Christian Family

What is God’s Model for the Family?

Define Submit?

Who Submits?

What is right?

What is the promise?

Why just Fathers?

What does Spiritual Warfare have to do with the family?

The Family Today

There is an assault on the Family today.

1960 73% of all children were living in a family with two married parents in their first marriage.

1980, 61%

today 46%.

1. Children Vs 1-3

6 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 go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Obey (5219) (hupakouo from hupó = agency or means, under, assumes the need for submission + akoúo physical hearing and apprehension of something with the mind - akouo gives us our English acoustics - the science of design which helps one hear) (Click study on related noun hupakoe) literally means "under the hearing" or to listen under, listening with attentiveness and then responding positively to what is heard -- to obey what is heard. The sense is that one understands and responds accordingly. Hupakouo implies really listening with a readiness to execute (obey) what is requested or ordered.

Hupakouo implies an inward attitude of respect and honor, as well as external act of obedience. Obedience on the part of children consists in listening to the advice given by parents. In Genesis 22 Isaac's willingness to be offered as a sacrifice is a model of such submission.

Hupakouo means to hear under authority and pictures the one hearing as being under the authority of some one else. Hupakouo means to obey on the basis of having paid attention to.

In short, the picture of hupakouo is that of placing oneself under what has been heard and submitting to and obeying what is heard.

Hupakouo is present imperative which is a command for children to obey as a lifestyle. In the present context of Paul's extended description of Spirit filled individuals (wives, husbands, children, masters, servants, "spiritual warriors," "prayer warriors" - Eph 6:18) hupakouo means that Spirit filled children (Eph 5:18+) are to continually put themselves under the words and authority of their parents. They are to continually exhibit a readiness to hearken (give respectful attention, give heed to) to the parent's commands and instructions. How else could a naturally rebellious child do this unless he or she was filled with (controlled by, yielded to and controlled by) the enabling power of the Holy Spirit Who indwells them and continually gives them the desire and the power to obey (cp Php 2:13NLT-note)?

Right (1342) (dikaios from dike = originally manner or tendency then coming to mean the designation for the right of established custom or usage. Dike is an expected behavior or conformity, not according to one's own standard, but according to an imposed standard.) describes that which is in accordance with what God requires and so is in accordance with His compelling standards. In man to man relations dikaios describes a right relationship, here of parent to child, where the child's hearkening to the parent is the essence of godly parent-child relationship.

Vine has this note on dikaios noting that it was "first used of persons observant of dike, custom, rule, right, especially in the fulfilment of duties towards gods and men, and of things that were in accordance with right. The English word “righteous” was formerly spelt ‘rightwise’, i.e., (in a) straight way. In the N.T. it denotes righteous, a state of being right, or right conduct, judged whether by the Divine standard, or according to human standards, of what is right. Said of God, it designates the perfect agreement between His nature and His acts (in which He is the standard for all men).

J Vernon McGee notes that "It is right because it is according to the will of God. It is actually more than right; it is just. It is a righteous thing to do because it is God’s way. The first lesson that a soldier must learn is obedience to those in authority. He must follow orders. This basic training is learned in the home. After the soldier has learned to obey, then he is in a position to be promoted to the rank of an officer where he gives commands to others. To know how to give orders depends largely on how the soldier learned to obey. This basic training is found in the home with the parent-child relationship, and then with the master-servant relationship. The victories of the Christian life are won in the home and in the place of business. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

Right (1342) (dikaios from dike = originally manner or tendency then coming to mean the designation for the right of established custom or usage. Dike is an expected behavior or conformity, not according to one's own standard, but according to an imposed standard.) describes that which is in accordance with what God requires and so is in accordance with His compelling standards. In man to man relations dikaios describes a right relationship, here of parent to child, where the child's hearkening to the parent is the essence of godly parent-child relationship.

Vine has this note on dikaios noting that it was "first used of persons observant of dike, custom, rule, right, especially in the fulfilment of duties towards gods and men, and of things that were in accordance with right. The English word “righteous” was formerly spelt ‘rightwise’, i.e., (in a) straight way. In the N.T. it denotes righteous, a state of being right, or right conduct, judged whether by the Divine standard, or according to human standards, of what is right. Said of God, it designates the perfect agreement between His nature and His acts (in which He is the standard for all men).

J Vernon McGee notes that "It is right because it is according to the will of God. It is actually more than right; it is just. It is a righteous thing to do because it is God’s way. The first lesson that a soldier must learn is obedience to those in authority. He must follow orders. This basic training is learned in the home. After the soldier has learned to obey, then he is in a position to be promoted to the rank of an officer where he gives commands to others. To know how to give orders depends largely on how the soldier learned to obey. This basic training is found in the home with the parent-child relationship, and then with the master-servant relationship. The victories of the Christian life are won in the home and in the place of business. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)

2. Fathers Vs. 4

Colossians 3:20-21 “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”