Ephesians 6:1-9

1: Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2: HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),
3: SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

5: Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;
6: not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.
7: With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,
8: knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

9: And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

*** 

It is right for children to obey their parents—the ones from whom they received life. Early on, a child receives vital instruction from their parents on how to survive in the world. This instruction should grow to include spiritual life as well as natural. Children should listen to their parents out of respect and because the wisdom of their instruction will benefit them.

Children are to obey their parents in the Lord, which implies limits which might exist in that obedience (Acts 5:29). The commandment Paul quoted regarding this is from Exodus 20:12—the fifth commandment which says to honor your father and mother so you may live long on the earth.

Paul gave fathers instruction not to provoke their children to anger but raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. A parent cannot expect their child to do what’s right without being taught and guided in a consistent manner in the ways of the Lord. Proverbs 22:15 tells us that foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will remove it far from him. Children need their parents' guidance, not provocation and not unrealistic expectations.

Paul addressed slaves, instructing them to serve their masters with fear—a sincere eagerness, not wanting to displease. They were to do so as unto the Lord, not man. When serving one in authority with this type of sincerity and good will, slaves could be assured that the Lord would repay their good deeds.

Finally, Paul instructed the masters not to threaten or abuse their slaves but to treat them well, for they too had a Master in heaven who saw no difference between slave or free (Galatians 3:28). One might use this as instruction for employee-employer relationships. An employee serving with a sincere attitude as unto the Lord, doing his job well, while the employer does not overwork or overburden his employee, but treats him/her as a fellow believer in Christ.



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