EPHESIANS Chapter Ephesians 6:1-9 OUTLINE: I. The duty of children: Ephesians 6:1-3 II. The duty of parents: Ephesians 6:4 III. The duty of servants: Ephesians 6:5-8 IV. The duty of masters: Ephesians 6:9 I. Walking worthily in reference to evil: Ephesians 6:10-20 A. Make use of the armor God... [ Continue Reading ]
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” “CHILDREN”: Since Paul addresses children as well as parents, we infer that the first century church was also composed of whole families. The word here _children_ obviously refers to children who are old enough to understand the concept of... [ Continue Reading ]
“HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER WHICH IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE” “Honor”: To revere, value, and prize. In the New Testament God always informs Christians which moral and ethical laws found in the Old Testament remain unchanged, including this one (Romans 13:8). This quotation is from Exodus... [ Continue Reading ]
“THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH THEE, AND THOU MAYEST LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH” “May”: The promise is generally the rule, yet some godly young men and women do die early in life (like Jesus and John the Baptist) and some very wicked people end up living long and prosperous lives (Psalms 73:1). Although God... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND, YE FATHERS, PROVOKE NOT YOUR CHILDREN TO WRATH: BUT NURTURE THEM IN THE CHASTENING AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD” “And”: “On the other hand, parents must show themselves worthy to be obeyed. ‘Children, obey your parents' was not designed as. weapon to be placed in the hands of godless tyrants. T... [ Continue Reading ]
“SERVANTS, BE OBEDIENT UNTO THEM THAT ACCORDING TO THE FLESH ARE YOUR MASTERS, WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING, IN SINGLENESS OF YOUR HEART, AS UNTO CHRIST” “Be obedient”: Becoming. Christian does not erase our status in society. The very fact that God enjoys upon the slave such moral obligations is proof p... [ Continue Reading ]
“NOT IN THE WAY OF EYESERVICE, AS MEN-PLEASERS; BUT AS SERVANTS OF CHRIST, DOING THE WILL OF GOD FROM THE HEART” “Not”: Indicating that such is. common temptation for slaves and employees. “IN THE WAY OF EYESERVICE”: “Not only when their eyes are on you” (TCNT). “Not with mere external service” (Gsp... [ Continue Reading ]
“WITH GOOD WILL DOING SERVICE, AS UNTO THE LORD, AND NOT UNTO MEN” “With good will”: “Do good work with good will” (Nor). “Do your duties heartily and willingly” (Gspd). “Lit., ‘serving with. good mind', the ready good will, which does not wait to be compelled” _(Boles p. 330)._ It is easy to get... [ Continue Reading ]
“knowing that whatsoever good thing each one doeth, the same shall he receive again from the Lord, whether he be bond or free” “KNOWING”: “Seeing ye know, knowing as ye do” _(Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 379)._. tremendous amount of peace of mind and happiness comes when one "knows" the truth (John 8:32). “WHATE... [ Continue Reading ]
“And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with Him” “Masters”: CHRISTIAN MASTERS DID EXIST (PHILEMON). “Do the same things unto them”: “Treat your slaves in the same spi... [ Continue Reading ]
“FINALLY, BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT” Paul has discussed the "quality" of the relationships that Christians are to have with their brethren (Ephesians 4:2-Ephesians 4:32), with their spouses (Ephesians 5:22-33), with their children and parents (Ephesians 6:1), and with m... [ Continue Reading ]
“PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL” “Put on”: “You must wear” (Knox). “Some seem to think that God's strength somehow mysteriously envelopes the believer; that all we need to do is sit back and depend on the Lord to deliver us from Satan witho... [ Continue Reading ]
“FOR OUR WRESTLING IS NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST THE POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD-RULERS OF THIS DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY PLACES” “For”: “A thorough knowledge of the enemy and. healthy respect for his prowess are. nece... [ Continue Reading ]
“WHEREFORE TAKE UP THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND, HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND” “Wherefore”: “Because Paul's readers must fight. foe that is scheming, inhuman, powerful, and evil, they need to be armed and protected with the equipment God supplies. They d... [ Continue Reading ]
“STAND THEREFORE, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, AND HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” “Stand therefore”: “Stand your ground” (TCNT). God often emphasizes the need for Christians to "stand" (Ephesians 6:11; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Peter 1:27; Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 5:12). In addition... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND HAVING SHOD YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE” “Shod your feet”: “The strong military sandals not only protected the feet of the warrior but enabled him to stand in slippery places and to move with quick and certain step” _(Erdman p. 137)._ “It was studded with sharp nails... [ Continue Reading ]
“WITHAL TAKING UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE” “Withal”: “Above all” (KJV). “Besides all these” (Wms). “Above all be sure to take” (Phi). “In addition to all” (NASV) “A. an indispensable addition” _(Stott p. 281). _“Taking up”: Human... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND TAKE THE HELMET OF SALVATION, AND THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD” “And take”: Here is another reference to human cooperation. God has never "failed" anyone (Hebrews 13:5). People fail spiritually because they fail to make good use of the free gifts that God has provided for e... [ Continue Reading ]
“WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION PRAYING AT ALL SEASONS IN THE SPIRIT, AND WATCHING THEREUNTO IN ALL PERSEVERANCE AND SUPPLICATION FOR ALL THE SAINTS” “With all prayer”: Prayer is an oft forgotten defense and weapon in this armor. “The soldier must maintain contact with his commanding officer” _(Bo... [ Continue Reading ]
“AND ON MY BEHALF, THAT UTTERANCE MAY BE GIVEN UNTO ME IN OPENING MY MOUTH, TO MAKE KNOWN WITH BOLDNESS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL” “And on my behalf”: Pray for me too! “He was wise enough to know his own need of strength if he was to stand against the enemy, and humble enough to ask his friends to p... [ Continue Reading ]
“FOR WHICH. AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS; THAT IN IT. MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS. OUGHT TO SPEAK” “For which”: Paul was in prison because he had been preaching the gospel with boldness (Ephesians 3:1; Ephesians 4:1). “I AM AN AMBASSADOR IN CHAINS”: “To put an ambassador in chains was not only persecution to... [ Continue Reading ]
“BUT THAT YE ALSO MAY KNOW MY AFFAIRS, HOW. DO, TYCHICUS, THE BELOVED BROTHER AND FAITHFUL MINISTER IN THE LORD, SHALL MAKE KNOWN TO YOU ALL THINGS” “Known my affairs, how. do”: “Know about my circumstances, how. am doing” (NASV). Obviously. congregation that Paul had spent three years with, and who... [ Continue Reading ]
“WHOM. HAVE SENT UNTO YOU FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE, THAT YE MAY KNOW OUR STATE, AND THAT HE MAY COMFORT YOUR HEARTS” See Colossians 4:8. Up to date and recent information concerning Paul's condition would alleviate many of the worries and concerns which the Ephesians had for Paul. Possibly, the Ephesi... [ Continue Reading ]
“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” Concerning the expression _love with faith_ consider Galatians 5:6 and 1 Corinthians 13:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
“GRACE BE WITH ALL THEM THAT LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH. LOVE INCORRUPTIBLE” Observe that grace is conditional. “LOVE INCORRUPTIBLE”: “With an undying love” (TCNT). “Unfailing love” (Gspd). “A never diminishing love” _(Robertson p. 552)._ “May such love as ‘knows neither change, diminution, no... [ Continue Reading ]