Ephesians 6
RoseEphesians 6:1-24
Teacher’ s Notes for Chapter SIX 1. What do we normally expect when a young couple marry? Having children. Starting a family. a. Chapter five ended speaking of the husband/wife relationship; Paul then goes directly into addressing the first century family unit, including families who owned bondservants, or slaves. This was all a common or “ normal” part of their society and God’s instructions are given to every member of a house-hold, because, as Paul said in another place. “ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, (KJV says bond or free), - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). 2. What is the first commandment with promise? (Verse 2). “ Honor your father and mother.” (cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16). 3. What reason is given for children to obey their parents? (Verse 1). “ For this is right.” 4. Compare verse 3 with Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:15-17 and Leviticus 20:9, and tell why honoring parents would make for a longer life. Under the Old Testament law if a child cursed his parents he was to be put to death. Life would be shortened. a. Jesus quoted these passages when addressing the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew 15:1-39. “ Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? … For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mothers; and, He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death… But you say, whoever says to his father or mother, whatever prophet you might have received from me is a gift to God- … then he need not honor his father or mother Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (Matthew 15:3-6 NKJV). b. Jesus here indicates that had they kept the law as God had given it, they would have been put to death for dishonoring their parents. Thus, in our text Paul speaks to children saying, “ Keep God’s law of honoring parents in order to avoid the punishment of the crime.” 5. What does it mean to bring children up in the nurture (KJV) and admonition of the Lord? (Verse 4). It means to teach and train them in the teaching of the Bible. a. Although each person must ultimately choose for himself or herself whether to live for God or rebel and reject His divine will, Proverbs 22:6 is a good rule to go by: “ Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” b. Our text speaks directly to the fathers in training children in religion. This is God’s design, that the husband be the religious leader of the family. Unfortunately, many fathers have relinquished that role and society has suffered as a result. Where the father refuses and neglects this role how are children to learn? i. I sometimes play the “ what if” game as I study. This I do in answering this question. What if Lois and Eunice had not taught Timothy when he was a child? Whose spiritual son would he have be-come? (2 Timothy 1:2 and 5). ii. In 2 Timothy 3:13-15 Paul told Timothy, “ But evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived … But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,… and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” iii. Timothy’s father as a Greek (Acts 16:1) apparently did not teach his son about God, but his mother and grandmother brought him up “in the training and admonition of the Lord.” So, what if Lois and Eunice had not taught Timothy? He might well have gone the way of many boys who follow their ungodly fathers into sinful ways, and miss the opportunity of becoming acquainted with and working with the great apostle Paul. Whose spiritual son would he have been? Go back and review the two spiritual families we spoke of in chapter three. 6. How might 21st century Christians relate to verse 5? Perhaps the employer/employee relationship would best be our comparison. How one should act towards those for whom they work or hire to work. 7. What does Paul say “ eye service is?” (Verse 6-7). Men-pleasers. Doing service to please men rather than serving God. a. Again, I think of employer/employee relations. I remember when I was in public work there would be certain individuals who would do little until they thought the boss was looking, then no one would do more than they. “ eye service,” “ Men pleasers” they were. Hardly the type example Paul says one should set. i. I also remember one “ employer” for whom I worked, Kirby Hudson owned a tire and recap shop which employed eight me. But there was usually nine men working very hard in that shop because Kirby did as much as any man there. Customers would sometimes come in and wouldn’t know the employer from one of the employees. ii. Contrast that to the man who purchased the shop when Kirby retired. This man seldom came into the work area for fear of getting his suit dirty. He said he was the “ boss” and he hired others to do the dirty work. Which of those two best resembles that “ master” spoken of by Paul? 8. What reward does one receive for doing good? (Verse 8.) Whatever good one does he will receive good from the Lord. a. Paul, no doubt, is speaking of those who have obeyed the gospel and do those good works for which one is created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). “ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” 9. What parable of Jesus resembles or relates to verses 8 and 9? I think of the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). a. The parable speaks of those who were hired at different times of the day, representing those who obey the gospel at different times of life. Some obey at an early hour (age), other later in life. The important thing to notice is that each went at the first opportunity (Matthew 20:7); and that at the end all who have obeyed the Master will receive the same reward (Matthew 20:8-10). b. Thus Paul teaches that regardless of the position one may have in society, God does not regard one above the other and each will receive from the Lord that which is good and right. 10. How can one be strong in the power of the Lord’s might today? (Verse 10). By keeping His commandments found in His Word and using His Word as the rule of life. 11. For what is an armor used in battle? For protection primarily. To stand and defend against the enemy. Parts of the armor may also be used as a weapon. 12. Name the different parts of the spiritual armor. (1) Girdle about the waist; (2) Shoes; (3) shield; (4) helmet; (5) sword. 13. If not against flesh and blood, what then is our warfare against? (Verse 12). Principalities; power; rulers of the darkness of this age. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 14. Who are the spiritual hosts of wickedness? Satan and his workmen. a. If we are correct in chapter one verse three that the heavenly places wherein are found all spiritual blessings are the church in the New Testament and the Israelite or Jewish nation in the Old testament, then the spiritual hosts of wickedness must in some way represent false teachers in religion who draw souls away from God (cf. Acts 20:28-31). b. May we never forget that “ …Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light … Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness. Whose end will be according to their works”(2 Corinthians 11:14-15).
