Class Notes, Eph 6:1-9

Context:

We have been in a section (starting in 5:21) called "walk in submission," but some group with the preceding verses (5:15) "walk in wisdom"

• Walking wisdom has a clear focus on using your mind, and being filled with the Spirit, which we saw in Colossians is directly related to letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly
• Walk in submission refers to the major relationships most people have and how we to submit to each other in them

Eph 6:1-3 (NIV) 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."

Verse 1 is most closely associated with a number of proverbs (1:8; 6:20: 23:20)

• Prov 1:8 (NIV) Listen, my son, to your father's instruction // and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
• The verse contains two modifiers that have implications
  • The phrase "children" limits their control over you to the period you are a child. After that, children are to honor their parents
  • The phrase "in the Lord" means that your parents cannot tell you to do something outside of God's moral law

Verses 2-3 is OT law (which we are not under, unless it is repeated in the NT by Jesus or the apostles).

• Ex 20:12 (NIV) "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (also Deut 5:16 is similar)
• This passage repeats it, so we are under this law of Christ
• Jesus hints at it in his discussions with the Pharisees (Matt 15:4-6) regarding "corbin."

The promise, in context, is associated with staying in the land, but here Paul changes the ending for a NT context. There is a reason that this verse is true (outside of the fact that God says it) and it is more associated with Proverbs

• If you listen to godly counsel, you will make better decisions
• If you ignore godly counsel, you will suffer the consequences
• Godly wise counsel is found in older saints who have walked with God over a long period of time
• Normally (which is why is sounds like a Proverb), children who obey their parents avoid many of the perils of life

Eph 6:4 (NIV) Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

You can be the perfect parent and have children who grow up with all kinds of problems

• God is the best example: Adam and Eve
• The Father of the prodigal son: zero for two
• Adam and Eve: Cain and Abel

You can be the worse parent and have children who grow up as godly servants of God

• Numerous examples of Christian speakers
• George Mueller

Not sure where David fits, but David had Absalom, Ammon, and Solomon (plus many others)

• David's father was not any better. Six of seven were rejected for the kingship

How does one exasperate their children or provoke to wrath?

• One is over control
• Another is overly critical
• A third way is uninvolved

Instead, parents are to do what?

• In response to the above, establish limits but transition authority over time
• Praise them in a meaningful way (not to develop a big head)
• Be involved with their lives
• Also, training suggests directing and correcting the child
• Instruction is correction but by word of mouth

Eph 6:5-8 (NIV) 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.

There are some estimates that slaves accounted for 1/3 of the Roman empire. Jewish slaves held different rules, usually the individual sold himself for a set period of time. In that sense, slaves and masters would more closely imitate the employee / employer relationship of today. Still, the Roman empire was not as gracious and the conditions were much worse

There are seven characteristics of Slave's submission

1. With respect. Even though there are no distinctions in Christ, we still are to show respect to authorities
2. With fear. Sense of not making mistakes. Do a good job
3. With sincerity of heart. No duplicity or hypocrisy or "brown-nosing"
4. Obey as you would obey Christ. In a sense, our bosses represent the will of God for us
   1. Rom 13:1-7 (NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. // 6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

1. Service should be consistent. This is close to the third (sincerity). Once again, they are God's will for us
2. We should do our work as if we were working for God. And God sees us every moment
3. Lastly, our work should be wholehearted. It should not be a half-effort, but our very best. One of the worst phrases for a Christian to quote, "it is good enough for government work"
   1. Rather, is it good enough to for my Lord

There is a reward for the good we do in life. Our witness for Jesus Christ is affected by the quality of earthly jobs. We want to be a better witness for Christ, it should start in how well we do our jobs

Eph 6:9 (NIV) 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.

Because there is mutual submission among believers, every group has responsibilities in how they serve others

The first command is to treat them in the same way, meaning?

• As the slave serves the Lord, so the master serves the Lord in how he treats the slave
• You could also add: respect, doing a good job, sincerity, consistently, wholeheartedly, and as serving God

More specifically

• We are not to threaten our employees. How does that show up today?
  • Bullying is rampant in many places in America. A recent study said that 50 percent of workers have had bosses who are bullies

• Don't show favoritism
  • This often accompanies bullying of a few is the favoritism to another few
  • Very poor way to lead and manage people

Good leadership can still be tough but it is fair, consistent, caring, and whole-hearted

• Your employees should be your flock
• Discipline should only be used for the good of the individual and the organization. But it needs to be applied the right way