Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
“Children… are indebted to their parents, who have watched over them in infancy and nursed them in sickness. They should realize that their parents have suffered much anxiety on their account. Especially have conscientious, godly parents felt the deepest interest that their children should take a right course. As they have seen faults in their children, how heavy have been their hearts! If the children who caused those hearts to ache could see the effect of their course, they would certainly relent. If they could see their mother's tears and hear her prayers to God in their behalf, if they could listen to her suppressed and broken sighs, their hearts would feel and they would speedily confess their wrongs and ask to be forgiven. Children, when they become of age, will prize the parent who laboured faithfully, and would not permit them to cherish wrong feelings or indulge in evil habits.” (Adventist Homes, Ellen White)
Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother,” (Exodus 20:12) )which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
“This was a plain command of God, written with his own hand, and delivered by Moses to them; it was of a moral nature, and of eternal obligation…” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)-- thus the promise. Of course, when we believe in Jesus' perfection and trust in Him to save us, we are justified by faith.. and are partakers of the covenant of grace . His righteousness is credited to our account. But being worthy also involves our sanctification in walking with Jesus... whereby we become more righteous and obtain a true perfection of our character.
So this commandment is part of the moral code. Thus it is “binding upon childhood and youth, upon the middle-aged and the aged. There is no period in life when children are excused from honouring their parents. This solemn obligation is binding upon every son and daughter and is one of the conditions to their prolonging their lives upon the land which the Lord will give the faithful. This is not a subject unworthy of notice, but a matter of vital importance. The promise is upon condition of obedience. If you obey, you shall live long in the land which the Lord your God gives you. If you disobey, you shall not prolong your life in that land.
Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God… If they disrespect and dishonour their earthly parents, they will not respect and love their Creator. [HOWEVER] When children have unbelieving parents, and their commands contradict the requirements of Christ, then, painful though it may be, they must obey God and trust the consequences with Him.” (Adventist Homes, Ellen White)
The New Testament speaks a word to accountable adults with parents. These are accountable as Bar or Bat Mitzvah. "This literally translates to 'son of the law' or 'daughter of the law', the rabbinical phrase 'bar' means here 'under the category of' or 'subject to', making 'Bar Mitzvah' translate to 'an [agent] who is subject to the law'. According to Jewish Law, when Jewish boys become 13, they become accountable for their actions and become a Bar Mitzvah (plural: B'nai Mitzvah). A Bat Mitzvah occurs when Jewish girls become 13 (in some places, 12), and it means the same as it does for boys- a rite of passage from being considered unable to properly understand the Torah to being considered old enough to begin to understand and thus for boys and girls alike to be treated more like adults."
They claim obedience, but as an example of “laying aside the commandment of God for the traditions of men”, Jesus brings up this fourth commandment. He then expounds on the subject at hand: “For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ [Exodus 20:12;]; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’[Exodus 21:17] But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban’— (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:10-13)
“The word ‘Corban’ is a Hebrew word that means a ‘gift offered to God’. It is this word that is used in Leviticus 1:2 for example, where it says: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: `When any one of you brings an offering [Korban] to the LORD, you shall bring your offering of the livestock-of the herd and of the flock.’ The word ‘offering’ here is the word Korban that the Lord also used speaking of those Jews that didn’t honor their parents. In essence what these Jews were saying to their parents was ‘whatever you could benefit from me, my property, my income, is Corban i.e. dedicated to God and I cannot give it to you’. This was a vow they used to do to avoid giving to their parents…” http://www.jba.gr/Articles/jba2004_06.htm
“If he had once devoted his property once said it was ‘Corban,’ or a gift to God - it could not be appropriated even to the support of a parent. If a parent was needy and poor, and if he should apply to a son for assistance, and the son should reply, though in anger: It is devoted to God; this property which you need, and by which you might be profited by me, is ‘Corban' - I have given it to God…the Jews said the property could not be recalled, and the son was not under obligation to aid a parent with it. He had done a more important thing in giving it to God. The son was free. He could not be required to do anything for his father after that. Thus, he might, in a moment, free himself from the obligation to obey his father or mother.”(Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)
Civil law for Israel said: “he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” (Exod 21:17) The verb “curse”’ here is the Greek verb “kakologeo”’ which means “speak evil”. Whoever spoke evil against his father or mother was to be put to death. So, we honor our parents with: “respectful language and gesture to be used towards them, and of the cheerful obedience to be yielded to them; but also of honoring them with their substance, feeding, clothing, and supplying them with the necessaries of life, when they stand in need thereof; which is but their reasonable service, for all the care, expense, and trouble they have been at, in bringing them up in the world.” (Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible)
They justify their lack of care by the need for faithfulness to the work of ministry. I contend that it would be more pleasing to the Lord if we first honor our parents with our prayers, our presence, our gifts (if needed)… and our service.
