Ephesians 6

Remember that we are in the middle of an illustration that started back in Ephesians 5:22

6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

This was one of the ten commandments.

2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

If you go back to Deuteronomy 5:16 you will see where this quote came from.

Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

This commandment has a promise with it, if you obeyed your parents you were promised long life.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

We as parents are not to “poke” at our children and cause their anger against us. Some parents still need to learn this, there is a difference between setting the bar high for your children and having unreasonable expectation for them. The reason I say poke at them is that is one of the meanings of provoke. I get the mind picture of poking at a snake with a stick.

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

The word translated singleness means with sincerity of heart or without hidden agendas or strings attached.

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

The word with can also be translated according to which is how Bullinger translated.

We are not to do eyeservice. “To win their approval when their eye is on you” is how the the REV translates that phrase.

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

We are to work as unto the lord and not unto men. No matter what our hand may find to do we are to do it heartily as unto the lord. (Col. 3:23)

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

When we do a good thing, as I said before the good works cannot even start till you already have the spirit of God, we get rewarded. That is why we should look for good works to do.

9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

We are not to be men pleasers We are to do our best not only when we are beining watched but when no one can see what we are doing. We are to work for our employers like we are working for God. If we are the master we are treat the servants with respect not be threatening but forbearing threats. Have you ever worked in a place that they were always threatening to terminate your services? It was not very pleasent place to work was it.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

The word Finally means henceforth.

The word strong is the Greek word endynamoō it means empowered. The word power means  powered with great power.  

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Don’t fall for the trickery of the devil. With the armour on we are prepared.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

When things happen like your car gets stolen or you get sick remember we are in a spiritual battle we do not war in the senses realm we war in the spiritual realm. It may appear to happen in the senses realm but the fight is still spiritual.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

God wants us to be able to stand against evil we need the power of God to do that.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about w on ith truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Bullinger translates this:

Stand therefore, having girded your  loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness

The loins represents the area life comes from. Truth is at the core of our being. The

breastplate protects our vital organs.

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

We stand on the word of God we go to spread the gospel of peace.

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

The shield of believing protects us from the onslaught of the evil one. As he shoots at us  our shield of believing knocks the darts to the ground.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The helmet protects our thinking. If we have salvation we can center on the battle rather than are we going to make it into the return. The  sword is what we attack with. Like our brother we answer the devil with “”It is written”’ and that slices him to ribbons.raying in the

Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

We are told part of the armour is praying in the spirit. In 1 Corinthians 14:15 we are told that is speaking in tongues, and we are to be watchful and use it all. We are to pray for our brothers and sisters..

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Lastly we are to pray for our leadership and that they stay sharp on the word.

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.