Back to Home Page | Back to Index |

Ephesians Chapter Six

 
Chapter Six General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER
 
1) To understand the responsibilities of children and their fathers
 
2) To suggest how principles governing servants and masters can be
 applied to employees and their employers
 
3) To see the need to adorn ourselves with the whole of armor of God,
 that we might be strong in the power of His might, and not just our
 own strength
 
SUMMARY
 
The final chapter begins with what might called an exhortation to "walk
in familial harmony." Children are told to obey their parents, while 
fathers are instructed not to provoke their children to wrath but bring
them up in the Lord's nurture and admonition. As many households in the
first century A. D. contained servants, commands are also given on the
duties of servants and their masters (1-9).
 
The last major section of this epistle is a call to "walk in victory",
with a charge to stand strong in the power of the Lord's might. To be 
able to withstand the wiles of the devil and spiritual hosts of 
wickedness in heavenly places, Christians needs to adorn themselves 
with the whole armor of God. This armor includes such elements as 
truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of 
God. Standing strong also requires fervent and watchful prayer, not 
just for one's self, but for all Christians. Even Paul solicits their
prayers that he might be bold as an ambassador in chains as he makes
known the mystery of the gospel (10-20).
 
A brief explanation is then given concerning Tychicus, who is to let 
them know how Paul is doing. The epistle then concludes with a prayer
for peace to the brethren, love with faith, and grace for all who love
the Lord Jesus Christ in all sincerity (21-24).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. A CALL TO WALK IN FAMILIAL HARMONY (1-9)
 
 A. DUTIES OF CHILDREN (1-3)
 1. To obey their parents in the Lord (1)
 2. To honor their father and mother, the first commandment with
 promise (2)
 3. That they may enjoy the promise of the commandment (3)
 a. To do well
 b. To live long on the earth
 
 B. DUTIES OF FATHERS (4)
 1. Do not provoke their children to wrath (4a)
 2. Bring their children up in the training and admonition of the
 Lord (4b)
 
 C. DUTIES OF SERVANTS (5-8)
 1. Be obedient to their masters according to the flesh (5-6a)
 a. With fear and trembling
 b. In sincerity of heart, as to Christ
 c. Not with eyeservice, pleasing only men, but as servants of
 Christ
 2. Do the will of God from the heart (6b-8)
 a. Doing service with good will
 b. Serving as to the Lord, and not to men
 c. Knowing that whoever does good receives the same from the
 Lord
 
 D. DUTIES OF MASTERS (9)
 1. Treat their servants in the same way (9a)
 2. Do not threaten their servants (9b)
 a. For their own Master is in heaven
 b. And there is no partiality with Him
 
II. A CALL TO WALK IN VICTORY (10-20)
 
 A. STAND STRONG IN THE POWER OF THE LORD (10-13)
 1. A call to stand strong in the Lord, in the power of His might
 (10)
 2. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the
 wiles of the devil (11)
 3. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against...
 (12)
 a. Principalities and powers
 b. The rulers of the darkness of this age
 c. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places
 4. Therefore take up the whole armor of God (13)
 a. That you may be able to withstand in the evil day
 b. Having done all, to stand fast
 
 B. EQUIPPED WITH THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD (14-20)
 1. Therefore stand fast with the armor of God, which includes...
 (14-17)
 a. Your waist girded with truth
 b. The breastplate of righteousness
 c. Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
 d. The shield of faith above all, to quench the fiery darts of
 the wicked one
 e. The helmet of salvation
 f. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
 2. Praying always, being watchful (18-20)
 a. Praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit
 b. Being watchful with all perseverance and supplication for
 all the saints
 c. Praying for Paul
 1) That utterance may be given to him
  2) That he might speak boldly, as he ought to speak
 a) To make known the mystery of the gospel
 b) For which he is an ambassador in chains
 
III. CONCLUSION (21-24)
 
 A. TYCHICUS AND HIS REPORT (21-22)
 1. Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord,
 will let them know how Paul is doing (21)
 2. He has been sent to comfort their hearts (22)
 
