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Chapter 6.
Children and Parents.
The relationship between children and parents centre on obedience from the child and the parents, particularly the father, to nurture the child in the right way.
1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
For Christian children the Lord expects obedience as His representatives for this right and proper.
2,3. "Honor your father and mother"--this is the first commandment with a promise: "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."
Paul quotes Exodus 20: 12 to support this pointing out that this is the first command given by God that carries a promise. That is a promise that all will go well with them and long life on the earth.
4. And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
It would seem that fathers have an habit of provoking or irritating their children and thus causing them to loss their temper and become angry. The exhortation is not to do this but rather to correct, discipline and bring them up according to the word of God.
Servants and Masters.
In Paul's day when many were in fact slaves and completely owned by their masters this exhortation was perhaps more applicable. We cannot apply it in the same way today when people are employed and paid for their work. However, there are still principals that we can apply as we do so as unto the Lord.
5. Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, in singleness of heart, as you obey Christ.
Servants are to be obedient, giving due respect and eager to please their masters. In singleness of heart, that is, in a uniqueness that only a Christian can. They are to serve their masters as if they were serving Christ.
6,7. Not only while being watched, and in order to please them, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Render service with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not to men and women.
They are not only to work when they are being watched by their masters just to please and thus give a false impression. But as doing the will of God from the heart therefore pleasing Him. Working with a goodwill so that it does not become irksome. Working as for the Lord not for men.
8. Knowing that whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord, whether we are slaves or free.
Whatever good works are done in this way will be rewarded by Christ whether a man is a slave or free (1 Cor. 15:58).
9. And, masters, do the same to them. Stop threatening them, for you know that both of you have the same Master in heaven, and with Him there is no partiality.
The same obligation but with more responsibility perhaps is placed upon masters. They are to work on the same principals. As they own a master above them, even Christ, they are to cease from threatening and beating their servants. For Jesus Christ is the Master of both and both are alike to Him for He is impartial (Rom. 2: 11).
The Armour of God.
10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His power.
In concluding his letter to the Ephesians Paul encourages them first of all "to be strong in the Lord". We know from experience that we cannot do this in our strength but we can be strong in the strength of the Lord (Phil. 4:13).
11. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
In the following verses Paul likens a Christian to a soldier who has been well equipped by God to go into battle the war. No professional soldier would ever dream of going forth without putting on all the protective equipment provided for him or the defensive and attacking weapons. So, Paul exhorts that the Christian should put on the full armour of God for only in doing this shall he be able to stand against the foe and overcome (1 John 4:4).
12. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Here Paul makes known who our enemies are. They are not flesh and blood, although they more often than not work through it. It is not a physical war but a spiritual one that needs spiritual weapons and protection. Principalities - that is, dictators who tyrannise , who seize power. Powers of darkness (rulers of darkness) - master spirits who control the rulers of the present age in the world and hosts of wicked spirits who work in the heavenly places.
13. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Because of this we need to put on every part of the armour of God that we might be able to resist and stand our ground in the evil days in which we are living (James 4:7 ; 1 Pet. 5:9). Having done all that we are able to according to the provision that God has made we are to stand firm and not give in.
14. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness.
The first piece of armour is the belt of truth. A man may have bulging arm, leg or chest muscles but if he is weak in the lumber region of the back or the lower stomach then the rest will account for nothing. These regions enable him to stand straight, to walk, lift and carry. Therefore, it is important to have support for heavy duty work and thus the need for a belt. So it is in the spiritual we have to put on the belt of God's truth that is the truth of the gospel (Eph. 1:13). This gives us strength that enables us to stand upright before all, to go forth with the gospel message, serving God with all our might.
Breastplate of righteousness - which is the righteousness of Christ. The Living Bible paraphrases this "the breastplate of God's approval. Therefore, being in a right place with God gives the confidence in Him that we need (Prov. 3:26).
15. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
On our feet we are to wear the gospel of peace - what does this mean? He uses the word preparation to define what he means. We are to prepare ourselves with the gospel message before setting out to meet with the enemy so that we may stand firm and be ever ready to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Pet. 3:15).
16. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Shield of Faith. Above all else we are to take this part of armour which Paul considers to be the most important. The term used is for a full length shield that covers from head to toe. We are saved by faith (Eph. 2:8), faith gives us the victory (1 John 5:4), without it we cannot please God (Heb. 11:6), we are to pray in faith (James 1:6), we are justified by faith (Gal. 2:16), we live by faith (Gal. 2:20). Thus we are able to quench all that the devil throws at us.
17. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Helmet of salvation. The mind is where the enemy continually attacks us but we have this helmet to protect from all his accusations and onslaughts (2 Tim. 1:7). The only defensive and attacking weapon that we have is the sword of the Spirit - which is the word of God. This we are to use at all times as the Lord did in His temptation in the wilderness and ever afterwards (Heb. 4:12.).
Prayer Life.
18. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.
Although prayer is not given as part of the armour nevertheless it is fundamental and essential. We are to pray in the Spirit at all times with perseverance and purpose, alert to the needs of God's people that we may intercede on their behalf.
19,20. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
Paul asks them to pray on his behalf that he might have the freedom to preach the Gospel with all boldness. For preaching the Gospel is the reason why he is in prison and he asks them to pray that he might boldly and courageously use the opportunity to speak as he ought to.
Personal Affairs.
21,22. So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus will tell you everything. He is a dear brother and a faithful minister in the Lord. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, to let you know how we are, and to encourage your hearts.
In order that they may know how things are with him he sends Tichicus who is faithful in the ministry given him by the Lord. Paul had complete trust in this man to do what he was bidden without fail. He does not tell us here how his situation was but states the other reason for sending Tichicus was to encourage and comfort the Ephesians believers. Therefore, the report concerning Paul's welfare must have been good, if not physically then spiritually.
23,24. Peace be to the whole community, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who have an undying love for our Lord Jesus Christ.
He ends his letter by pronouncing a benediction (blessing) of peace, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of God to all those who know and love Him sincerely.
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