Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 6:1

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right." — Ephesians 6:1 (ASV)

Paul addresses “children” directly, taking it for granted that they will be present in the congregations where the letter is being read. They belong to the total Christian family, the church. As in the previous paragraph on wives (5:22), the less-privileged and subordinate group in society of that time is given priority of treatment (cf. also slaves in vv.5–9). Social distinctions, rigidly observed in the Roman empire and even in Judaism, are transformed by the gospel so that those previously dispossessed acquire new rights.

Obedience by children consists in listening to the advice given by parents, an obligation supported by many passages in both OT and NT. In Col 3:20, Paul adds that this obedience is to be comprehensive in its scope. Isaac’s willingness to be offered as a sacrifice is a model of such submission. Disobedience to parents is a symptom of a disintegrating social structure (cf. 2 Timothy 3:2), and Christian families have a responsibility not to contribute to the collapse of an ordered community. Both parents are mentioned, though in v.4 only fathers are given instructions as to reciprocal behavior. As head of the family, the husband acts representatively for his wife (as mother) as well as on his own behalf.

All this is “in the Lord,” as are the other relationships (cf. 5:21–22; 6:5–9).

Children are invited not simply to copy the example of Jesus when he was subject to his parents , but to realize that both they and their parents are under the authority of the living Christ. This is said to be the “right” thing for them to do, for such obedience “pleases the Lord” (Colossians 3:20). Obedience to parents is part of the divine law. Children need to recognize that some things have to be accepted even though at the time they themselves cannot understand them.