 B. PARTING WORDS OF PEACE, LOVE, AND GRACE (23-24)
 1. Peace to the brethren (23a)
 2. Love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus (23b)
 3. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus in sincerity (24)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - A call to walk in familial harmony (1-9)
 - A call to walk in victory (10-20)
 - Conclusion (21-24)
 
2) What responsibilities do children have toward their parents? (1-2)
 - Obey their parents in the Lord
 - Honor their father and mother
 
3) What promise comes with the commandment to honor one's parents? (3)
 - "That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth"
 
4) What responsibilities does a father have toward his children? (4)
 - Not to provoke them to wrath
 - Bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord
 
5) In what way are servants to be obedient to their masters? (5-7)
 - With fear and trembling
 - In sincerity of heart, as to Christ
 - Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers
 - As servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart
 - Serving with good will, as to the Lord and not to men
 
6) What should motivate a servant to this kind of service? (8)
 - Knowing that what good one does will bring about the same from the
 Lord
 
7) How were masters to treat their servants? (9)
 - In the same way servants were to serve their masters
 - Without threatening
 
8) What ought to motivate masters to treat their servants kindly? (9)
 - Knowing that their Master is in heaven, and He shows no partiality
 
9) In what are Christians to be strong? (10)
 - In the Lord and in the power of His might
 
10) How can we stand against the wiles of the devil? (11)
 - By putting on the whole armor of God
 
11) Against what do we wrestle, if not against flesh and blood? (12)
 - Principalities and powers
 - The rulers of the darkness of this age
 - Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places
 
12) What benefit is there to take up whole armor of God? (13)
 - May be able to withstand in the evil day
 - Having done all, to stand
 
13) List the armor of God as described in verses 14-17
 - Waist girded with truth
 - Breastplate of righteousness
 - Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace
 - Shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one
 - Helmet of salvation
  - The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
 
14) What else should we add to this armor? (18)
 - Praying always with watchfulness, with perseverance making 
 supplication for all the saints
 
15) For what did Paul ask that they pray for in his behalf? (19-20)
 - For boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel
 
16) How did he describe himself? (20)
 - An ambassador in chains
 
17) Who was going to tell them more about Paul's condition? (21-22)
 - Tychicus
 
18) How is this man described? (21)
 - A beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord
 
19) For what does Paul pray as he closes this epistle? (23-24)
 - Peace to the brethren, and love with faith
 - Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity
 
Displaying God's Wisdom In Our Families (5:22-6:9)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Up to this point Paul has been describing how we can "have a walk 
 worthy of the calling with which you were called" - Ep 4:1
 
2. We have seen that conduct "worthy of the calling" involves:
 a. Walking in unity - Ep 4:1-16
 b. Walking in truth and holiness - Ep 4:17-32
 c. Walking in love, walking as light and walking as wise - Ep 5:1-21
 
3. In what might appear at first to be an abrupt change of direction, 
 Paul begins to describe how various family members are to conduct 
 themselves - Ep 5:22-6:9
 a. The responsibilities of wives - Ep 5:22-24
 b. The responsibilities of husbands - Ep 5:25-33
 c. The responsibilities of children - Ep 6:1-3
 d. The responsibilities of fathers - Ep 6:4
 e. The responsibilities of servants - Ep 6:5-8
 f. The responsibilities of masters - Ep 6:9
 
4. But the subject matter is really not so abrupt as it may appear, for 
 Paul mentioned earlier...
 a. How the church is to "make known the manifold wisdom of God" 
 - Ep 3:10
 b. How we are to walk in "wisdom" - Ep 5:15-17
 ...and it is through family relationships that we can often do this 
 more successfully than in any other way!
 
5. How can this be? Well, it is through our families that we interact 
 so much with the society in which we live...
 a. Through marriage we immediately come into contact with another 
 family (our "in-laws")
 b. Through children we develop relationships with those in their 
 schools, their neighborhood, etc.
 
6. Thus it is through our families we have great potential to 
 demonstrate the wisdom of God...
 a. The same principles that underlie the gospel message (submission,
 love, sacrifice, obedience, honesty, fairness) are to be displayed
 in our family relationships
 b. By example, then, we can demonstrate in our families what is truly
 good and right (i.e., God's will), and prepare others to be 
 receptive to the gospel message!
 
