“The Family Walk” Paul focuses on how children are to walk as members of the family. Remember Christ set before our eyes the beauty of submission. We saw in Jesus the incredible glory of self-sacrifice in John 12:12-26. Paul teaches us in theses 4 verses how submission works with children and their fathers. Paul begins at verse 1 with “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” (Eph. 6:1).
First, let me point out why this lesson is universally important to all of us—and the reason is that for certain we all are children—we all have or had parents. Secondly, as mentioned in our last lesson, this too is clear evidence that God cares a lot about what goes on in our homes. This first verse plainly teaches all children in order to walk worth of your calling you must obey your parents.
Honor Your Father and Mother – “2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”” (Eph. 6:2-3). To honor comes from the word, [τιμάω] which means to have in honor, to revere, to respect and to value. Remember in our lesson from John 12, how Jesus submitted to the will of His Father by doing everything that the Father commanded. In John 12:26 we read Jesus’ words, “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” When we honor our parents by obeying them, we are a reflection of Christ. That’s the number one way you can honor your parents, by your obedience.
Fathers, Do Not Provoke Your Children to Wrath – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4). It is important to notice and consider why Paul speaking by inspiration directed this command not to parents, but to fathers. Remember who is the head of the household. Remember in Genesis that God called out Adam, not Eve for sinning. Bottom line, fathers are accountable for what happens in the family. In our society today there is an ongoing question in the world about “who should wear the pants in the family”, but in a godly household there exists no such question. God says, fathers “wear the pants”, and are responsible for everything in the family, particularly in raising the children. Fathers, children can test our patience, they know how to push our buttons, and how to test our authority. That makes is so easy to become angered when you children act wrongly. But, God says check your anger at the door when dealing with your children. God wants fathers to know, if I command your children to obey in everything—then you must not provoke the children to wrath.
Fathers—Bring Them Up in the Training and Admonition of the Lord – The NKJV rightly reads, “training” whereas some others have “discipline”. The word is [παιδείᾳ] and though it can include now reproof and punishment, the weight of the word is more verbally communicated: “the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions,)” (Thayer’s). Therefore, fathers verbally train and instruct children and get up off the couch and train and instruct by your example.