The best and most eminent ministers need the prayers of believers. What does Ephesians chapter 6 mean? . 3. long on the earth--In Exodus 20:12 , "long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee," which Paul adapts to Gospel times, by taking away the local and limited reference peculiar to the Jews in Canaan. of the Lord--such as the Lord approves, and by His Spirit dictates. ; comp. Greek, "For our wrestling ('the wrestling' in which we are engaged) is not against flesh," &c. Flesh and blood foes are Satan's mere tools, the real foe lurking behind them is Satan himself, with whom our conflict is. 2. respect of persons--He will not, in judging, acquit thee because thou art a master, or condemn him because he is a servant ( Acts 10:34 , Romans 2:11 , Galatians 2:6 , Colossians 3:25 , 1 Peter 1:17 ). Ephesians 6:2 “Honor thy father and mother which is the first commandment with promise” “Honor”: To revere, value, and prize. If we give way, he will get ground. in the Lord--in the Lord's work. The gospel was a mystery till made known by Divine revelation; and it is the work of Christ's ministers to declare it. By peace, understand all manner of peace; peace with God, peace of conscience, peace among themselves. 11. the whole armour--the armor of light ( Romans 13:12 ); on the right hand and left ( 2 Corinthians 6:7 ). And the grace of the Spirit, producing faith and love, and every grace. There can be no religion without sincerity. These he desires for those in whom they were already begun. 'In the LORD' That said, what does the "in the Lord" phrase mean to tell us? Again the Trinity is implied: the Spirit here; and Christ in "salvation" and God the Father, Ephesians 6:13 (compare Hebrews 4:12 , Revelation 1:16 , 2:12 ). If masters and servants would consider their duties to God, and the account they must shortly give to him, they would be more mindful of their duty to each other, and thus families would be more orderly and happy. Paul … SENECA [Thyestes, 607], says, "Whatever an inferior dreads from you, this a superior Master threatens yourselves with: every authority here is under a higher above." 1. obey--stronger than the expression as to wives, "submitting," or "being subject" ( Ephesians 5:21 ). Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power … As believers we are united with Christ and because the Lord Jesus broke the power of sin and death and hell when He rose from the dead – the strength of sin in our lives has also been broken and we have been raised-up, into newness of life, in Him. masters according to the flesh--in contrast to your true and heavenly Master ( Ephesians 6:4 ). Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. In Ephesians 6:5-9 the hardest form of subjection, that of slaves to masters, is dealt with, still under the same idea that both are “in Christ.” The slave is the servant of Christ in obeying his master, the master is a fellow-servant with his slave to the same Divine Lord. (1-4) Of servants and masters. The word translated “be strong” here actually means “be strengthened,” as rendered in the New English Translation: “Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power.”. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. 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. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." In Ephesians 6:12, Paul speaks of our battle being against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. for all saints--as none is so perfect as not to need the intercessions of his fellow Christians. Ephesians 1:6(NASB) Verse Thoughts There is probably no higher pinnacle of praise to the glorious grace of God than the first few chapters of Ephesians and there is possibly no more staggering truth for believers than to be accepted in the Beloved. of God--not "make," God has done that: you have only to "take up" and put it on. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? It is the Holy Spirit of God, Who works in believers and it is the evil spirit of wickedness that works in the sons of disobedience. MUTUAL DUTIES OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN: MASTERS AND SERVANTS: OUR LIFE A WARFARE: THE SPIRITUAL ARMOUR NEEDED AGAINST SPIRITUAL FOES. 13. take . . Servants--literally, "slaves." Translate, "Having shod your feet" (referring to the sandals, or to the military shoes then used). God will reward even the meanest drudgery done from a sense of duty, and with a view to glorify him. having on--Greek, "having put on." The phrase occurs nowhere else in the Epistle (see, however, Ephesians 6:23 ); if genuine, it is appropriate here in the close of the Epistle, where he is urging his fellow soldiers to the good fight in the Christian armor. Commentary on Ephesians 6:1-4 (Read Ephesians 6:1-4) The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. The panoply offensive and defensive. Compare 1 Corinthians 9:25 , "corruptible . provoke not--irritate not, by vexatious commands, unreasonable blame, and uncertain temper [ALFORD]. Believers have once for all overcome him; but on the ground of this fundamental victory gained over him, they are ever again to fight against and overcome him, even as they who once die with Christ have continually to mortify their members upon earth ( Romans 6:2-14 Colossians 3:3 Colossians 3:5 ). The head of the soldier was among the principal parts to be defended, as on it the deadliest strokes might fall, and it is the head that commands the whole body. So when God became incarnate, Satan, by his demons, took forcible possession of human bodies. 5. . The shield of faith will certainly intercept, and so "quench, all the fiery darts" (an image from the ancient fire-darts, formed of cane, with tow and combustibles ignited on the head of the shaft, so as to set fire to woodwork, tents, &c.). . Thus the demoniacally possessed were not peculiarly wicked, but miserable, and so fit. Ephesians 6:1-24 . Second, he provides instructions for the relationship between masters and servants (Ephesians 6:5–9). Ambassadors were held inviolable by the law of nations, and could not, without outrage to every sacred right, be put in chains. the preparation--rather, "the preparedness," or "readiness of," that is, arising from the "Gospel" ( Psalms 10:17 ). in the Spirit--to be joined with "praying." 4. fathers--including mothers; the fathers are specified as being the fountains of domestic authority. Moreover, pride and presumption are the sins in heavenly places to which they tempt especially, being those by which they themselves fell from heavenly places ( Isaiah 14:12-15 ). Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. What does Ephesians 6:6 mean? The substance and essence of the law are eternally in force: its accidents alone (applying to Israel of old) are abolished ( Romans 6:15 ). 12. All Rights Reserved. neither . He calls it literally "the way of eye-service," or the problem of only working hard when the master's eyes are directly on us. Ephesians 6:3 “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 73:1-14 ). (10-18) The apostle desires their prayers, and ends with his apostolic blessing. 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. The Ephesians were familiar with the idea of the gods giving armor to mythical heroes: thus Paul's allusion would be appropriate. Salvation must be our helmet. of
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.. Read 6:10. right--Even by natural law we should render obedience to them from whom we have derived life. from the heart--literally, soul ( Psalms 111:1 , Romans 13:5 ). NEANDER takes it, "Ye also," as well as the Colossians ( Colossians 4:6 ). The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to do with an enemy who has a thousand ways of beguiling unstable souls. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. What does Ephesians 6:16 mean? 14. The … Depending on the translation of Ephesians 6:14, we are to fasten the belt of truth around us (ISV), buckle the belt around our waists (NIV), gird our waists with truth (NKJV), or gird our loins with truth (NASB). Faith conquers him ( 1 Peter 5:9 ), and his darts of temptation to wrath, lust, revenge, despair, &c. It overcomes the world ( 1 John 5:4 ), and so the prince of the world ( 1 John 5:18 ). 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