[Thus Paul is not abruptly changing direction, but continues to talk 
about those sort of things which are crucial to having a "walk worthy of
the calling with which you were called".
 
Consider, then, how those who "walk worthy" conduct themselves in 
regards to...]
 
I. MARITAL RESPONSIBILITIES (5:22-33)
 
 A. THE DUTY OF WIVES... (22-24)
 1. They are to submit to their husbands in everything...
 a. Just as they are to submit to the Lord ("as to the Lord")
 b. Just as the church is subject to Christ
 2. The reason: the husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is
 head of the church
 a. Any time you have organization that is functional, you must 
 have some chain of authority
 b. In the family, it is God's Will that the husband be the head
 of the wife, and that parents be over their children
 3. Here is an opportunity for wives to demonstrate the wisdom and 
 value of an important principle in God's will: that of 
 submission!
 a. Jesus taught by both word and example of the importance of 
 submission - cf. Jn 13:12-17; Mk 10:42-45
 b. Indeed we all are to submit in one way or another - Ja 4:7;
 Ep 5:21
 c. Through their submission, wives prove that God's will is 
 best in such matters!
 
 B. THE DUTY OF HUSBANDS... (25-30)
 1. They are to love their wives... 
 a. Just as Christ loved the church, i.e., with a sacrificial 
 love designed to bless and benefit their wives
 b. Just as they love their own bodies, i.e., with a love that 
 nourishes and cherishes their wives
 2. Just as the wives have the opportunity to demonstrate God's 
 wisdom concerning submission, so husbands are given the 
 opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love...
 a. As the head over His church, Jesus rules as a "benevolent 
 monarch"
 b. Some think such a concept as "benevolent monarch" is 
 impossible (as per the saying, "Power corrupts, absolute 
 power corrupts absolutely")
 c. But when a husband exercises his authority as head of the 
 family with the kind of love Jesus displays while ruling 
 over His church, they demonstrate not only the possibility, 
 but the wisdom of a benevolent monarchy!
 
[Indeed, the "marriage" between a man and a woman can reflect the 
relationship that exists between Christ and the church (31-32). But 
this can happen only if...
 
 1) A husband exercises his authority with love (33a)
 
 2) A wife submits to her husband with respect (33b).
 
Just as there are "marital responsibilities", so there are...]
 
II. FAMILIAL RESPONSIBILITIES (6:1-9)
 
 A. THE DUTY OF CHILDREN... (1-3)
 1. Children are to obey their parents in a way that honors them
 2. There are certainly temporal benefits for such obedience ("that
 it may be well with you...")
 3. But there are also spiritual repercussions - cf. Co 3:20
 ("for this is well pleasing to the Lord")
 4. And by their example, children can show the value of obedience 
 to the commands of God
 
 B. THE DUTY OF FATHERS... (4)
 1. Fathers are charged both negatively and positively..
 a. DON'T provoke children to wrath (i.e., discipline without 
 love)
 b. DO bring them up in the "training and admonition" of the 
 Lord (i.e., discipline tempered with love)
 2. In the world, people usually fall into two extremes of child-
 raising:
 a. Discipline without love (child abuse)
 b. Love without discipline (permissiveness)
 3. But when fathers properly administer both love and discipline, 
 by example they show how God raises His own children in the 
 family of God - cf. He 12:5-11
 
 C. THE DUTY OF SERVANTS... (5-8)
 1. In the First Century A.D., servants were an intricate part of 
 many households, which may explain Paul including instructions
 to them and masters in this and parallel passages - cf. Co 3:
 18-4:1
 2. Christians who were servants were expected to exemplify the 
 proper kind of obedience required of all Christians...
 a. Obedience with fear and trembling - cf. Ph 2:10
  b. Obedience in sincerity of heart, as to Christ Himself
 c. Obedience with good will, as to the Lord 
 d. Obedience with an understanding that the Lord is an 
 impartial Judge
 3. In this way even slaves could demonstrate by example what true
 obedience was according to the Will of God
 
