The Epistle to the Ephesians

1. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • Ephesians 6:1 – “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” • Children is teknon • Blue Letter Bible - a child (akin to tikto, "to beget, bear"), is used in both the natural and the figurative senses. In contrast to huios, "son“, it gives prominence to the fact of birth, whereas huios stresses the dignity and character of the relationship. Figuratively, teknon is used of "children" of • (a) God, (b) light, (c) obedience, (d) a promise, (e) the Devil, (f) wrath, (g) cursing. • In context, this is a ‘small’ child • obey or hear under – present active tense • JFB – ‘stronger than the expression as to wives, "submitting, "or "being subject". • Obedience is more unreasoning and implicit. • submission is the willing subjection of an inferior in point to one who has a right to command.’ • i.e. ‘do it now’ • parents or begetters – refers nicely back to teknon 1 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel

2. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • in the Lord • Is the obedience in the Lord or does it mean that the parents are in the Lord? • in or en is a primary preposition denoting position and rest • however, other uses can be found • Eph 5:21 ‘submitting to one another in the fear of God’ • And it’s all about the attitude! • willingly obey • And this depends on both parents and children • for this is right - in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God • What is pleasing to Him • Kids are under law, but until when? • And what if the parents ask the child to do something that is not consistent with the Word of the Lord? • Col 3:17 ‘And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.’ • Does this relationship between child and parent ever end? • Prov 23:22 ‘Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.’ 2 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel

3. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • Ephesians 6:2,3 – “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise:that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” • ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.’ – Ex 20:12 • honor means to revere or prize • This is the first commandment with promise • JFB - The "promise" is not made the main motive to obedience, but an incidental one. The main motive is, because it is God's will. • Deut 5:16 ‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be long,….....’ • Why is Eph 6:2,3 a bit different than Ex 20:12? • Is this promise only for Israel? 3 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel

4. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • JFB also states that ‘This verse proves the law in the Old Testament is not abolished.’ – your thoughts here? • By the way all of the commandments are mentioned in the NT except the Sabbath Day. • may be – subjunctive • the action described may or may not occur, depending upon circumstances. • may be well – again reflects the attitude of obedience • And if this has been a problem and not resolved, things may not be well • may live long – future indicative • has or will occur • and on the earth vs. the heavenly places • e.g. Samson and Absalom • is this really true today? • Ephesians 6:4 “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” 4 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel

5. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • fathers (pater) have the primary responsibility of bringing up children including spiritual leadership and discipline • provoke not your children to wrath • parorgizō - to rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate, anger • Describe such circumstances • Unreasonable and harsh rebukes, harmful language, anger as the basis for punishment, degrading comments, etc all can provoke lasting resentment on the part of children.’ • Indulgence could also be included here  unrealistic expectations later in life. • As it says in Col 3:21 ‘… lest they be discouraged.’ • Have you ever been there? • But yet, Proverbs has a lot to say about discipline • Prov 13:24 ‘He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly.’ • Prov 19:18 ‘Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.’ 5 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel

6. The Epistle to the Ephesians Children and Parents: Ephesians 6:1-4 • Prov 22:15 ‘Foolishness [is] bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.’ • Prov 29:15 ‘The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left [to himself] brings shame to his mother.’ • but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord • Prov 22:6 ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.’ • By God’s Grace lived out in Christ in each of us by the power of the Holy Spirit A growing imbalance between Law and Grace! 6 August 9, 2009 Bob Eckel