of treatment
that we have treated others with. We are all servants of Christ.
Kindness to servants
gets much more work done than harsh treatment. The master will have
to give an account to Jesus the same as the servant. God is not a
respecter of persons. Use what God has given you to the best of your
ability, and be kind to others around you in the doing, and great
will be your reward in heaven.
Verses 10-17:
The true believer described in chapters 1-3 who lives the Spirit
controlled life of 4:1 – 6:9, can be sure to be in a spiritual war,
as described here. Paul closed this letter with both warning about
that war and instructions on how to win it. The Lord provides His
saints with sufficient armor to combat and thwart the adversary.
In verses 10-13, the
apostle briefly sets forth the basic truths regarding the believer’s
necessary spiritual preparation as well as truths regarding his
enemy, his battle and his victory. In verses 14-17, he specifies the
six most necessary pieces of spiritual armor with which God equips
His children to resist and overcome Satan’s assaults.
Ephesians 6:10
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power
of his might
The Christian who
continually seeks to grow in his knowledge of and obedience to the
Word and to serve the Lord more faithfully will not find ministry
becoming easier. As the Lord gives mastery over certain temptations
and weaknesses, Satan will attack elsewhere. Faithful witnessing,
preaching, teaching, visiting and every other service for the Lord
not only will bring victories but will also bring their own special
difficulties and opposition.
A Christian who no
longer has to struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil is
a Christian who has fallen either into sin or into complacency. A
Christian who has no conflict is a Christian who has retreated from
the front lines of service.
“Be strong in the
Lord, and in the power of his might”: (Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 2:1).
Basic to the
effective Christian life is preparation. The unprepared believer
becomes the defeated believer who seeks to serve the Lord in his own
wisdom and power. The strength of the Christian life is dependence on
God, being strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Any
other strength proves to be impotent.
The cardinal reality
presented in the book of Ephesians is that as believers, we are in
Christ and are one with Him. His life is our life, His power our
power, His truth our truth, His way our way and, as Paul goes on to
say here, His strength is our strength. The Lord’s strength is
always more than sufficient for the battle. It is not the amount of
the strength we have that is important, only its source.
Ultimately, Satan’s
power over Christians is already broken and the great war is won
through Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, which forever
conquered the power of sin and death (Rom. 5:18-21; 1 Cor. 15:56-57;
Heb. 2:14).
However, in life on
earth, the battle of temptation goes on regularly. The Lord’s
power, the strength of His Spirit and the force of biblical truth are
required for victory.
“Finally” may be
rendered “from now on” or “henceforth.” The spiritual battle
Christians are engaged in exists “from now on” until the Lord’s
return: there is no quarter given, no cease fire, no temporary truce,
and no cessation of hostilities.
“From now on”
till the end there is all out war. The remainder of the verse may be
paraphrased, “Let yourselves constantly be strengthened by the
Lord, more precisely, by His mighty power.”
We find that muscles
are not what this is speaking of. This is speaking of the strength of
the Lord working through you. Christians have great help in their
endeavors on this earth. The Spirit of the risen Christ within us
strengthens us to whatever task the Lord has for us to do.
Most of us find that
we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. God will not
call you to do any job for Him, without equipping you with all that
you need to do the job. Paul is speaking to believers here, because
he says brethren.
To sum this lesson
up, I would have to say that the Lord is telling all of us to be
thoughtful of others around us, as we do the job at hand.
Sometimes wives feel
useless, because they are not bringing in a paycheck. We should never
feel that way, because there are many jobs around home that we can do
to help the family progress. One of the greatest jobs a woman can do
is to be a homemaker and mother.
Many of the great
men in the ministry, such as John Wesley, were greatly influenced by
godly mothers. We know that Timothy was greatly influenced by his
mother and grandmother. One job is no less than someone else's job.
We all must work together to get the job done that God wants us to
do.
Husbands should
respect the wife for sacrificing and becoming a servant to him and
the family. If he had to pay someone to do her job, he would probably
have to hire 3 or 4 people to fill his wife's shoes. Wives, on the
other hand, should appreciate a husband who will go out and work and
provide the financial needs of the family.
Our society has
changed so that now many wives have to work outside the home to help
with the family expenses. This lesson is just saying, whatever your
job in life is, do it to the very best of your ability. If you are
not rewarded on this earth, God will reward you in heaven.
Wives love and
respect your husbands, husbands love your wives. Children listen to
your parents and respect them. Parents love your children and guide
them in love. Everyone, remember, you are really doing all these
things as unto the Lord in heaven.
All of the
instructions in this lesson to wives, husbands, children, and
servants were all given, so that we might live peaceable, productive
lives while here on earth. God was thinking of us, when He gave these
instructions.
