Ephesians 6:4

fathers We may equally well render, parents. Moses" parents are called (Hebrews 11:23, Gr.) his fathers. The expression is found in the classics, Greek and Latin. The father is the head of authority in the home, but the oneness of husband and wife, to speak of that only, secures the high authority of the mother also. This is assumed in the Fifth Commandment.

provoke not … to wrath The same word occurs Colossians 3:21, and the cognate noun above, Ephesians 4:26, where see note. In Col. the suggestive words follow, "lest they be discouraged." The precept and the reason are both full of holy wisdom. Here, as in the section on Marriage, observe how the two parties are reminded each exclusively of his own duties.

At the present time, undoubtedly, parental authority is at a low ebb in English Christendom. Its revival will depend, under God, on the active recognition of the whole teaching of such a Scripture as this, full of the warrant of parental government, and of the wisdom of parental sympathy.

bring them up The Gr. conveys the idea of development(here in the sphere of character and principle) by care and pains. The same word has occurred Ephesians 4:29, with reference to bodily development.

nurture Better, discipline. "Chastening" (R.V.) seems to us too narrow a word, at least in its ordinary sense of punitivediscipline. It is true that in the leading N.T. passage of the kind (Hebrews 12:5-10; and cp. Revelation 3:19) the word (or its kindred verb) obviously conveys that idea. And the verb is used of the terrible "chastisement" of the Roman scourge (Luke 23:16; Luke 23:22). But a wider meaning is, by usage, quite lawful, and it is certainly in point here. All the wholesome restraintsof a wise early education are in view; all training in the direction of a life modest, unselfish, and controlled. Such will be the discipline of the true Christian home, and of its partial extension, the true Christian school.

admonition The Gr. noun recurs 1 Corinthians 10:11; Titus 3:10. For the kindred Gr. verb, see Acts 20:31; Romans 15:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Colossians 1:28; Colossians 3:16; 1Th 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 2 Thessalonians 3:15. It will be seen that the noun relates to the warning side of instruction, a side too often neglected.

of the Lord On His revealed principles, learnt of Him, and for His sake. He is everywhere in the Christian home.