• Paul continues discussing "submission" from 5:21 - "submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."

CHILDREN AND PARENTS
EPHESIANS 6:1-9
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right.

• Here is harmony in the home:
• the wife submits to the husband “as unto Christ”;
• the husband loves his wife “even as Christ also loved the church”;
• and the children obey “in the Lord.”[1]
• "Children" - Not only a reference to young age but referring to those living in the same household with the parents having authority over them.
• "obey" - listen, pay attention, answer, respond and submit.
• "in the Lord" - Godly parents with godly behavior. This defines the sphere in which the obedience is to move
• In context. - It is not required or expected for a child to obey when the parental wishes lead to a sinful behavior.
• "right" - agrees with God's design for family and the relationship between the parent and child.

2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise,

• "honor" - respect, courtesy and obedience. This comes from being placed in a God-given position.
• A child's response to their parents is typically directly reflective of how they respond to all relationships.
• If they have a learned behavior as a child it will be one they will potentially struggle with in their flesh as an adult.
• The only way to overcome that is through spiritual maturity and walking by the Spirit.
• The "promise" is mentioned in verse 3.

3 so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.

• Exodus 20:12 - Commandment #5 - 12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. [2]
• "go well" - God designed the world with a working order... if you work inside that order... things have a tendency to go well... percentages are higher than those who oppose the God-ordained system and have to deal with consequences.
• "long life" - not a guarantee for longevity but a promise that your obedient life is less likely to bring death because of logical consequences from sin.
• All parties must be filled with the Spirit so that the relationships can work as designed.

4 Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

• Many times, one's relationship with their earthly father is a reflection of the person's thoughts on their heavenly Father which can be both good or bad.
• This is why it is necessary for the Truth to shape your perspective of God.
• 1) No performance-based acceptance (Titus 3:5; Romans 3:20)
• 2) Makes sacrifices for them and makes them feel special (John 3:16).
• 3) Never condemns their person (Rom 8:1) but corrects their behavior with a tear in His eye rather than a scowl on His face (Heb 12:5-11)
• 4) Never shows favoritism (Gal 3:28)
• 5) Makes decisions on how it will help... not hinder his children (principle of the cross).
• When you leave the hospital with your first born... "Where is the instruction manual?" Same as when they become a teenager or enter high school...
• "bring them up" - nourish toward maturity, to rear up.
• "training/discipline" - physical punishment (Prov 13:24)
• We can't rescue our kids from logical consequences.
• Everyone learns the hard way... take your lumps...
• Allow them room to fail and suffer the outcome within the season they are under your roof.
• "instruction" - Training by the Word, by both encouragement and reproof.
• Discipline without instruction can create an angry and confused child.

 
SLAVES AND MASTERS
5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as you would Christ.

• History of Master/Slave relationships:
• Before Acts 2, the Romans treated slaves as animals.
• The Master/Slave relationship had greatly changed at the time of writing of Ephesians and was widely accepted in society.
• Kent Hughes: "Ephesians" - The fact is, by the time of the Christian area and writing of this Ephesians, sweeping changes had been introduced which radically improved the treatment of slaves. Slaves under Roman law in the first century could generally count on eventually being set free. Very few ever reached old age as slaves. Slave owners were releasing slaves at such a rate that Augustus Caesar introduced legal restrictions to curb the trend. Despite this, inscriptions indicate that almost 50 percent of slaves were freed before the age of thirty. What is more, while the slave remained his master's possession he could own property - including other slaves! and completely controlled his own property, so that he could invest and save to purchase his own freedom.
• We also must understand that being a slave did not indicate one's social class. Slaves, regularly were accorded the social status of their owners. Regarding outward appearance, it was usually impossible to distinguish a slave from free persons. A slave could be a custodian, a salesman, or CEO. Many slaves lived separately from their owners. Finally, selling oneself into slavery was commonly used as a means of obtaining Roman citizenship and gaining an entrance into society. Roman slavery in the first century was far more humane and civilized than the American/African slavery practiced in this country much later. This is a sobering and humbling fact!
• Slavery was never condemned in the New Testament and was even affirmed by Jesus through His teachings.
• It was necessary to prevent economic disaster for all.
• It nowhere resembled what we think of when we hear the word "slavery".
• The Master/Slave relationship is very similar to our Employee/Employer relationship today.
• Believers (who know who they are) have a huge impact on the work society.
• They are the ones who truly understand the role of submission.
• They are filled with the Spirit unlike nonbelievers.
• They understand there is an intentional authority order to things.
• Mutual submission is the goal in such relationships, not a dictatorship.
• "fear & trembling" - respect and responsibility.
• "sincerity" - Singleness, purity and uprightness.

6 Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

• Not by "eyeservice" - Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you (NLT)
• 1) Some employees like to just check off a list.
• 2) Some like to do things as if they were doing it for themself.
• 3) Others like to do it as if they are trying to impress their boss.
• 4) Paul is saying, "Do your work as if you are doing it for Jesus". Jesus came to serve.
• Of the 4 types of employees, which one would you want to work for you?
• Which one would you have to consistently check up on?
• Work from the perspective of what the employer will receive rather than what you will receive.
• Do you ever notice good workers... "I'd hire that person in a heartbeat."