“Honoring the parents involves high esteem, reverence and support. It means that you are there for them and you care for them with your service, support, money, visits etc…. Our Lord Jesus Christ condemned the use of the excuse of ‘Corban’ – offering to God - to avoid helping the parents.” http://www.jba.gr/Articles/jba2004_06.htm Honor them because it is right! “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Ps 19:8b)
Ephesians 6:5-8 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Many criticize Paul for not doing more to condemn the practice of slavery. This text seems to condone it. But I contend that in the message here presented—the Gospel of Jesus Christ—Paul destroyed the practice among brethren. While in the land of promise, Israel was supposed to observe every seven years what was to be called “Yahweh’s Release.” It is described in Deuteronomy 15:1-6 and it required a release of debt between fellow Israelites. “Of a foreigner you may require it; but you shall give up your claim to what is owed by your brother.”
Moreover there was a release from slavery among brethren. Often financial crisis would not only end in loss of inheritance in the land, it would result in slavery of a man to his brother who paid his debts for him. In the seventh year, the slave would be set free… and not empty-handed. The master was to supply him liberally from his flock, from his threshing floor, and from his winepress. [BUT MOSES ADDS] “If it happens that he says to you, ‘I will not go away from you,’ because he loves you and your house, since he prospers with you, then you shall take an awl and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.”(Deuteronomy 15:12-18)
It does not take much of an imagination to apply this precept of release among Christian brothers or sisters in the modern workforce. Are we not really slaves to our masters according to the flesh!? We work long hours and well into what ought to be our retirement years to support our spending habits. Our employers have the upper hand and those in places of authority often Lord it over us. “In the contemporary world masters controlled their slaves through fear, since it was believed that fear produced greater loyalty.”(Pillar New Testament Commentary, Peter O'Brien)
Peter Obrien explains “Ephesians 6:5 urges slaves to obey their masters; that obedience should be rendered with reverence and awe in the presence of God and Christ (note the following phrase, [lit.] ‘as to Christ’, and Col. 3:22), a godly fear in view of the Final Day… The perspective of Christian slaves… has changed. They have been delivered from the bondage of human intimidation, and now are ‘enslaved’ to the Lord Jesus Christ. Their service to their masters, then, is to be rendered out of reverence and awe for him. It will also be characterized by integrity and singleness of purpose—what is here called sincerity of heart. As the inner centre which determines attitudes and actions, the heart is marked by sincerity and purity of motive. The Christian slave will not be guided by false, ulterior motives but will serve his or her master conscientiously and with sincerity. This kind of inner commitment can occur only as slaves recognize that in serving their masters they are rendering obedience to their heavenly Lord, Christ. The performance of their earthly tasks is related to his rule over their lives. Ultimately, then, the distinction between the sacred and the secular breaks down. Any and every task, however menial, falls within the sphere of his lordship and is done in order to please him. Their work is done ‘as to Christ’, their obedience is rendered ‘as slaves of Christ’ (v. 6), their wholehearted service is performed ‘as to the Lord’ (v. 7), because they know that they will be rewarded ‘by the Lord’ (v. 8) for every good is done.’”
“Three men were hard at work on a large building project. Someone asked them, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I'm mixing mortar,’ one said. The second man said, ‘I'm helping put up this great stone wall.’ But the third man replied, ‘I'm building a cathedral to the glory of God.’
Those three men could just as well have been working on a car, in a factory, behind a counter, or on any legitimate product or service a man or woman might provide.
Most people work to earn a living, attain success, or amass wealth. Such reasons, however, must not be the Christian's primary motive for working. Like the third man in our story, we need to see that what gives work eternal value is not the product or service of our labor but the process of laboring itself--doing the job faithfully to the glory of the Lord.
God commands us to work because it is good. But work also gives believers the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ to unbelievers. By performing our God-given tasks to the best of our abilities, we bring honor and glory to His name. And we demonstrate to fellow employees the difference Christ can make in a life. Is our work just a job? Or are we doing it to the glory of God?” (Our Daily Bread, D. J. DeHaan)
Ephesians 6:9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.
