Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 6:1-4”
Categories: Ephesians“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
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My six-year-old daughter can quote verses 1-3 verbatim. This is one of the very first passages that we had her commit to memory. She has still not been convinced of the veracity and the value of these verses but it is our prayer that, with enough teaching and impressing the Lord’s will upon her mind, it will become second nature for her to honor her mom and dad. As we read these and other verses about obedience to parents to her, we always try to stress that learning to follow the rule of her mother and father is critical to her learning to submit her will to her Father in heaven so that she can live with Him eternally.
So many of the “dishonorable” people in our society, and those who suffer from dissatisfaction in life and a sense of entitlement were never taught to honor their father and mother as children. This was the first of the Ten Commandments given “with a promise” (verse 2). The promise was that “it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (verse 3). Far too many people are living but not very well, and far too many have died earlier than they should have, because they never learned the value and importance of respecting their parents and honoring the Creator of the Universe.
While teaching children to honor their parents is a critical part of bringing “them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (verse 4), we as parents (and especially fathers) must make certain to not “provoke them to anger” in the process. Discipline does not merely consist of firm demands and corporal punishment. That kind of parenting will only frustrate and exasperate a child. The essence of the word discipline is teaching, training and instructing. Proper, godly, effective discipline is a combination and balance of teaching, correction, punishment, love and mercy. It’s kind of like walking a tight rope while simultaneously juggling five flaming bowling pins! Okay it’s not quite THAT difficult and demanding, but it sure takes a lot of patience and repentance while trying to raise up a child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord! God please help us with this vocation! And especially me! In Jesus’ name, amen!
Please read Ephesians 6:5-9
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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