 D. THE DUTY OF MASTERS... (9)
 1. Those Christians who had slaves (like Philemon) were charged to
 treat their servants in very special ways:
 a. "do the same things to them", i.e., their treatment of 
 slaves should be governed by the same sort of principles 
 given to the servants...
 1) "with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to 
 Christ"
  2) "not with eyeservice...but as servants of Christ, doing 
 the will of God from the heart"
 3) "with good will...as to the Lord, and not to men"
 4) "knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive
  the same from the Lord..."
 b. In particular, Christian slave-owners were to give up 
 threatening and to remember that God shows no respect of 
 persons
 2. By their example, masters could demonstrate the proper exercise
 of authority, and reveal much about how our Master in heaven 
 rules over us in the kingdom of God!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. How we conduct ourselves in our marriage and family relationships can
 greatly effect our efforts to make known "the manifold wisdom of 
 God"...
 a. Marriages and families that are "dysfunctional" serve only to 
 belie the claims we make about the gospel and its power to 
 transform lives
 b. Whereas marriages and families based upon the teachings of God's 
 Word can speak volumes as to the value of principles inherent in 
 the gospel; such principles as:
 1) Submitting to God and others in authority
 2) Exercising authority with sacrificial love
 3) Obeying those placed over us by God
 4) Developing others through training and admonition, not 
 intimidation
 5) Rendering service that is sincere, not hypocritical
 6) Exercising authority with justice and fairness
 
2. So as we endeavor to "walk worthy of the calling" that we have in 
 Christ, let's not overlook those areas where it is most imperative to
 have a "worthy walk": in our marriages and families!

Standing Strong In The Armor Of God (6:10-24)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. "Finally, my brethren..." - With these words Paul begins to draw his 
 epistle to a close, an epistle in which he has beautifully described:
 a. The Christian's possessions in Christ ("every spiritual blessing")
 - chapter 1
 b. The Christian's position in Christ ("fellow citizens with the 
 saints and members of the household of God") - chapters 2-3
 c. The Christian's purpose in Christ ("to have a walk worthy of the 
 calling") - chapters 4-6
 
2. To effectively carry out our "purpose", Paul's final concern is that
 the Christian be "strong" - Ep 6:10-20
 
3. In this lesson, the last of this series on Ephesians, we shall 
 consider what Paul has to say about "Standing Strong In The Armor Of
 God"
 
[We begin by noticing...]
 
I. THE SOURCE OF THIS STRENGTH (10-11a)
 
 A. THIS STRENGTH COMES FROM THE LORD, NOT OURSELVES...
 1. Note that Paul says...
 a. "be strong IN THE LORD"
 b. "in the power OF HIS MIGHT"
 2. Thus Paul states that there is "strength" and "power" available
 for the Christian beyond their own!
 a. Which Paul already referred to earlier in this epistle - cf.
 Ep 1:19; 3:16,20
 b. Which Paul refers to in his epistle to the Philippians - cf.
 Ph 2:12-13; 4:13
 
 B. THIS STRENGTH COMES FROM "THE ARMOR OF GOD"...
 1. It is "armor" that GOD supplies
 2. It is "armor" that we must "put on", i.e., it is not something
 we have in of ourselves
 
[The point is, we are not left to our own feeble strength, but there is 
"divine strength" that we can "put on" to protect us in the "battles" we
must face.
 
Speaking of "battles", we next consider...]
 
II. THE NEED FOR THIS STRENGTH (11b-13)
 
 A. TO STAND AGAINST THE WILES OF THE DEVIL...
 1. Satan has various "wiles" (lit., cunning arts, deceit, craft,
 trickery), but Christians need not be ignorant of his "devices"
 - cf. 2 Co 2:11
 2. For example, some of Satan's "schemes" are:
 a. Blinding people via false doctrine - 2 Co 4:3-4; 1 Ti 4:1-3
 b. Enticing people to indulge in illicit desires of the flesh 
 and mind - Ep 2:1-3
 c. Bringing persecution upon those who try to do right - 1 Pe
 5:8-9
 3. Only with the Lord's help can we overcome the wicked one - 
 2 Th 3:3; 1 Jn 2:13-14 (note the comments to "young men")
 
 B. TO WRESTLE AGAINST "SPIRITUAL HOSTS OF WICKEDNESS"...
 1. Not only Satan, but we battle against:
 a. Principalities and powers
 b. Rulers of the darkness of this age
 c. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places
 2. I.e., there are demonic forces at play
 a. While I do not believe demonic "possession" exists today as
 it did in the days of Christ...
 b. ...there are certainly demonic "influences", such as 
 "doctrines of demons" - 1 Ti 4:1-3
 
[We may not fully understand how the "rulers of the darkness" operate,
but clearly we see the need for all the strength God provides us in 
order to "stand" against such forces.
 
