Ephesians6
World English Bible · Public Domain
1Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
3“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.”
4You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ,
6not 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,
7with good will doing service as to the Lord and not to men,
8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
9You 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.
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12For 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.
13Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace,
16above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;
18with 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.
19Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
20for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21But 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.
22I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.
23Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ephesians 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The duties of children and parents. (1–4). Of servants and masters. (5–9). All Christians are to put on spiritual armour against the enemies of their souls. (10–18). The apostle desires their prayers, and ends with his apostolic blessing. (19–24).
vv1-4
The great duty of children is, to obey their parents. That obedience includes inward reverence, as well as outward acts, and in every age prosperity has attended those distinguished for obedience to parents. The duty of parents. Be not impatient; use no unreasonable severities. Deal prudently and wisely with children; convince their judgements and work upon their reason. Bring them up well; under proper and compassionate correction; and in the knowledge of the duty God requires. Often is this duty neglected, even among professors of the gospel. Many set their children against religion; but this does not excuse the children's disobedience, though it may be awfully occasion it. God alone can change the heart, yet he gives his blessing to the good lessons and examples of parents, and answers their prayers. But those, whose chief anxiety is that their children should be rich and accomplished, whatever becomes of their souls, must not look for the blessing of God.
vv5-9
The duty of servants is summed up in one word, obedience. The servants of old were generally slaves. The apostles were to teach servants and masters their duties, in doing which evils would be lessened, till slavery should be rooted out by the influence of Christianity. Servants are to reverence those over them. They are to be sincere; not pretending obedience when they mean to disobey, but serving faithfully. And they must serve their masters not only when their master's eye is upon them; but must be strict in the discharge of their duty, when he is absent and out of the way. Steady regard to the Lord Jesus Christ will make men faithful and sincere in every station, not grudgingly or by constraint, but from a principle of love to the masters and their concerns. This makes service easy to them, pleasing to their masters, and acceptable to the Lord Christ. God will reward even the meanest drudgery done from a sense of duty, and with a view to glorify him. Here is the duty of masters. Act after the same manner. Be just to servants, as you expect they should be to you; show the like good-will and concern for them, and be careful herein to approve yourselves to God. Be not tyrannical and overbearing. You have a Master to obey, and you and they are but fellow-servants in respect to Christ Jesus. 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.
vv10-18
Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who would prove themselves to have true grace, must aim at all grace; and put on the whole armour of God, which he prepares and bestows. The Christian armour is made to be worn; and there is no putting off our armour till we have done our warfare, and finished our course. 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. The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls, and labour to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace, not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will get ground. If we distrust either our cause, or our Leader, or our armour, we give him advantage. The different parts of the armour of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are here described. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the girdle. This girds on all the other pieces of our armour, and is first mentioned. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of Divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us, fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armour to our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Motives to obedience, amidst trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from him, is like a shield, a defence every way. The devil is the wicked one. Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire of hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. Also, hard thoughts of God, and as to ourselves. Faith applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation. Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a Scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul, and keep it from being defiled by Satan. To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack; but it is enough, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they rise within; and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood, and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection, and subdues the most formidable adversary. Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armour. There are other duties of religion, and of our stations in the world, but we must keep up times of prayer. Though set and solemn prayer may not be seasonable when other duties are to be done, yet short pious prayers darted out, always are so. We must use holy thoughts in our ordinary course. A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer, public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and sudden: with all the parts of prayer; confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favours received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on, and according to, his teaching. We must preserve in particular requests, notwithstanding discouragements. We must pray, not for ourselves only, but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of his mighty we may overcome. Wherefore we must stir up ourselves. Have not we, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us think upon these things, and continue our prayers with patience. (Eph 6:19-24)
Key Words
τέκνον (téknon): a child (as produced)
ὑπακούω (hypakoúō): to hear under (as a subordinate), i.e. to listen attentively; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority
ὑμῶν (hymōn): of (from or concerning) you
γονεύς (goneús): a parent
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
κύριος (kýrios): supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
τοῦτο (toûto): that thing
ἐστί (estí): he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are
δίκαιος (díkaios): equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively)
Cross References
Ephesians 6Direct quotation of the fifth commandment, which is the first with a specific promise.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Exact verbal parallel regarding servants obeying earthly masters in singleness of heart and avoiding eyeservice.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Deuteronomic repetition of the fifth commandment, establishing the promise of long life.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Messianic background for the armor of God, specifically the breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct parallel mentioning Tychicus sent to declare the apostle's affairs and comfort hearts.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Direct parallel exhorting fathers not to provoke or discourage their children.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Parallel command for masters to treat servants justly, remembering their own Master in heaven.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Urges vigilance against the devil, who walks about as a roaring lion seeking prey.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel description of Christian armor, putting on the breastplate of faith and helmet of salvation.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the Word of God as the sharp, active sword of the Spirit.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel request for prayer that God would open a door of utterance for the mystery.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Verbal link showing Paul as an ambassador representing Christ, here specifically in bonds.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Affirms that God is no respecter of persons, whether master or bondservant.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Exhortation to let your loins be girded about, referencing readiness for spiritual duty.
Supported by Matthew Henry