“It shall not seem hard to you when you send him away free from you; for he has been worth a double hired servant in serving you six years. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all that you do.” (Deuteronomy 15:18) When the slave is sent away, it is done gladly from a pure heart. The fact that they chose to stay does not negate the willingness of the master to let them go free. So in the year of Jubilee for the master—in the year that he or she becomes a believer in truth—they should give up on threatening because the Lord does not distinguish between slave and free. There is no partiality with Him. “There were also among them some who were in the category of masters who were likewise Christians. As they came together in worship, as the Christian community, they were taught from the Scriptures that in Christ there is neither bond nor free. There is no slavery in Christ, there is no race, there are no sexual distinctions. The Christians all met together as brothers in Jesus Christ. They found that the ground is absolutely level at the foot of the cross.” (Ray Steadman)
Ephesians 6:10-13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might... “Literally, Paul wrote strengthen yourselves in the Lord. He probably took the idea from 1 Samuel 30:6, where it is said that David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’ ” (David Guzik) “While he was on the run from Saul, David had wrongly allied himself with the Philistine king and was about to go into battle against Saul and the forces of Israel when God intervened. David and his men were sent home from the battle. But they arrived to find their city burned with fire and their wives, children, and possessions taken captive by the Amalekites. At that point, David’s men were so embittered that they were talking about stoning him. Then, in the middle of the verse, there is a great hinge that turned things in a new direction (1 Sam. 30:6b): ‘But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.’ What a dramatic turn-around! David was almost down for the count…. The Lord graciously directed David to pursue the raiders and recover all of their families and goods. That same strength is available to every Christian. You may be at your lowest point. You may be discouraged. It may seem that God’s promises are not true. But no matter how much may seem to be against you, you can ‘be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.’ You can strengthen yourself in the Lord your God.” (Pastor Steven J. Cole – www.fcfonline.org)
Put on the whole armor of God,... “Now it is very important that we should recognize that this term ‘armor’ is… a figurative expression denoting the Christian’s graces, and when we are told to ‘put on’ the armor it simply means we are to call into exercise and action our graces.” (A. W. Pink) “This… Greek word for armor is used in only one other place in the New Testament. In Luke11:21-22, Jesus speaks of the strong man who is fully armed, but is stripped of all his armor when a stronger one comes and defeats him.” (David Guzik) You are the weak; Satan is strong.
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. “ (Rom 13:14) We cannot affect our salvation directly but John Wesley believed that we can exercise the means of grace. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said Yahweh of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6) “John Wesley believed that the ‘means of grace’ included both ‘works of piety’ (instituted means of grace) and ‘works of mercy’ (prudential means of grace). Works of piety included... prayer, whether in secret or with the great congregation; searching the Scriptures; (which implies reading, hearing, and meditating thereon;) and receiving the Lord's Supper, eating bread and drinking wine in remembrance of Him: And these we believe to be ordained of God, as the ordinary channels of conveying his grace to the souls of men.” http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/wesley/disciple.stm
Isa 59:17 For He [Messiah] put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.
that you may be able to stand... “An incident about one of David’s mighty men, Shammah the son of Agee, illustrates standing firm in the battle (2 Sam. 23:11-12): ‘And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the Lord brought about a great victory.’ Because of his allegiance to David, Shammah stood firm and he fought, but the Lord brought the victory. We rely on God’s strength and use His armor, but we must take the initiative to put on the armor and stand firm in the battle because we love Jesus. It’s not a matter of ‘letting go and letting God,’ where you are passive and God does it all.” (Pastor Steven J. Cole – www.fcfonline.org)
against the wiles of the devil... “So-called 'moderns' who are so far above the word of God that they reject all possibility of an unseen kingdom of evil presided over by a malignant personal foe (Satan), are not 'wise' in any sense, but are blinded and deceived by 'the god of this world.'” (Coffman Commentary) “This enemy is Satan… the one who first tempted Eve in the garden; the one who accuses every believer; the one who will stand hurling accusations against you at the end of time; the one who has opposed all believers in all ages.” (Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III) He “has various stratagems— discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error. He knows our weakest point and aims for it. If he cannot disable us by one method, he will try for another.” (Believer's Bible Commentary)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN HEAVENLY PLACES… "This expression, as Paul used it, sometimes means 'in the very presence of God,' but in others it is limited to what might be called, loosely, the Christian religion… However, religion, in the broad sense, provides a very extensive and convenient field of satanic operations, the great apostasy itself having been produced in the church herself.” (Coffman Commentary) “You are in a war zone, and it’s not a cold war, it’s a hot war, and it’s being fought out in your dens and living rooms and bedrooms, in your schoolrooms, in your church, in the heavenly places, in your neighborhoods, in your businesses, and there are casualties every day.” (Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III)
