CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS

Ephesians 6:1-9 / Keywords 6:1

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

 

6:1 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." 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 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.

 

1. Paul says children should obey their parents in the Lord. He bases this on the fifth commandment which is the only commandment given with a promise that all may go well with you. How we view our parents is the same lens that we view God. We must honor and respect our parents in the Lord, which is different from blind obedience. In a healthy family, children want to learn from their parents and trust that they are protecting them and helping them to grow as godly people. Sadly, today many children grow up without fathers and are angry and sad feeling they have no one to help and protect them.

2. Also, Paul cautions fathers against exasperating and oppressing their children and driving them to rebellion. Parents need to discipline themselves before they can discipline their children.

3. Lastly, Paul encourages slaves to serve their masters as before the Lord, and for masters to treat their slaves right. We all must remember that God sees how we treat others and do everything before the Lord looking for his reward. We must deny the sinful nature to rebel against authority or to abuse positions of power.

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing us when our relationships are respectful and healthy in Christ.

One Word Children, obey your parents in the Lord