7 Serve with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to people,

• Many times you will not be recognized for your work...
• That is why it is important to have the attitude of rendering your service to the Lord rather than to your employer.

8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.

• Paul is saying that "good deeds never go unnoticed by God."
• Even if the employer does not reward you, God will!

9 And masters, treat your slaves the same way, without threatening them, because you know that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.[3]

• As the Christian masters of Paul's day interacted with the slaves, they were to display the same respect they expected in return.
• Again, only employers with the Spirit of God in them will understand this concept.

Submission is the key to relationships... As the body of Christ, we are called to a life of submission (not weakness) to one another.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 53). Victor Books.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Ex 20:12). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 6:1–9). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

Matthew 19
BLESSING THE CHILDREN
13 Then children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After placing his hands on them, he went on from there. [1]
 
Mark 10
BLESSING THE CHILDREN
13 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 After taking them in his arms, he laid his hands on them and blessed them.[2]
 
Luke 18
BLESSING THE CHILDREN
15 People were bringing infants to him so he might touch them,

• Good touch (blessing) vs bad touch
• Baby dedication at Pinheads

but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

• Kids and candy on Sundays
• Visit newborns at the hospital

17 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” [3]

• Let them have salvation
• Romans considered children low on the status poll
• Come humbly and with faith.
• Jesus loves the children and will take care of them (age of accountability issue)

 
Luke 18
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
18 A ruler (Mark: ran up to Him and knelt before Him) asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

• Sanhedrin member
• Wealth guaranteed salvation
• This man did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.

19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone.

• “Good teacher” – not “Good Messiah”
• The rabbis were called “Master” (Teacher), but it was most unusual for a rabbi to be called “good.”
• The Jews reserved the word good for God. [4]
• Was this man implying that Jesus was God?
• Did you really just say that?

20 You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”

• These were the ten commandments that related man to man… not man to God.
• When Jesus quoted from the second table of the Law, He did not quote the last commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” (Ex. 20:17).
• Jesus knew the young man’s heart, so instead of preaching to him about covetousness, He asked him to do something that a covetous person would not do.[5]

21 “I have kept all these from my youth,” he said.

• Jesus had to have smiled.

22 When Jesus heard this, he told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell all you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

• Jesus was asking the rich young ruler to change his theology.
• Keep this in context.
• This is not instruction for believers to get rid of all material things.
• From a Gentile perspective: You can make this Scripture passage real legalism.
• Nobody is saved by giving all his wealth to the poor, but nobody can be saved who will not repent of his sins and turn away from them.
• This young man was possessed by the love of money and he would not let go.[6]
• 1 Choice – Adam & Eve
• 10 Commandments
• 613 Laws
• Sermon on the Mount

23 After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.

• The rich young ruler may be the only man in the Gospels who came to the feet of Jesus and went away in worse condition than when he came.
• And yet he had so much in his favor!
• He was moral and religious, earnest and sincere, and probably would have qualified for membership in the average church.
• Yet he refused to follow Jesus Christ and instead went his own way in great sorrow.[7]

 
Matthew 19
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he asked him.
Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”
21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
 
Matthew 19
POSSESSIONS AND THE KINGDOM
23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

• Jesus’ disciples were raised under pharisaic Judaism.
• They were taught that wealth was necessary for salvation.
• Abraham, David & Solomon?

 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?”

• Jesus is about to be crucified and Peter is concerned about what he is going to get.

28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

• No specific appointments made at this time.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first (Pharisees) will be last, and the last first (Children).
 
THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD WORKERS
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the workers on one denarius, he sent them into his vineyard for the day. 3 When he went out about nine in the morning, he saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He said to them, ‘You also go into my vineyard, and I’ll give you whatever is right.’ So off they went. 5 About noon and about three, he went out again and did the same thing. 6 Then about five he went and found others standing around and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?’
7 “‘Because no one hired us,’ they said to him.
“‘You also go into my vineyard,’ he told them. 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard told his foreman, ‘Call the workers and give them their pay, starting with the last and ending with the first.’
9 “When those who were hired about five came, they each received one denarius. 10 So when the first ones came, they assumed they would get more, but they also received a denarius each. 11 When they received it, they began to complain to the landowner: 12 ‘These last men put in one hour, and you made them equal to us who bore the burden of the day’s work and the burning heat.’
13 “He replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I’m doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me on a denarius? 14 Take what’s yours and go. I want to give this last man the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what is mine? Are you jealous because I’m generous?’
16 “So the last will be first, and the first last.”[8]

• “That’s not fair.”
• Do you really want fair?

 
Mark 10
THE RICH YOUNG RULER
17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; do not defraud; honor your father and mother.”
20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.”
21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.[9]
 
Luke 18
POSSESSIONS AND THE KINGDOM
24 Seeing that he became sad, Jesus said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard this asked, “Then who can be saved?”
27 He replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left what we had and followed you.”
29 So he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left a house, wife or brothers or sisters, parents or children because of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more at this time, and eternal life in the age to come.” [10]

[1] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 19:13–15). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 10:13–16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 18:15–17). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 250). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 250). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 250). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 249). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mt 19:16–20:16). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Mk 10:17–22). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Christian Standard Bible. (2017). (Lk 18:18–30). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.