TEACHING NOTES Introduction A few weeks ago we began a section in Ephesians that is focused on how disciples of Jesus should operate in relationships. This section began by stating that sacrificial love is the priority in Eph. 5:1-2 “1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The next section began with Eph. 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Paul starts with how mutual submission works in marriage. Now he is going to apply the same principle to parenting and the workplace. If we forget the context of mutual submission, we will misinterpret what Paul is saying in chapter six. All that we are about to read is further explanation of mutual submission. ​ Ephesians 6:1 ESV 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Children = Notice that Paul is directly addressing children. This implies that children were present in the church gatherings where this letter was read. In the early church, parents were the children’s ministry. Only in modern times have we separated children from their parents at church. In the ancient world, children were educated in the faith on a daily basis, mostly by their parents. Israelites also had schools where children were trained in the Torah. There was no separation between secular and religious education. Atheism and secularism did not exist in the ancient world. Obey = Grk. hypakouo - to listen and follow instructions, to answer appropriately. The root of this word is akouo, which means to hear or listen. In the Torah, listening is connected with obedience. To listen is to obey. The Hebrew word for hear or listen is shema. Paul’s readers would have thought of the Shema in Deut. 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: Yahweh is our God, Yahweh alone. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Old Testament Connections: Prov. 1:8; 6:20; 23:22 In the Lord = In Paul’s mind, authority is given by God (Rom. 13:1). Therefore, when we obey or serve those in authority over us, we are actually doing this toward God. If God has placed someone in authority over us, we are called to respect God’s decision. Parents have been given authority by God over their children. Therefore, children must honor God’s decision by being respectful and obedient. This is right = Grk. dikaios - righteous, upright, God’s standard. Parenting Principle: Parents must require respect and obedience. Parents who allow disobedience are teaching their children to reject authority. ​ Ephesians 6:2–3 ESV 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Honor your father and mother = From Ex. 20:12. In the 10 commandments, this means more than mere respect. It is respect that is shown by action. In the Torah, honoring your parents meant that you obey your parents during childhood and care for your parents when they are old. Your parents care for you when you are young, and when you are an adult you do the same for them. The first commandment with a promise = Paul is emphasizing that in the list of the 10 commandments this one is the first to make a promise. The first four commandments, along with the sixth—tenth, do not make any promises. But the 5th commandment is unique. This implies a focus of importance. ​ Ephesians 6:4 ESV 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Fathers = Notice that mothers are not mentioned. Why? In the biblical family, fathers are called to be leaders who are responsible and accountable for their family. The modern idea that mothers deal with the children and fathers merely provide the money is not only backwards but destructive. Do not provoke your children to anger = Grk. parorgizo - to make angry by exasperation. Fathers can easily abuse their authority and “wear out” their children. This happens when fathers are only attentive to negative behavior. Children need correction but also encouragement. Parenting Principle: What’s rewarded is repeated. Bring them up = Grk. ektrepho - to provide what is needed for a child to become an adult who is faithful to God. Discipline and instruction of the Lord = The Greek word for discipline is paideia, which refers to training someone to be responsible. The Greek word for instruction is nouthesia, which refers to teaching what is right and warning against what is wrong. ​ Proverbs 22:6 ESV 6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Train up = Heb. hanok - to devote or disciple. The #1 priority for parents is training their children in the way of the Lord. Parents who do not practice this priority are asking for trouble and setting their children up for failure. The way = Heb. derek - path, route, journey. Often we think about training/discipling a child, we are thinking about the end goal. But Prov. 22:6 is focused on the way or path that will lead to the end goal. Many parents want their children to grow up to love God (goal), but they forget to focus on the way/path that leads to that goal. This verse is true in both directions—good or bad. The Problem: More than 80% of children with Christian parents will leave the church and likely their faith when they become adults. Why? Because in many Christian homes, discipleship only happens at church and even church is not a priority. If discipleship is limited to church and other priorities take you away from church, your children are twice as likely to prioritize anything but being a disciple of Jesus. How can we disciple our children at all times? ​ Deuteronomy 6:7–9 ESV 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Practical Family Discipleship: Pray together at every meal (change it up). Talk about Scripture at every meal. Ask questions during car rides (Bible Trivia). Pray over your children at bedtime. Teach your children to pray at bedtime. Put important scriptures on the walls of your home. ​ Ephesians 6:5–6 ESV 5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, Bondservants = While this term may include slaves, it is more focused on those who are agreed to service in another’s home or business. Paul is not condoning slavery by using this term. Our modern ideas about slavery should not be read into the Bible. Bondservants, especially within Christianity, were more like employees. Sincere heart = Grk. haplotes kardia - While haplotes can mean sincere, it can also mean generous. So, the idea here is to serve in a way that goes beyond what is required. As you would Christ = Serve those in authority as if you are serving Christ. Paul will say this again in the next verse. Eye-service, people-pleasers = This is Paul’s way of describing what we would call “brown-nosing” or “sucking up.” Servants/employees who are disciples of Jesus must be authentic. As bondservants of Christ = This is about identity. For disciples of Jesus, our identity is not found in our social status or career. Our identity is in Christ alone. We are children of God and servants of Christ. Anything else we may be is merely secondary. Workplace Principle: Always do more than required. ​ Ephesians 6:7–8 ESV 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. As to the Lord and not to man = People in authority can be difficult to serve with sincerity and generosity. Paul’s solution to this problem is to imagine that you are serving the Lord by serving those in authority. This isn’t a new idea. Jesus also taught that serving the poor was actually serving Him (Matt. 25:34-40). In a business, employees who are a disciple of Jesus have the opportunity to bring the kingdom into the workplace. He will receive back from the Lord = Being a kingdom-focused disciple of Jesus is the most difficult and rewarding way of life. Workplace Principle: Work as if Jesus is the boss. ​ Ephesians 6:9 ESV 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. Masters = Grk. kyrios - Literally, lords. In our context we can consider “masters” as those in authority over others (government officials, business leaders, etc). Do the same to them = This connects back to Eph. 5:21 “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” The entire section of Eph. 5:21-6:9 is focused on how disciples of Jesus submit to one another, whether that is in the family or the workplace. Stop your threatening = Grk. apeile - refers to threatening harm. Disciples of Jesus must never threaten violence to those in their care. In the context of ancient slavery, Paul is telling masters not to be violent or even threaten to be violent with their servants. He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven = Paul reminding earthly masters/leaders that Jesus is the Master/Lord of all people. If earthly leaders mistreat those in their care, Jesus will act on their behalf. There is no partiality with him = Unlike humans, Jesus is not interested in any hierarchy of social status. Jesus sees and treats everyone equally. Overbearing leaders should not expect to get a pass because they have an elevated status. Workplace Principle: Love your employees as yourself. Conclusion Our response today should be to recommit ourselves to be disciples and make disciples of those around us. Worship, prayer, and communion is our way to recommit ourselves every week.