Empowered Children And Parents Series

Background to passage: Following the command for believers to be filled with the Spirit, Paul gives three results: singing together to each other, worshipping internally, being grateful for all things, and submitting to one another. After that Paul starts with the most basic unit that God formed as the foundation of society: marriage between one man and one woman. Next he moves to the remainder of the household with the relationship between children and parents. Remember this is all flowing from walking with the Spirit, being filled with the Spirit, abiding in Christ and his Word as the vine to bear fruit, and keeping in step with the Spirit with moment by moment obedience.

Ephesians 6:1–4 ESV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

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

Opening illustration: The experiment is often recounted of placing a frog in a pan of cool water on a stove and of slowly increasing the heat. Because the rise in temperature is so gradual, it is imperceptible to the frog, and he remains in the pan even when the water begins to boil. He adjusts to the heat as it rises and eventually boils to death. That process illustrates what has happened to the American family, including many Christian families. The changed values in society have been so gradual that most people have hardly noticed them. Each small change in standards and values seems insignificant in itself. And because adjustments are gradually made to those lowered standards, the danger is not noticed even when the family and society start to disintegrate and crumble. Moral and spiritual standards have gradually eroded until countless families have been literally destroyed.

Main thought: This morning we will look at the commands of God to Spirit-filled children and parents

1) Obey and Honor (v. 1-3)

Ephesians 6:1–3 ESV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

1) Obey and Honor (v. 1-3)

Explanation: This is as straightforward as it gets. If you want to please God, do what your parents tell you to do. This is a God-ordained authority in your life. Circumstances are different from the husband/wife relationship. You are still called to put yourself in a position of obedience. This means doing what they say voluntarily. However, there are provisions in the scripture for the discipline of children by parents.

Children, the plain teaching is that it is right and good to obey and honor your parents.

The word honor means to reverence and respect your parents. The teaching is that you obey with your actions, but you honor with your heart. Your desire should be to please your parents. As with wives, this doesn’t apply with parents require things of you that are illegal, immoral, or unbiblical.

Psalm 71:17–18 ESV

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

Proverbs 6:20–22 ESV

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

Illustration: In the TN football game last week (hate to even reference it), there was a call that resulted in a long play for us being called back. Just like in most sports these days, for some things there is instant replay to see exactly what happened, then there are “judgment” calls. These are penalties or outs or lack thereof that are at the discretion of the referee or umpire without the possibility of review. The in game last Sat the referee called a blindside block when it was obviously not blindside, and it was barely a block. Even all the announcers thought it was a bad call. But it was a judgment call. The referee has the authority, and everyone else has to go along. That is the system.

Application: Because this is a command and it requires your submission and obedience, you are responsible for your actions. Your parents will hold you accountable, and God will hold you accountable. There is even more responsibility for those of you who are believers. So, the question is two-fold: do you obey what your parents ask you to do? and are you pleased about it? Often it’s the latter answer that is more difficult.