Ephesians 6:5

 

Ephesians 6:5

Slaves are to Make the Best of Difficult Circumstances

Eph 6:5  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;   

            1.     Slaves

a.      Does the Bible condone slavery?

                                               i.     In the times of the NT, slavery was a universally accepted practice, almost all the people Paul mentions in his letter to Rome were slaves.

1.     Romans 16:8-10 

                                             ii.     Yet this was not God’s plan for his people; in the OT we find strict prohibitions hindering the practice of slavery.

1.     The Jews were to harbor escaped slaves - Deuteronomy 23:15-16 

2.     Manstealing was a capital offence - Exodus 21:16 

3.     All men are created in the likeness of God and are therefore equal

a.      Genesis 1:26-27 

4.     Love is the summary of the OT law - Romans 13:10 

5.     Paul specifically condemns the practice of manstealing in his list of particularly heinous violations of God’s law.

a.      1 Timothy 1:7-11 

           2.     Should be Obedient to their Masters - 1 Peter 2:13-18 

a.      Yet masters must remember they will have to answer to their own Master for the treatment of their slaves

                                               i.     Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1 

           3.     According to the Flesh

a.      This provision is unique among Paul’s imperatives regarding submission; it makes it clear that a master may have temporary control over the body of his slave but has no control over his conscience.

                                               i.     Philemon 1:15-18 

          4.     With Fear and Trembling - Titus 2:9-10 

          5.     With a Sincere Heart - Colossians 3:22 

          6.     As Unto Christ

a.      The golden rule makes no allowance for slavery - Matthew 7:12 

b.     Every Christian has been bought with a price - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

c.      This includes the slave

                                               i.     1 Corinthians 7:20-24; Galatians 3:28 

d.     What was the price? - Ephesians 1:7 

Ephesians 6:4

 

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers are to Raise Up Godly Children

Eph 6:4  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

          1.     Fathers are to:

a.      Why is Paul primarily directing this instruction to the fathers?

                                               i.     Because God is the ultimate example of a Father - Romans 8:14-17 

                                             ii.     Not because mothers are not to be involved

1.     Proverbs 1:8; Proverbs 6:20; 2 Timothy 1:5 

                                            iii.     Because fathers are to be the head of the home - Ephesians 5:23 

b.     Not provoke their children

                                               i.     Fathers must never abuse their children physically, emotionally or spiritually

c.      Nurture their children

                                               i.     Fathers need to be caring for the physical wellbeing of their children

1.     Ephesians 5:29 

                                             ii.     Fathers need to have compassion on their children’s weaknesses

1.     Psalm 103:13-14 

                                            iii.     Fathers need to give generously - Matthew 7:7-11 

d.     Instruct their children

                                               i.     Fathers are primarily responsible for the education of their children

1.     Proverbs 22:6 

                                             ii.     Fathers are to teach their children the scriptures

1.     2 Timothy 3:15-16 

e.      Discipline their children

                                               i.     Fathers are to discipline their children because they love their children

1.     Hebrews 12:6 

                                             ii.     Fathers are to discipline their children quickly - Proverbs 13:24 

                                            iii.     Fathers are to discipline only their own children - Hebrews 12:7-8 

                                            iv.     Fathers are to discipline their children for their benefit - Hebrews 12:9-10 

                                              v.     Fathers are to discipline their children so that they produce peaceable fruits of righteousness

1.     Hebrews 12:11 

f.      In the Lord

                                               i.     Good parents have Jesus living within them - Ephesians 3:17 

                                             ii.     Good parents are renewing their minds regularly - Ephesians 4:23-24 

                                            iii.     Good parents are filled with the fruits of the Holy Spirit

1.     Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22-23 

 

Slavery: Does the Bible Endorse It? | Doug Wilson

Does the Bible condemn slavery?