“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth”
(Ephesians 6:1-3 NKJV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord

1. In the ancient world, fathers wielded absolute power over their family. A father could expose an unwanted child for no reason. He could keep the child to work as a slave. Some even rejected children because of a deformity or sickness.
2. Into this environment came a sacred change: the gospel turned calloused people into loving, caring, spiritual leaders who loved the weak, the needy, and especially helpless children.
3. What child would not forever appreciate the blessings that the gospel alone can bring? Imagine how thankful a child would be for the gospel that saves him from a life of slavery, or worse. He would gladly honor such parents (verses 1-2).
4. Verse 2 quotes Exodus 20:12, the fifth commandment. Children who obey their parents will be spared from a life of smoking, drinking, drug abuse, lawbreaking, etc. — things that tend to shorten life.
5. Parents who benefit from these God-given instructions will...
   1. learn to love their children in the Lord’s way. Genesis 22:2.
   2. discipline their children for their own good. Hebrews 12:4-11.
   3. train their children in the gospel. Ephesians 6:4.
   4. set a proper example for their children. Prov.20:7.
   5. encourage their children to pass these blessings to their children. 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:15.

Those who take these admonitions seriously will be thankful for the blessings that follow.

– Rick Duggin