Matthew Henry Commentary Ephesians 6

The great duty of children is to obey their parents. This obedience includes inward reverence as well as outward actions, and in every age, prosperity has accompanied those distinguished for their obedience to parents.

Regarding the duty of parents: Do not be impatient or use unreasonable severities. Deal prudently and wisely with children; convince their judgment and appeal to their reason. Raise them well, with proper and compassionate correction, and in the knowledge of the duty God requires.

This duty is often neglected, even among those who profess the gospel. Many parents turn their children against religion; however, this does not excuse the children's disobedience, though it may tragically cause it. God alone can change the heart, yet he gives his blessing to the good lessons and examples of parents and answers their prayers.

But those whose primary concern is that their children become rich and accomplished, regardless of what happens to their souls, must not expect the blessing of God.

The duty of servants is summed up in one word: obedience. Servants in ancient times were generally slaves. The apostles were to teach servants and masters their duties, and in doing so, evils would be lessened until slavery could be rooted out by the influence of Christianity. Servants are to reverence those over them. They are to be sincere, not pretending obedience when they intend to disobey, but serving faithfully.

They must serve their masters not only when their master's eye is upon them, but they must also be strict in carrying out their duty when he is absent. A steadfast commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ will make people faithful and sincere in every position, not serving grudgingly or under compulsion, but from a principle of love for their masters and their masters' interests. This makes service easy for them, pleasing to their masters, and acceptable to the Lord Christ. God will reward even the most humble labor done from a sense of duty and with the aim of glorifying Him.

Here is the duty of masters: Act in the same way. Be just to your servants, as you expect them to be to you. Show similar goodwill and concern for them, and be careful in this to conduct yourselves in a way that is pleasing to God. Do not be tyrannical or overbearing. You have a Master to obey, and in relation to Christ Jesus, both you and they are only fellow servants.

If masters and servants would consider their duties to God, and the account they must soon give to Him, they would be more mindful of their duties to each other. In this way, families would be more orderly and happy.

Spiritual strength and courage are needed for our spiritual warfare and suffering. Those who wish to prove they have true grace must aim at all grace and put on the whole armor of God, which He prepares and bestows. The Christian armor is made to be worn, and there is no putting off our armor until we have finished our warfare and completed our course. The combat is not against human enemies, nor against our own corrupt nature only; we have to deal with an enemy who has a thousand ways of deceiving unstable souls.

The devils assault us in the things that belong to our souls and labor to deface the heavenly image in our hearts. We must resolve by God's grace not to yield to Satan. Resist him, and he will flee. If we give way, he will gain ground.

If we distrust our cause, our Leader, or our armor, we give him an advantage. The different parts of the armor of heavy-armed soldiers, who had to sustain the fiercest assaults of the enemy, are described here. There is none for the back; nothing to defend those who turn back in the Christian warfare. Truth, or sincerity, is the belt.

This belt secures all the other pieces of our armor and is mentioned first. There can be no religion without sincerity. The righteousness of Christ, imputed to us, is a breastplate against the arrows of divine wrath. The righteousness of Christ implanted in us fortifies the heart against the attacks of Satan. Resolution must be as greaves, or armor for our legs; and to stand their ground or to march forward in rugged paths, the feet must be shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Motives for obedience, amid trials, must be drawn from a clear knowledge of the gospel. Faith is all in all in an hour of temptation. Faith, as relying on unseen objects, receiving Christ and the benefits of redemption, and so deriving grace from Him, is like a shield, a defense in every way. The devil is the wicked one.

Violent temptations, by which the soul is set on fire by hell, are darts Satan shoots at us. These also include hard thoughts of God and about ourselves. Faith, applying the word of God and the grace of Christ, quenches the darts of temptation. Salvation must be our helmet. A good hope of salvation, a scriptural expectation of victory, will purify the soul and keep it from being defiled by Satan.

To the Christian armed for defense in battle, the apostle recommends only one weapon of attack, but it is enough: the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. It subdues and mortifies evil desires and blasphemous thoughts as they arise within, and answers unbelief and error as they assault from without. A single text, well understood and rightly applied, at once destroys a temptation or an objection and subdues the most formidable adversary.

Prayer must fasten all the other parts of our Christian armor. There are other duties of religion and of our stations in the world, but we must maintain times of prayer. Though formal and solemn prayer may not be appropriate when other duties are to be done, yet short, pious prayers, darted out, are always so. We must cultivate holy thoughts in our ordinary course of life.

A vain heart will be vain in prayer. We must pray with all kinds of prayer: public, private, and secret; social and solitary; solemn and spontaneous; with all the parts of prayer: confession of sin, petition for mercy, and thanksgiving for favors received. And we must do it by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, in dependence on and according to His teaching. We must persevere in particular requests, despite discouragements.

We must pray not only for ourselves but for all saints. Our enemies are mighty, and we are without strength, but our Redeemer is almighty, and in the power of His might we may overcome. Therefore, we must stir ourselves up. Have we not, when God has called, often neglected to answer? Let us reflect on these things and continue our prayers with patience. (Ephesians 6:19–24)

The gospel was a mystery until it was made known by divine revelation, and it is the work of Christ's ministers to declare it. The best and most eminent ministers need the prayers of believers. Those who are exposed to great hardships and perils in their work should particularly be prayed for.

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith. By "peace," understand all kinds of peace: peace with God, peace of conscience, and peace among themselves. And the grace of the Spirit, producing faith and love, and every grace. He desires these for those in whom they have already begun.

And all grace and blessings come to the saints from God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace—that is, the favor of God, and all good, spiritual and temporal, which comes from it—is and will be with all those who, in this way, love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and with them alone.