Ephesians 6: 1-9 (The Family unit that pursues Christ)
Summary: Paul now returns to the family unit and what it should look like. He now shifts his attention to the children’s role in the unit. Quoting the fifth commandment, he calls the children as well as anyone else to honor their father and mother as is fitting to the saints that all might go well with them. He then shifts back to the masculine leader of the household in telling the father to respect his children, furthermore bringing them up in discipline. He now shifts to the lesser mentioned role a typical family in this time, the slave. He calls the slaves to work earnestly and with good intention not by way of eye-service but of humility, working not unto their masters but unto the Lord. Now he calls the masters of those slaves to be honest to their slaves in treating them with respect for there is no partiality with the overall master, namely Christ (Eph. 1: 20-21).
Note: Paul refers to the law as presented in the Old Testament in verse 2
Timeless Principle: This text is dealing with four different roles of the family unit: 1) children 2) fathers 3) slaves 4) masters.
The child is the first of the roles addressed in this text. If I am not mistaken, everyone is a child of someone. So this text is directly applicable to all people in some form despite age. All should honor their parents that it may go well with them. In its most obvious case, obeying a parent is extremely important as long as the command does not directly coincide with God’s commandments. Though this is the obvious application, it should never be overlooked obeying is a form of honoring because essentially we are saying that parents, in fact, are wiser than the child due to experiential wisdom. But honor your father and mother might not be so easily applicable for someone who is no longer living with their parents a full-time basis (adults, most college students). Well then what does this mean? It does not mean to disregard the command simply because it is not so easily applicable. So then how does someone honor their father and mother outside the safety of their parent’s home. By showing respect to their opinions and giving them the light of day. I often find myself blowing off my parents calls or taking their advice for granted which is in direct opposition to the ideas presented in this text. Even asking them opinions in decisions that are being made brings them honor simply because it shows that humility in implying that you might not actually have all the answers. These applications are not to be confused with laziness in the lives of those outside the home. It must be noted that respecting your parents does not mean giving them absolute authority being outside the home. This is why Paul is careful to not in Eph. 5: 31 that a “man shall leave his parents and hold fast to his wife.” Respect them but hold fast to your newly inherited biblical masculinity and womanhood.
Though this text is probably referring to the honoring of your physical parents as we commonly think of them, perhaps, for a different perspective, it would be beneficial to look at it in a different light. Earlier in this letter alone, Paul refers to us as children “adopted” in Christ and furthermore calls us to walk as “imitators” of Him, walking as “beloved children” (Eph. 1: 5, 5:1-2). An amazing promise echoes through the bible that God, creator who is most majestic is also a “father of the fatherless” (see Psalm 68: 5). John makes a staggering claim in his gospel proclaiming that to anyone who will “receive [Christ], who believe in His name, He gave the right to become children of” the most high God (John 1: 12). Well then, this leads us to another question, what does this mean for us, believers in the new covenant in Christ? It means just what it implies, that we, those who were foreknown to be adopted as sons and daughters in Christ, are now considered children of God. Well then this must mean we are to honor our heavenly father as well being as one who is a beloved child.