“There are always those who say: ‘I understand something of the gospel, and I agree that there's much of value in the Christian faith. I am a friend of Christianity. I believe that Christianity exerts a positive influence on society but I do not care to go so far as to personally 'receive Christ.' I don't want to be thought 'extreme' or a 'religious fanatic.' I choose to remain neutral. Jesus says this stance is impossible. There is no neutrality. ‘He who is not with me is against me.’ (Luke 11:23a) A person who does not receive total deliverance is still under the bondage and control of the dark powers of Satan… some are tempted to say, ‘.... I'm willing to go along with the outward forms of Christianity I'm willing to join the church but inwardly, I still believe in directing my own life and running my own affairs.’ Jesus says you cannot do that. ‘He who does not gather with me, scatters.’ (Luke 11:23b)” (Ray Steadman)
Eph 6:14-16 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (Eph 6:13) Stand therefore,“The war is not being waged to see which side will win. God has already won the war by the death of His Son on the cross of Calvary (see John 12:31; 16:11). The war is for our good, and for God’s glory...The war is a part of God’s eternal plan and purpose for his creation. The great question is not, ‘Who will win?,’ but ‘Who will stand?’” (Bob Deffinbaugh) “Expect to be attacked yourself… And when the attack comes, adopt what Ray Stedman used to call the ‘infallible posture,’ given in Paul's word: Stand. Don't run. Don't lash out. Don't fight fire with fire. Stand! For emphasis, Paul uses the word four times. If you stand, the devil will flee from you.” (James 4:7) (Brian Morgan)
having girded your waist with truth... “Doctrine has to be worked right down to our bones so that it becomes a part of us and if affects everything that we are and we do, so that we are people of truth and integrity, and then we will be able to resist the devil in the evil day…. because many people in our generation have experienced the Christian church that is a façade…. people’s inner life and the outworkings of that life in their external life don’t jive. Externally, on Sundays they say one thing; externally the rest of the week, they say another thing; and that reveals that what they say on Sunday, externally, doesn’t fit with who they are internally… This is something, I think, of what the Apostle Paul is speaking of here when he calls our attention to being girded – our loins being girded with truth or integrity. What he’s saying is that to resist the devil, truth must have so taken hold of us inside-out, so that what we are inwardly is what we are outwardly.” (Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III)
having put on the breastplate of righteousness...“Now again, commentators debate what kind of righteousness is the Apostle Paul speaking about here. Paul, as you know, loves to talk about the imputed righteousness of Christ to us – Christ’s alien righteousness credited to our account. Is he talking about that, or is he talking about that righteousness which the Holy Spirit is working in us so that we are being morally transformed? Once we were sinners; now more and more we are becoming Christ-like.” (Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III)
Paul is speaking hereof the imputed righteousness of Jesus. “When God revealed himself as THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS in the Old Testament (Jeremiah23:5-8) the people were anything but sinless and guiltless. In fact, they were in the process of being hauled off into exile and captivity for their constant and longstanding sin, idolatry, and unfaithfulness to the Lord… In the midst of that devastation, the Lord comforted them by revealing himself to them in a new way that would carry them through the tough times ahead… The promise of the Lord for the people of Israel was that he was going to send a Messiah, one who would sit on the throne of David again and provide a permanent sin solution…”(Barbara Lardinais) .
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace... “Paul has Isaiah 52:7 in mind when he refers to having shod your feet: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (David Guzik)
Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one... Faith not that a god exists only but that God is alive. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…” (Heb 1:1-2) through whom He made the world... and has made us joint heirs with the faithful Jews of times past. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” (1 Cor 15:3-4)”And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)
and take the helmet of salvation.... “What does Satan so often do? He attacks Christians at the point of their assurance, and he leaves them all tied up in knots wondering, ‘… Does He love me, or does He love me not? Am I saved, or have I fallen away? Am I saved, or have I backslidden right out the back door of the kingdom? Am I in Christ or out of Him? Am I justified or not? Am I God’s child or not?’… And the apostle Paul is saying the helmet of salvation is to be assured of your security, past, present and future: that nothing can pluck you out of God’s hand. And he’s saying if you know that, just what is it that Satan can threaten to take away from you?” (J. Ligon Duncan)
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.. “If we are not confident in the inspiration of Scripture, that the sword really came from the Spirit, then we will not use it effectively at all…Think of… a gladiator in training, practicing sword thrusts and moves and positions… he must practice them ahead of time, and if he is a superior fighter, and has a great fighting instinct, at the time of battle he will instantly recall which thrust, which position suits the precise moment…The great example of this was Jesus combating the temptation of Satan in the wilderness.” (David Guzik)
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit... “In theory, the … Christian can be strong and wearing all the armor - but actually goes into battle through prayer...being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints... We can battle spiritually not only on our own behalf, but also on the behalf of others. The soldier isn’t only concerned for his or her own safety. They feel an instinct to protect and battle on behalf of others.” (David Guzik) And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.... “Chained though he was, Paul, in those letters he was dispatching from his Roman cell, was destroying the great pagan empire; and there can be little doubt that Paul fully understood this.” (Coffman Commentary)