Ephesians 6:1-9

¹ “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³ so that it may turn out well for you, and that you may live long on the earth.⁴ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ⁵ Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ;⁶ not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. ⁷ With goodwill render service, as to the Lord, and not to people, ⁸ knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive this back from the Lord, whether slave or free. ⁹ And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.”

Verse 1: Paul addresses children and encourages them to obey their parents. This instruction is rooted in the Lord and aligns with what is morally right. It reflects the importance of honoring and respecting parental authority.

Verse 2: Paul quotes from the Ten Commandments, specifically the commandment to honor one’s father and mother in order to appeal to his Jewish listeners. Jews would have a keen understanding of the Old Testament law and would draw the connection to the love of parents in the New Covenant.

Verse 3: Paul explains the promise that comes with honoring one’s parents. When children honor and obey their parents, it contributes to their overall well-being and longevity according to the Old Covenant. This concept of loving one’s parents is, therefore, demonstrated to be deeply ingrained in Israel’s history.

Verse 4: Paul highlights the role of fathers in parenting. Fathers are encouraged to avoid provoking their children to anger and instead, to raise them in a manner that reflects the discipline and instruction of the Lord. This emphasizes the importance of nurturing and guiding children in a loving and godly manner.

Verse 5: Paul addresses the relationship between bondservants (employees) and their earthly masters (employers). He encourages bondservants to obey their masters with a sincere heart, as if they were serving Christ himself. This highlights the importance of integrity and a genuine work ethic in all areas of life.

Verse 6: Paul emphasizes that bondservants should not merely work to please others or to be seen by others, but rather as bondservants of Christ. This means doing their work with sincerity and from the heart, recognizing that they are ultimately serving God.

Verse 7: Paul reiterates the importance of serving with a good will, not just to please human masters, but ultimately as an act of service to the Lord. This mindset shifts the focus from seeking approval from others to seeking to honor and please God in all that we do.

Verse 8: Paul reminds masters that they too are accountable to the Lord. Whatever good they do, whether they are in a position of authority or not, will be rewarded by the Lord. This emphasizes the importance of treating others with fairness and kindness.

Verse 9: Paul instructs masters to treat their bondservants with the same respect and fairness that they expect from them. He also reminds them that God, who is the ultimate Master of all, is impartial and just. This serves as a reminder to masters to exercise their authority in a righteous and compassionate manner.