Ephesians chapter 6
Paul tells children to obey their parents and slaves to obey their masters. He tells us Christians to wear armor for spiritual warfare. And he concludes.
CHILDREN AND PARENTS
VERSE 1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
obey your parents. This command assumes that the parents are not abusive or drug addicts. In our day, that is not always the case among Christians.
VERSE 2. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
VERSE 3. “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
that it may be well with you. Doing something for self-benefit is hardly meritorious.
VERSE 4. You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
SLAVES AND SLAVE MASTERS
VERSE 5. Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
Servants. The Greek word is δοῦλοι (“douloi”). It means slave.
VERSE 6. not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
VERSE 7. with good will doing service as to the Lord, and not to men,
VERSE 8. knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
VERSE 9. You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
WEAR ARMOR FOR SPIRITUAL WARFARE
SUMMARY: When nations go to war, they attack other nations. But Christian spiritual warfare is directed at self. We are launching an all-out offensive to change our spiritual lives for the better.
An important passage to read alongside this one is 2 Corinthians 10:3-6. Spiritual warfare.
VERSE 10. Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
NIV 1984 translation. Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Ephesians.
be strong in the Lord. God is strong, and he wants us to absorb his strength.
Isaiah 52:1. Awake, awake! Put on your strength, Zion. Put on your beautiful garments, Jerusalem, the holy city: for from now on the uncircumcised and the unclean will no more come into you.
VERSE 11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
This verse is fantastic! Would you consider memorizing it? More great verses to memorize from the Letter to the Ephesians.
the whole armor of God. In the verses that follow, Paul describes the gear that the Christian dons for spiritual warfare. If you were to make a sketch of it, what would it look like?
2 Corinthians 6:7. in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
VERSE 12. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
principalities … powers … darkness … spiritual forces of wickedness. This can seem rather frightening. It tells us the nature of spiritual warfare. It can be intense. But to whom is it directed?
In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we learned that Christian spiritual warefare is directed at self, not others. We believers launch an all-out offensive to change our own spiritual lives for the better.
the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places:
2 Maccabees 5:2. It happened that throughout all the city, for almost forty days, cavalry appeared in the midst of the sky in swift motion, wearing robes woven with gold and carrying spears, equipped with troops for battle—
VERSE 13. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
VERSE 14. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
belt of truth. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
breastplate of righteousness. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
Isaiah 11:4-5. but with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with equity for the humble of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his waist.
Isaiah 59:17. He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a mantle.
1 Thessalonians 5:8. But since we belong to the day, let’s be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
VERSE 15. and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,
preparation of the Good News. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
VERSE 16. above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
shield of faith. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
VERSE 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
NLT translation. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
helmet of salvation. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
sword of the Spirit. What does this mean? Is it a behavior or a thing? What would it look like?
which is the word of God. In the Bible, the word “sword” can often be taken as a euphemism for “the Bible.” Here are the verses about this »
The Bible is living and active. Sharper than a sword, it discerns our thoughts and intentions. Read more »
VERSE 18. with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
This verse is referred to in a famous book on continuous prayer called The Way of a Pilgrim.
Many Christians have dedicated a special time of day when they pray. But the Bible calls us to pray continually. Read more »
VERSE 19. on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
to make known with boldness. Paul needed people to pray for him to be bold? If a lack of boldness was an issue for Paul, then we should not be surprised if it is an issue for us as well.
When we walk with the LORD God, we can overcome our fears and be bold. As bold as a lion! Read more »
VERSE 20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
I am an ambassador. Nations send ambassadors abroad. And the Lord Jesus Christ sends us out as his ambassadors to the world. Read more »
CONCLUSION
VERSE 21. But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things.
VERSE 22. I have him sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.
VERSE 23. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
VERSE 24. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.
next chapter »
(Philippians chapter 1)
EPHESIANS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.