Ephesians 6:1-9 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is Ephesians 6:1-9. Let’s go!
Ephesians 6:1-3 (NIV)
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 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
On verses 1-3: Here Paul refers to the children in the church of Ephesus. The fact that Paul addresses children shows that children are as much a part of the church as adults. When verse 1 tells children to “obey your parents in the Lord”, what does “in the Lord” mean? It’s saying that children are to obey their parents as an act of worship and trust in God. Paul gives two reasons children should obey their parents. First, it’s the right thing to do (v1). Second, God promises that it will lead to blessing in a child’s life (v2-3).
Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
On verse 4: Perhaps the reason Paul singled out fathers here was because fathers can be more prone to thinking, “My job is to make money for the family. All that spiritual stuff is for the church or my spouse to take care of.” No. Parents, and dads especially, it is our job to raise up our kids spiritually. We are not to “exasperate” them (that is, discourage them and shame them to the point of anger); rather, with your words and your actions, teach them about who God is, about Jesus’ love for them, and about what God expects of your children.
Ephesians 6:5-9 (NIV)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
8 because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
On verses 5-9: Don’t confuse this kind of slavery with the North American slave trade or various types of slavery we still hear about today. In Paul’s time, masters and slaves would enter into an employment-like contract with one another where the slave would live with and work for the master for a set period of time. So if you’re an employee in a company, Paul’s words to slaves applies to you (I’m not kidding.) See your work as worship, and aim to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people” (v7).
If you’re the boss or a manager in your company, Paul’s words to masters in verse 9 applies to you. Don’t abuse those who work for you. Remember that you yourself are accountable to your boss in heaven for how you treat the people who work for you.
Verses 5-9 show us that because of Jesus Christ, even our relationships in the workplace can and should change for the better.
Lord Jesus, may honouring you be my goal in all my relationships, whether it’s with people at home, at work, at school or strangers I meet. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
Copyright © 2021 Justin Lim. All rights reserved.