What is the strength God provides? As we continue in our text, Paul 
explains...]
 
III. THE NATURE OF THIS STRENGTH (14-20)
 
 A. IT IS THE "WHOLE" ARMOR OF GOD...
 1. Note verses 11 and 13
 2. To be able to...
 a. "stand against the wiles of the devil"
 b. "withstand in the evil day"
 ...we need, not part, but the WHOLE armor God provides the 
 Christian!
 3. I.e., EVERY element Paul now describes is essential to be 
 "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"
 
 B. THE "WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD" INVOLVES...
 1. TRUTH, which serves like a belt
 a. It will hold our life together with a sense of direction and
 purpose
 b. Truth can free us from sin, which can easily 'beset' us - 
 cf. Jn 8:32-34; He 12:1
 2. RIGHTEOUSNESS, which guards like a breastplate
 a. Doing that which is good and right will guard our hearts 
 (emotions)
 b. Otherwise, ungodly living brings on emotional guilt as well 
 as judicial guilt
 c. Paul may also have reference to the "righteousness of 
 Christ", that "justification" found only in Him that 
 protects us from the accusations of Satan - cf. Ph 3:9
 3. THE GOSPEL OF PEACE, which is crucial to our ability to "stand"
 a. The gospel is God's power unto salvation - Ro 1:16-17
 b. Armed with the gospel, we can have "beautiful feet" that
 enables us to take the glad tidings to others - Ro 10:15
 4. FAITH, which is like a shield
 a. A strong conviction in God can protect us from every "fiery
 dart" that Satan can throw at us (false doctrine, lusts of
 the flesh, persecution)
 b. This faith comes only from the Word of God - Ro 10:17
 5. SALVATION, which is like a helmet
 a. In 1 Th 5:8, Paul speaks of the "hope of salvation" as our
 helmet
 b. Thus it is the "hope" that salvation provides that can 
 protect our minds against things like despair and fear
 6. THE WORD OF GOD, which is the "sword of the Spirit"
 a. Here is the "offensive" weapon that Christians must use in 
 their battles, and it is a powerful one! - He 4:12
 b. With this "sword" it is possible for the Spirit to "cut to 
 the heart" those who hear the Word - cf. Ac 2:36-37; 7:54
 7. PRAYER, the means by which we remain "watchful"
 a. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus taught that we must 
 "watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation" - Mt 26:41
 b. The sort of "watchful prayer" that is effective, is one that
 is with...
 1) "all perseverance" - as Jesus taught in His parable of 
 the persistent widow - Lk 18:1-8
 2) "supplication for the saints" - especially those with 
 special needs, even as Paul asked the Ephesians to pray 
 for him - Ep 6:19-20
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. When we arm ourselves with such qualities as...
 a. Truth
 b. Righteousness
 c. The gospel
 d. Faith
 e. The hope of salvation
 f. The word of God
 g. Prayer
 ...then we are "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might"! 
 - Ep 6:10
 
2. With such strength, we are able to resist and stand firm against 
 anything Satan might throw against us
 a. But the choice to "put on the whole armor of God" is up to us...
 b. ...are we taking care to adorn ourselves with this wonderful 
 armor???
 
3. In verses 21-24, Paul concludes this wonderful epistle...
 a. With a comment concerning Tychicus, who will bring the brethren 
 up to date about Paul's circumstances - Ep 6:21-22
 b. With a closing benediction, one that I will use to close this 
 series of lessons as well:
 
 "Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father
 and the Lord Jesus Christ."
 
 "Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in all
  sincerity. Amen"
 - Ep 6:23-24

－－《Executable Outlines》