Roles in the Family
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
TS:
Paul begins by addressing the church in Ephesus. He reminds them that they are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. He also reminds them that they are called to live a holy life.
In Ephesians 5-6, Paul gives us some important instructions about the
role of fathers, mothers, and children in the family. This is one of the most important passages in the Bible on the subject of family relationships. It provides clear and concise instructions on how husbands, wives, children, and parents should relate to each other.
These instructions are not just for Christians, but for all people who want
to have healthy and happy families.
The passage is based on the principle of love, which is the foundation of all healthy relationships.
1. Wives and Husbands
1. Wives and Husbands
Paul then addresses the issue of marriage.
A. He tells husbands and wives to submit to each other
A. He tells husbands and wives to submit to each other
Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Spirit filled believers are to submit to each other under God’s will
Because Shannon and I are siblings in Christ 1st, we both have an obligation to point each other to God’s word.
Husbands and wives should both be believers.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
“I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Believers are supposed to hold each other accountable
NO ONE is superior and of more value.
Every Christian is to be a humble and submissive Christian
This begins in the home!
B. He tells wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord.
B. He tells wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord.
(Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.
This is a difficult command for many women, but it is one that is essential for
a healthy marriage. When a wife submits to her husband, she is not
giving up her rights or her identity. She is simply recognizing that
her husband is the head of the household, and she is choosing to
respect and obey him.
It is NEVER becoming a doormat and accepting abuse.
It is about a hierarchy when it comes to setting the direction and making decisions.
Before you begin to walk out or try to tar and feather me, listen as we look next at husbands role
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
As the Lord delivered His church from the dangers of sin, death, and hell, so the husband provides for, protects, preserves, and loves his wife, leading her to blessing as she submits
Our family is to be a picture of Christ’s relationship to the church!
C. He tells Husbands to love their wives
C. He tells Husbands to love their wives
2 Instructions of a husbands love
1. He tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
This is a powerful command, and it is one that husbands should take to heart. Christ's love for the church was sacrificial and selfless.
Christ Died for the church Eph 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
He gave up his life for her, and he did it out of love.
He gave all he had for us!
Christ lives to make the church holy and clean Eph 5:26
that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Christ will someday present the church to Himself as a glorious church without stain or wrinkle Eph 5:27
that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
In the same way, husbands should love their wives with a
sacrificial and selfless love.
They should be willing to put their wives' needs before their own, and they should be willing to make sacrifices for wives' happiness.
2. Husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies
So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
This is one of the most compelling descriptions of the oneness that should characterize Christian marriage.
A Christian husband is to care for his wife with the same devotion that he naturally manifests as he cares for himself.— even more so, since his self-sacrificing love causes him to put her first!
So to apply this passage:
God instructs husbands to love our wives sacrificially and selflessly. We must seek what is best for her and our family. We must cherish her as we cherish our own body. Wives, God asks you, to follow our lead. Together, we are to submit to each other’s authority as children of God.
BOTH of us are to hold each other accountable to honoring the Lord
2. Children and Parents
2. Children and Parents
Paul then addresses the issue of children and parents.
A. He tells children to obey their parents in the Lord.
A. He tells children to obey their parents in the Lord.
He says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right" (Ephesians 6:1).
This is a command that is often repeated in the Bible, and it is one that is
essential for a healthy family. When children obey their parents, they
are showing respect and love for their parents. They are also showing
that they are willing to submit to authority.
v. 1 speaks of action, now v2 speaks of attitude
B. Paul tells children to Honor their Parents
B. Paul tells children to Honor their Parents
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:
honoring for parents should be the attitude from which obedience grows.
This promise is that children who honor their parents will "live long in the land"
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
This promise is not just about physical longevity.
It is also about spiritual longevity. When children honor their parents,
they are setting themselves up for a lifetime of happiness and
success.
B. He tells parents not to provoke their children to anger.
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
He uses the word fathers, which can mean Dads but is also used in writings to say parents. Since this passage has been discussing parents, it is safe to apply this to BOTH fathers and mothers.
2 responsibilities have been given to parents
Don’t provoke your children to anger.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
mind here. The same word is used in Heb 11:23 for Moses’ parents. do not provoke. In the pagan world of Paul’s day, and even in many Jewish households, most fathers ruled their families with rigid and domineering authority
We must not make unseasonable demands and constraints that would drive our children to anger, despair, and resentment.
The need to learn to submit to authority while also learning what just authority looks like.
Our founding fathers recognized unjust authority in the tyranny of the king and revolted leading to a nation of freedom and justice.
We don’t want to goad our children into staging a revolt!
Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord
This is a big responsibility and should not be taken lightly.
Parents have a tremendous influence on their children's lives.
By raising their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, parents are laying a foundation for their children's future success.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The roles of fathers, mothers, and children are all important in the family. When each person fulfills their role, the family can be a place of love, joy, and peace. Let us all strive to be the best fathers, mothers, and children that we can be.
Paul concludes by reminding the church that they are called to live a life of love and peace. When we follow the instructions in this passage, we can experience