CHILDREN, PARENTS; SERVANTS, MASTERS.
Ephesians 6:1-9.
We are continuing to unfold the practical implications of ‘Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God’ (Ephesians 5:21).
Children are exhorted to obey their parents “in the Lord” (EPHESIANS 6:1). The first reason given is, quite simply, that this is the “right” (just, righteous) thing to do. Elsewhere Paul lists ‘disobedience to parents’ as a product of a reprobate mind (cf. Romans 1:28-30), and as a cause of ‘perilous times’ in these ‘last days’ (cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-2).
Secondly, “in the Lord” (EPHESIANS 6:1) reminds Christian children of their allegiance, first and foremost, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Children obeying their parents is ‘well pleasing to the Lord’ (cf. Colossians 3:20). We are reminded also of Jesus’ submission to His own earthly parents (cf. Luke 2:51).
Further, in the third place, the instruction is based in scripture: “Honour thy father and mother.” Paul calls this “the first (or foremost) commandment with promise” (EPHESIANS 6:2; cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). Even when we cease to be children, we should still continue to honour and respect our parents.
The promise is twofold: “that it may be well with thee,” and “that you may live long on the earth” (EPHESIANS 6:3; cf. 3 John 1:2). Notice how the Apostle Paul shifts the emphasis from the Old Testament, ‘upon the land’ and ‘in the land’ to “on the earth.”
Negatively, fathers (parents) are not to provoke their children to anger (EPHESIANS 6:4a). The result of such provocation might be discouragement (cf. Colossians 3:21).
Positively, it is the parents’ place to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (EPHESIANS 6:4b). “Nurture” is gentle nourishment for the young mind, making sure that they receive appropriate teaching for their age group. The “admonition” of the Lord may include discipline, but the aim is not to get the children to conform to the parents’ will, but to God’s.
Servants are exhorted “to be obedient unto” their earthly masters “with fear and trembling.” Not out of the fear of man, but wholeheartedly and out of reverence toward Christ (EPHESIANS 6:5).
Further, their obedience should not be “as men-pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (EPHESIANS 6:6).
Thus servants, knowing that they are doing the will of God, will do it cheerfully instead of grudgingly: “With good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men” (EPHESIANS 6:7).
Knowing this, too: that “whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free” (EPHESIANS 6:8). Now, thankfully, we live in an age when slavery has been outlawed, but the same basic principles should guide our attitudes in relation to employment. If we work “as to the Lord,” then we shall receive recompense from the Lord (cf. Colossians 3:24).
EPHESIANS 6:9. (i) “Masters do the same things unto them.” Respect in the work place is reciprocal. As Jesus said in the Golden Rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you' (cf. Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). As Paul has said in our text of this and last week, ‘Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God’ (Ephesians 5:21).
(ii) “Forbearing threatening.” It occurs to me that threats might travel on a two-way street: the employer might threaten to suspend the worker, but the workers might threaten to go out on strike. This does not make for good working relationships.
(iii) So the Christian master is brought right back to the same reality: “Knowing that your Master also is in heaven,” and that He is without partiality. In Him there is ‘neither bond nor free… for ye are all one in Christ Jesus’ (cf. Galatians 3:28).
Paul encouraged one master to receive back his (now converted) runaway servant as a brother beloved in the Lord (cf. Philemon 1:16). And he advised servants that, if they might be made free, that they should take the opportunity to do so (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:21-22).