The father is the second specific role addressed by Paul. There is only one verse of the nine devoted to this particular text but it is a loaded one. Do not drive your children to anger is the first of things presented to the paternal role. The provoking might be referring to unreasonable demands or insincerity. It is the unnecessary provoking that causes a child to become discouraged (Col. 3: 21). This discouragement is the opposite of what the rest of the verse is telling fathers to do. A father is called to bring up his children in discipline and instruction of the Lord, encouraging them to be laborers for Christ. (I do not claim much expertise in specific application as I do not yet have children)
This text may also be looked at from another angle based on other scriptural passages (it needs to be noted that this text is however dealing with the father specifically). For those who are not fathers, like me, we should both take note as to what this text teaches about fatherhood but also take note of what it could mean for us now. Isaiah introduces a new idea in chapter 54 which is brought up by Paul in Galatians 4 proclaiming "Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband." (Isaiah 54: 1-2, Gal. 4: 27). Christ, when conversing with Nicodemus says rather simply that a man must be born of water (the physical birth) and of the “Spirit” (a supernatural birth brought on through the dramatic recreation of man in justification). Paul after quoting Isaiah in the above passage goes on to call the Galatians “His little children” for which he was in “anguish of childbirth” (Gal 4: 19). Paul also tells the church in Corinth that they did not have many fathers for “he (Paul) became” their “father,” going on to encourage them to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor. 4: 15-16). What does all this mean? It means that as Paul took on a paternal concern for his “spiritual offspring” so should we. A believer is called to make disciples of all nations (not be confused with converts) training them up in sound doctrine and teaching them to walk as an imitator of Christ. This is important, discipleship is life on life, a disciple is to give his life away to his disciples much like Paul, fighting that they might become mature in Christ. (Note: This does not mean that you can do any of the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit for a new creation is a supernatural event that only God can manage, it is our job not to sanctify but to equip)
Paul now shifts to the slave. He commands them to obey their masters, not by way of eye-service as people pleasers but with a sincere heart as unto Christ. It would be foolish to dump this off because of the fact that no one is a slave anymore right? That’s a false thing to think. The Bible makes it very clear that a person is a slave to something, a slave to sin or a slave to Christ. Being the liberal people we are, we are quick to defend ourselves saying, “I am no slave, can you not see that I do what I want when I want.” My question to the man who says that is well then who are you serving when you do those things, and the natural response, “number one.” In this that person is saying yes I am a slave to my own desires, which biblically is called being a slave to the flesh (sin). A dead man is content to follow essentially Satan (see Eph. 2:1-3) and is greedy to do so willingly in his flesh to be a slave to sin. So then, almost no one would say that being a slave to something that declares war against God is a good thing so then there must be an alternative. Jesus says that it is for “freedom that he has set us free,” in His blood sin and death has lost its grip, rejoice in this resounding truth (John 8). But this freedom was far from free, but rather it cost Christ everything. In accepting the risen Savior’s perfect sacrifice we make a vow to turn from our sin and turn to Christ, not looking back, not fixating upon our worldly desires but being captivated by grace. Paul, calls himself a bond servant of Christ. What does this mean? It means that in my being justified by Christ, I submitted myself to the authority that is above all authority, becoming a bond servant (essentially a slave) to Christ. This is not a negative thing, be joyful that this is true for it is a most amazing truth, we have been adopted and as beloved children should gladly pursue our Father’s and master’s will despite the temporal costs.
Now with a new understanding of our servitude (slavery) to Christ, let us look once more at this text. We are to work and serve not by way of eye-service but with earnest and humble hearts because we are not working for or serving man but rather we are serving the Godhead who is our true master. This idea should shift our views of word because it means that we truly should do all things to the glory of God not just the self-defined “holy” things, for all things if done for God’s glory are Holy.
The last shift Paul makes is to the masters who are above the slaves. (Note: as discussed earlier the master’s are also slaves) Paul calls the master to stop threatening and making unjust commands but rather being gentle as Christ is gentle and forgiving of them. Any authority we have no matter how small or taken advantage of. In our positions of authority we must remember that there is only one absolute authority and with him there is no partiality. This means that a slave on earth is seen to be no different than a master on earth and the president is just as loved as the beggar. There is no partiality. Having this in mind let us remember to be gentle with those we have been granted authority as Christ is gentle and patient with us through our endless rebellion and laziness.
My Prayer: Father, you are the master of my heart, You purchased me when I did nothing but hated you. You drug me to the foot of your cross kicking and screaming where you captivated me with your endless grace. You have adopted me and counted me as your son. May I honor my parents and my earthly authority as it is only there by your will and for my good. Give me strength to walk as your beloved child in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called. God build me into a passionate Father, one that builds his children both physical and spiritual into respectable men of God training them up in grace and love with discipline. Might I remember my position in you, that I have been bought with a heavy price being purchased from sin and enslaved to you. May I be joyful in being counted worthy to suffer for or name being a man who is not a people-pleaser but who longs to satisfy you. Above all I pray that your will be done in my life. In Christ’s name, Amen.