Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Ephesians 6:1-9

Tonight, we are going to begin looking at chapter 6 of Ephesians. I am going to skim over the first three verses VERY quickly. They apply specifically to children, so I will just touch on them. Verse four speaks to parents, specifically fathers, so I will spend a little time on it; it can also apply to grandparents. Most of our time will be spent discussing the last four verses, 5-9. These verses deal with the interaction between employees and employers.

Ephesians 6:1-3

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 be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

Ephesians 6:4

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

Parenting is a tough task. Without a doubt, we, as parents, will upset and irritate our kids at some point. Discipline and correction are not enjoyable experiences for either party. The very nature of discipline is one of irritation and being upset.

The word that is used in this text that translates to “do not provoke your children to anger,” is not talking irritating or upsetting your kids. If we parent correctly, that’s exactly what we will do.

The word translated as

- “Anger,” is the Greek word “parorgizom” which means to arouse to WRATH

to provoke to the point of utter exasperation and resentment.

- Four things will exasperate a child. (Proverbs 22:6, Lam. 2:19)

1. Failing to accept the fact that times and people change.

The generation we grew up in does not exist any longer, and it’s not coming back. We must be alert to how things are changing and evaluate the changes. This does not mean that we are to allow children to participate in all things and activities simply because they are new. Anything that deals with rebellion, immorality, or injustice should be avoided. Anything that leads to open defiance or resistance to authority must be rejected.

2. Over controlling

This can range from overly stern restrictions to child abuse. While restrictions are necessary, overly strong restrictions will lead children to react and rebel. There must be a steady balance between allowing and not allowing things.

3. Under controlling (Proverbs 13:24, 19:18, 29:15, 1 Samuel 3:13)

This is one that people don’t think of. Believe it or not, kids, and especially teens, need and WANT boundaries. Too often parents will indulge and pamper their children to avoid conflict, so they have what everyone else has, to avoid interruption to their time, or to keep being their child’s “friend.”

Proverbs 13:24 NASB

24 He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 19:18 NASB

18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

Proverbs 29:15 NASB

15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

1 Samuel 3:13 NASB

13 For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.

4. Living an inconsistent life (1 Kings 22:52, Jeremiah 9:14)

A parent who tells a child one thing, but lives a completely different lifestyle, will enrage their children. Yet, this is very common.

1 Kings 22:52 NASB

52 He did evil in the sight of the Lord and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother

Jeremiah 9:14 NASB

14 but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart and after the Baals, as their fathers taught them,”

Instead of provoking our children to anger and wrath,

- We are called to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Some versions translate “discipline” as “training.” The training of the Lord is in all ways, not only in the church. In our education, in our culture, in our morals. In all our ways, we should consider the Lord. In all our training of our children, we should consider the Lord.

Proverbs 22:6 NASB

6 Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Lamentations 2:19 NASB

19 “Arise, cry aloud in the night At the beginning of the night watches; Pour out your heart like water Before the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to Him For the life of your little ones

Ephesians 6:5-9

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.

This text has been an issue of debate for a long time. In it we see Paul speaking to slaves and masters. The Bible nowhere condones or condemns slavery outright. However, if we follow the Biblical principles, we find slavery and ownership of slaves to be against God’s intended purpose for mankind.

- Paul does not condone or condemn; he simply speaks to the facts of what was at the time.

The Expositors Greek Testament says this about slaver:

There, as elsewhere in the New Testament, slavery is accepted as an existing institution, which is neither formally condemned nor formally approved. There is nothing to prompt revolutionary action, or to encourage repudiation of the position…the institution is left to be undermined and removed by the gradual operation of the great Christian principles of…

· The equality of men in the sight of God

· A common Christian brotherhood

· The spiritual freedom of the Christian man

· The Lordship of Christ to which every other lordship is subordinate.

William Barclay states that there were over

- SIX MILLION slaves in the Roman Empire during the time of Paul.

WOW! Because so many existed, the Gospel was bound to reach many of them. The Gospel was bound to be heard by many of them. Therefore, Paul speaks to slaves and their walk with the Lord.

Francis Foulkes says: “The principles of this whole section apply to employees and employers in every age, whether in home, in business, or in the state.”

I. The first part applies to the workman or the employee.

Ephesians 6:5 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh,

We are to be obedient to those who have authority over us in the earthly realm.

Paul gives us

- Six specific instructions for the Christian worker:

1. The Christian worker is to work with respect and awe (fear)

Ephesians 6:5 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling,

This is not to say we are to work in fear of man, but in

- We should have reverence and respect to those who have authority over us

as well as respect and reverence for who God has called us to be. As a Christian worker, we do not want to bring reproach to the name of God because of disrespectful and irreverent actions on the job. Therefore, we must serve our employer as if serving Christ.

2. The Christian worker is to work in sincerity of heart, as to Christ

Ephesians 6:5 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh …in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ

- Sincerity of heart means with purpose and focused attention.

- This means we are to work without any hypocrisy or slacking.

We do not waste time pretending to be working. We are to focus on doing our job well as to be serving Christ.

3. The Christian worker is not to work with eye service as a man-pleaser.

Ephesians 6:5-6 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh… 6 not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers,

Someone who works with eye service is only working when the boss is looking.

- Our work should be always done well, no matter who is or isn’t watching.

The person who works with eye service is looking to receive favor they do not receive. They are being deceptive. In doing so,

- This worker is robbing his employer and bringing a bad name upon Christ.

4. The Christian worker is to work as the servant of Christ doing the will of God from his heart.

Ephesians 6:5-6 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh… 6 but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.

Again, we see Paul mention working from the heart. This means with interest and energy.

- It is the opposite of doing things out of routine and listless, having no energy or heart for the work.

Even when we know the boss isn’t looking, we should keep in mind that God sees all things and knows the effort and energy we put into the work we are to be performing.

- The Christian worker should be the most determined and hardest worker on the job.

5. The Christian worker is to work with goodwill.

Ephesians 6:5-7 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh… 7 With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

For the third time,

- The will and the energy behind the work is to be done for the Lord.

No matter what the work is or where it is performed, as long as it’s not immoral or unjust.

6. The result of such labor is a reciprocal reward.

Ephesians 6:5-8 NASB

5 be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh… 8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

Regardless of what our work is, the Lord will return to the Christian worker what he labored for.

- If we diligently work as though we’re working for Christ, we shall be rewarded.

II. Second applies to the Employer

Ephesians 6:9 NASB

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.

The employer is given

-Two specific commands on how they are to treat employees.

1. The manager is to do the very same things that are required of the workman.

- Just as the employer expects from the employee, they should give the same in return.

The employer should work:

· To serve both the Lord and the employee with fear and respect,

· To serve in sincerity of heart,

· To serve not with eye service, as a man-pleaser,

· To serve with goodwill,

· To serve knowing that he is to receive a reciprocal reward for how well he managed.

- The manager expects diligence and loyalty. The charge to the manager is the exact same.

Demonstrate loyalty with fair wages and security.

2. The manager is not to threaten. (Colossians 4:1, Leviticus 19:13, Jeremiah 22:13, Malachi 3:5)

When Paul writes to give up threatening he is not referring to correction or release of duties.

- Stern and strict measures should only be taken after corrective measures have exhausted first.

The manager should work to de-escalate any situation first.

- Unwarranted threats should not be used.

Colossians 4:1 NASB

4 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.

Leviticus 19:13 NASB

13 ‘You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.

Jeremiah 22:13 NASB

13 “Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay And does not give him his wages,

Malachi 3:5 NASB

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the Lord of hosts.