“Instruction to Children and Fathers”

Chapter 6 of Ephesians continues with Paul’s “household code” which now focuses on children and then fathers. The call for children in Christian homes to obey their parents is grounded in the command of God found in the 10 commandments. Paul tells these children that “this is right.” We discuss the important topic of ethics grounded in duty (the command of God), not hoped for outcomes defined in terms of pleasure.

Christians must have an eternal perspective and obey the truth because what God has told us is the ground of Christian ethics. The secular world is interested only in the temporal, not the eternal. That it will be better for all when children obey their parents is the promise of God. But it is first grounded in duty: “it is right.” Honoring one’s parents means to esteem them and treat them with favor. When children dishonor their own parents, this is shameful and harmful.

We point out that the culture we live in does not share our biblical values and works to undermine them. The promise given with the 5^th commandment is not absolute because in some cases godly children die young and some who rebel and never treat their parents well live into old age. True justice is eternal. We deal with Psalm 73 that laments the relative prosperity of some who are wicked and how trusting God’s promise is the way out of resentment.

Fathers are to train their children, not provoke them. We also deal with Ezekiel 18 to warn against believing deterministic teachings. In many cases, righteous parents have children who go out and live wicked lives. The opposite is also addressed. Each person is responsible to God and must not blame God or others for what they do not like in life. God commands repentance. God also promises to give a new heart to those who call upon Him, trusting God alone. This sermon ends with an exhortation to call upon the Lord in faith.