Parents and Children. A series on Ephesians Part 11 (Ephesians 6:1-4)

 



Read Ephesians 6:1-4

In our passage today, Paul continues to describe how we ought to live in regard to our relationships. Last time, we saw how the relationship of a husband and wife must mimic Christ's relationship with the church. Our passage moves on to the relationship between children and their parents. As sinful people, our inclination is to rebel against authority,  but Paul starts off reminding us that children ought not only to obey their parents but to honor them. This is so important it is one of the ten commandments. In Matthew 19:19, Jesus tells a rich man that you must "honor your father and mother." In Matthew 15:4, Jesus tells us, "Honor your father and your mother, and whoever reviles father or mother must surely die." Honoring our parents is so important that the punishment for disobedience was death! Its importance is also shown in the promise given for obedience. Verse 3 of our text says, "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

What then does it mean to honor your parents? The dictionary defines honor as "adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct" and "regard with great respect." There's several aspects then to this commandment. We are to follow God's Law, not just the parts we want to, but all of it. Parents are to teach their children God's Law, as it says in verse 4, "bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Children must obey their parents and learn God's Law through them. Proverbs 1:8-9 says, "Hear, my son, you r father's instruction and forsake not your mother's teaching for they are as a garland for your head and pendants for your neck." They are precious.

Another aspect is to respect your parents. This means it's wrong to talk badly about them or to be rude to them or to scorn and disregard them. We are not to hold them in contempt, but rather, we ought to listen to them, show consideration and thoughtfulness, and be attentive to them. We must be obedient, then, to our parents, in all things that align with the Word of God. 

Our passage doesn't only speak to the children but also speaks to the parents. Verse 4 says, "Fathers do not exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Parents are given the responsibility of raising their children to know God's Word and law. Not only does it say what to do, but also what not to do. Parents are not to exasperate their children. This means they are not to provoke or push their children to impatience or anger. Being given a position of authority over their children comes with the responsibility of living out God's Word so as to be an example for children. Parents are blessed with children and given them temporarily to care for and raise to God's glory. Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. " So then parents are to instruct their children in God's law and word and treat them as the blessings they are; children are to obey, respect and honor their parents. This relationship is beautiful when it works as it was meant to.

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