Let us now look at each piece of the armor. You will notice that each item in the armor relates directly to God’ s Word. 15. What is truth? (Verse 14). It is the word of God. a. This is the question asked of Jesus by Pilate in John 18:38. Our Lord answers it in His prayer recorded in John 17:17; “ Thy Word is truth” He said to the Father. b. Girding our waist or loins with truth must be to surround ourselves with God’s word. 16. What is righteousness, and how does it relate to the Bible? (Verse 14). In Acts 10:34-35 Peter said “ in truth I perceive that God shows no partiality … But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.”a. After baptism, God expects His child to do those righteous works. One must have a living, working faith Willing to do God’s will no matter what the sacrifice (James 2:24-26).
If our faith is going to be alive, our lives must be filled with those good works. How, then, do we acquire this faith that works righteousness? “ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). That cannot be over emphasized! Thus the Bible, which is the word of God becomes our breastplate of righteousness. 17. What is the gospel of peace? (Verse 15). It is the message delivered telling of the death (sacrifice); burial (Christ going into Satan’s domain) and resurrection (the ultimate victory) of Jesus Christ. a. It is “ the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16). i. It is so sacred that God’s curse is passed upon all who would preach differently (Galatians 1:6-9). ii. This message is found in only one place, the Bible! To reject it is to reject Christ Himself. iii. Having “ feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” simply means to “ grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18). Knowledge found in Bible study. 18. In armor what part does a shield play? (Verse 16). It is a tool used for defending against the arrows or darts of the enemy. 19. From what source does one obtain the shield of faith? Once again, “ faith comes from hearing the word of God” (Romans 10:17). a. A great example of people using this spiritual shield of faith is found in Acts 17:11. The Bereans “ received the word with all readiness…” (They received their armor), “ and searched the scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” They used the shield of faith to defend against the darts of doubt and unbelief when they were told about Jesus death, burial and resurrection. 20. Why is a helmet important to a soldier? (Verse17). It protects the most vital part of the body. The head, brain, intellect. 21. From where does one obtain the helmet of salvation? The same as all the other parts of the spiritual armor, through study of God’s Devine and inspired Word. 22. What offensive weapon is found in this spiritual armor? (Verse 17). The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. a. Ultimately the only protection one has against Satan is to seek a place of refuge, and the only refuge is in Christ Jesus. When one obeys the gospel and is baptized into Christ (Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27) he/she becomes a soldier in the army of the Lord Jesus Christ. As soldiers of the cross we must dress for spiritual warfare. i. Jesus, as our Captain, demonstrated to us the proper use of the spiritual armor when temped in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Each time Satan shot a dart His way He simply raised the shield of faith and wielded the Spirit’ s sword, the Word of God stating, “ It is written!” ii. We, too, must “ be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (and) put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” iii. Again, every single item in this Holy armor is directly related to the Holy Bible and our knowledge of it. 23. For whom should we especially pray? (Verse 18). For all saints. 24. For what specifically did Paul request prayer? (Verse 19). That he would be given courage to continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel of Christ. If the venerable apostle Paul felt the need for the prayers of his brothers and sisters in Christ, who am I that I should feel so mighty and strong in the word of God that I should not need the prayers of my brethren? There is power in prayer!!! 25. What would Tychicus make known to the Ephesians? (Verse 21) All of Paul’s affairs and how he was doing.