Ephesians Chapter 6

• Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

Honor your Father and your mother is one of the ten commandments. It is a vital part of living a holy life. God knew how important this was for society to be peaceful. If one learned to obey the father & mother, they would most likely obey the law of the land and be a good citizen.

If one cannot obey earthly parents, he will probably not obey God. The first step to learn obedience to God is to obey the parents. So serious was this commandment as we see below is that it attaches with it a promise of long life to those who keep this commandment.

I might add here that my Dad lived until the age of 95 1/2 years old. He has been a good God-fearing man most of that life and has always honored both his father and his mother. Part of honoring is to take care of them in their old age if at all possible. Taking care of aging parents is not the job of the state.

• Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
• 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

It would be interesting to question people that live to an old age and see how they feel about their parents. It might be a good study. This does not mean that everyone that dies young was someone that didn't honor their parents, there are other reasons for early deaths. Being killed for the gospel's sake for one. As a general rule though honoring parents brings a blessing from the Lord.

• Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

These words to the Ephesians must not ever be ignored as trivial. God did not anoint these men to write for our amusement. These are written to correct, reprove and teach us good sound doctrine. Happy are we if we do them. They are not just doctrines of good advice but doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fathers and mothers are not to provoke their children to wrath. There is a right way and a wrong way to teach children. Constantly yelling, screaming and picking on a child is not the right way. The bible says:

• Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

To train, instruct, advise, teach, set an example, use kindness and make them feel very loved but yet not as a best friend but a loving parent.

• Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Whipping a child is a touchy subject in today's world of much child abuse. To guard against this, make sure the method used is safe and will not harm the child permanently. Also do not strike a child in anger and on the spur of the moment. Calm down and consider whether the punishment fits the crime and whether spanking a child is necessary. I do believe in this method but with much caution and never in anger. Make sure the child is really deserving of the punishment and is not innocent of the crime. If punishment is ever given wrongly, the parent must go to the child and make things right to keep the child from building resentment for being punished for nothing.

• Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

This is not excusing slavery neither is it endorsing slavery. This is just explaining how a Christian is to conduct himself if he or she is found in the state where they are servants. This may be speaking of hired servants but it could refer also to slaves.

I believe in my heart that God hates slavery like the type we had in the early history of the United States. To kidnap, buy and sell people is never sanctioned in the bible. God may have allowed Israel to become bondage to other nations as punishment for their forsaking God at times but he always delivered them from bondage after a certain period of time. He also punishes nations that mistreat or harm slaves and servants. I do believe God wants people to be free and to choose to serve Him willingly and in love.

Servants were to respect and obey their masters as they would the Lord. In some cases hiring servants kept the poor employed and kept them from starving in cases where they did not have a way to make a living. Being a servant would be preferable to starvation but there are certain rules of conduct and decency that was to be followed.

Never is the type of slavery sanctioned that was once in the United States. When God saw the sufferings of Israel when they were in bondage to Egypt, he sent Moses to deliver them and sent severe judgment upon Egypt. He did not allow the mistreatment of His people to continue. Mistreatment of servants and slaves will bring the judgment of God swiftly upon the guilty ones. Taking advantage of the poor also is judged of God. 

• Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

Whatever job they had, they were to do it to please God and not to please men. If everything we do is with the thought of pleasing God, it can be done with joy and not begrudging the task.

• Ephesians 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
• 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Serving in faithfulness will be rewarded by the Lord. In the Lord's eyes we are all the same. If we are a servant on the earth and our neighbor is rich and powerful, it God's eyes we are the same.  There is no respect of persons with God. He judges everyone on an equal basis. 

• Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

Masters were to treat his servants with kindness, fairness, and in the fear of God. They were not to threaten and mistreat them in the manner that is often done in countries where slavery exists. This is not sanctioned by the Lord at any time and he sees all that is done to servants and slaves.

• Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

This is the main point for all both bond and free. We are to be strong in the Lord. God made a way of salvation that is possible to live by anyone: bond, free, child, adult, man, women, Jew, Gentile.

• Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Here is our protection against the temptations of the evil one.

• Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our war is not with people but with the evil spirit that is in the world that is using the people. It is not a person that causes a believer's problems, it is the wicked one who tries to stop our walk with the Lord because he does not desire us to have eternal life and make it to Heaven.

• Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
• 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1. Truth - The truth of the word of God. This is why a believer must study the word on a daily basis, not just fitting it in where possible but taking the time for the study. Put it first. Yet studying the bible should be a time of joy, not a chore or not because we are trying to earn our salvation.
2. Righteousness- Purity of heart. Holiness or holy living.

• Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Gospel - Good news of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We are to know how to lead others to Jesus Christ.

• Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

1. Faith - Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.
2. An open profession of gospel truth.
3. A persuasion or belief system. Faith is believing for one instant of time but also believing in a doctrine or creed. Like the Christian faith or Hindu faith. Faith in Jesus Christ, his death, burial and resurrection and accepting this in the heart will cause on to receive God's Spirit and be born again.
4. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. This is the most powerful weapon we can possess. Not faith in faith but faith in God. Faith in God to change lives. faith in God's plan of salvation. Faith in God's presence in our lives. Faith in the word of God. Faith in eternal life. Confidence in God. Faith for deliverance from sin. Simple child-like faith that just believes God and believes what He says. This type of faith quenches any darts the devil throws our way.

Sometimes faith is so simple that we miss it and a child will understand. If you tell a child you are going to buy him an ice cream cone or something he likes, he will rejoice at once and believe you.

God says to us, turn from sin and believe in His Son who died to remove our sin, cleanse us from all unrighteousness and grant us eternal life. This is freely given to all who just believe this. We don't earn it by going all over the country and doing great deeds and giving away all our money to the poor or any such requirements.

We receive the free gift of salvation by just believing what God said in John chapter 3 and becoming born again by the Spirit of the living God. It takes faith to receive this. It takes faith to receive anything from God and without faith we can't receive anything.

• Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith is a substance and it is invisible, yet it is powerful enough to make the difference between going to heaven or hell.

• Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Like a helmet protects the head from being wounded in battle so the helmet of salvation protects us from being destroyed by the enemy of our souls. It is our covering. This is why all need salvation through faith in Jesus Christ to be saved. There is no salvation in any other. 

The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. We cannot study the word of God too much. I will add here my own opinions and you can take it or leave it. I know it is okay to have services where we praise God and sing. That is part of worship and it is great but I do not like to see too much of this to the point of neglecting the preaching or teaching of the word. Without the word in the heart, we are going to return to sin. We need that word daily. We can't assume that everyone is going to study at home so at church we need to be sure the word of God goes forth under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit takes over the service occasionally and leads people into prayer or worship that is great and I'm not opposing it but let's pray always that it is the Holy Spirit that is leading. Without the word in our heart we will not be equipped to give an answer to anyone about our faith.

• 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I believe God had Paul writing to Timothy purposely to show him how important it is to study the word of God. I will add however, that the only scripture they had at the time was what we call the Old Testament.

• 1Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Without the word in our hearts, we will not have answers to give to those that seek to know what and why we believe.

• Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

I was taught as a child to pray and to pray a lot. Prayer was our key to strength. I grieve that we spend too little time praying around the altar at church. Maybe some churches have grown so big that there is no room but perhaps we could kneel at our seats or something. Surely there is a way to return to fervent prayer and supplication. We must do this at home continually and without ceasing.

We have gotten so busy and we run around so much that we have settled for short little sentence prayers that last less than 5 minutes if that. That may be okay in emergency situations but each of us should find a place of privacy where we seek to be alone with God in a closet of prayer.

Pray for ourselves, pray for others, pray for our president or leader, pray for our church leaders and pray also with thanksgiving and praise to the one who saved us from sin and granted us eternal life. Jesus told us to watch and pray, yet we can learn to do this in love looking forward to our time in prayer with God. Never should we do this as a chore or to try to earn something from God. 

• Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Especially pray for those preaching the gospel. How much more effective they will be if we spend more time praying for them to be anointed by the Holy Ghost than criticizing their mistakes. If you see them make an error, pray. If you see them discouraged, pray. If you see them hungry, feed them. Pray for them continually because the enemy desires to stop them first. They are at the front of the battle lines.

• Ephesians 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
• 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
• 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and thathe might comfort your hearts.
• 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus.

Let us be so thankful that God anointed someone to write the letter to the Ephesians. God thinks of everything and did not leave us without guidance and instruction in the way of righteousness. Let us be glad and take advantage of these good things by studying what He has prepared for us that we might become the glorious church without spot or wrinkle that He is coming after. DC