Eph 6:1-9

Main Point: Obey Christ in the way you treat your family and in your work relationships.

Outline:

Children to Parents vv. 1-3

Parents to Children vv. 4

Servants to Masters vv. 5-8

Masters to Servants vv. 9

Children to Parents

Last time we met, Josh started this topic about family dynamics.

He talked about the relationship between husband and wife.

Now we are continuing that by talking about children to their parents.

Eph 6:1 “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.”

This first verse is about obeying your parents because it is a command of God.

Notice how it says “Parents” not just obey your father. We are to obey both our parents.

CSB Study Bible: Notes Chapter 6

The word for obey is different … “submission”. Obedience involves recognition of authority.

The Mosaic law prescribed death for the child who struck or cursed a parent

Exodus 21:15 ““Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.”

Exodus 21:17 ““Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.” ;

Leviticus 20:9 “For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.”

This shows us that God takes this seriously. The actually command gets quoted in vv. 2-3

Ephesians 6:2–3 ““Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.””

2-3 quotes Exodus 20:12 ““Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”

These verses emphasize we are to honor our parents as well.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 6

6:2–3 ...In the new covenant the promise of the land is not physical land on earth but eternal life, which begins when one is regenerated here and now and comes to full reality in the age to come. Paul is not teaching salvation on the basis of works. The obedience of children is evidence that they know God, and it results in receiving blessings from God.

And the motive should not be to gain the promise, but because it is God’s will.

I personally struggle with understanding and accepting this. (maybe story)

Parents to Children

Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.”

As before Paul starts with an action to avoid. Then provides a positive...

Don’t provoke them to anger, it can lead them to being discouraged. not the goal of parenting.

Colossians 3:21 “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

The goal is to reflect the love, patience, and wisdom of the Lord.

The positive action is...

Bringing them up in the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

It has been said many times, “your biggest ministry is your family.”

Just like in your ministry you will be discipling people you should be discipling your kids.

Talk about the Neal’s and “Daddy devo time”

Servants to Masters

This next section is on the relationship between Servant and Master.

estimated, slaves were about 1/3 pop. of Ephesus

it would have been normal for Paul to talk about … family relationship

Ephesians 6:5-6 “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.”

Paul does not condone slavery, he is just laying out how a believing servant should serve their earthly masters

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 6

… lawfully constituted authority, the only exception … require a believer to disobey God’s Word or to fundamentally compromise one’s commitment to Christ. It would be natural for Christian slaves to despise their earthly masters in the name of their heavenly one; however, fulfilling one’s earthly obligations is, in fact, service to the Lord.

talk about how we will need to obey, work well on our teams

Ephesians 6:7–8 “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.”

Colossians 3:23–24 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

NIV: Obey > > Because

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 6

6:8 whatever good anyone does … he will receive back from the Lord. Selfless service is not ignored or forgotten by God. There is no discrimination with the Lord, for he will reward every faithful servant equally, whether he is a slave or free

Masters to Servants

Ephesians 6:9 “Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.”

Finally we’ll talk about the relationship of masters towards their servants.

If you want them to treat you well like we just discussed, them you’ll need to treat them well.

Earthly status does not matter to God; all believers are equal before Him.

Its all about reflecting Christ in how we treat others.

The ESV Study Bible Chapter 6

6:9 Masters had the power of life and death over their slaves. Beatings, imprisonment, or sale into harsher servitude were other punishments masters meted out. The duty of masters and all in authority is to do good to those in submission and not to take advantage of their authority by threatening them. There is no partiality with the Lord he will judge fairly both masters and servants.