Ephesians 6:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he does not converse about Christ or other lofty subjects, because the minds he addresses are still tender. Therefore he also makes the exhortation brief, since children cannot follow a long discourse.

For the same reason he says nothing about the Kingdom of God. It is not for such an age to hear about this. Instead, he speaks of what the childlike soul most and especially wants to hear, namely, that it will live long.

If someone inquires why the Apostle does not speak to children about the Kingdom, but offers a commandment from the law of Moses, we shall say that he did this because they are still very young.

See how briefly and with few words he speaks here, because children are not able to follow an extended discourse. Moreover, if the husband conforms to the laws he set forth above, little labor is needed to bring the children into obedience. He does not speak of the Kingdom or of anything exalted, but points to what a child’s soul especially desires to hear, because his word is addressed to children. And what is more pleasant to children than length of days? This was once appointed by the Law also for the Jews as for children, since they were not able to hear what is more perfect.

Then the Apostle speaks about wives, husbands, children, fathers, servants, and masters, because concerning this the Jews slandered him, and also some of the Gentiles, perhaps even the Ephesians. Therefore he wrote this to the Ephesians in order to defend himself and to show that he cared for them more than for the Jews and Gentiles.

The promise of long life on earth to sons for honoring father and mother should not be understood in the Jewish, fleshly sense. Indeed, it must be admitted that many who honored their parents died soon, while, conversely, those disrespectful to parents reached extreme old age. One must seek that land which the Lord promised and gave to those who departed from the spiritual Egyptian slavery. With much patience they passed through the fearful deserts of this life, conquered many kings whom the Lord struck down, and arrived in Judea, flowing with milk and honey. See also the interpretation of Eph 6:1.

“That it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth” (Ex 20:12). The divine Apostle showed that what was superfluous in the Law lost its force after the coming of the Lawgiver. But what is prescribed by nature itself remains in force even after the New Testament.

2. The duties of children and parents. Children (Eph 6:1-3) must obey their parents “in the Lord,” that is, according to the Lord’s will. All the more so, since the welfare of children and God’s blessing upon their whole life depend on this obedience, as is said in the commandment of the Decalogue. Parents (Eph 6:4) must “not provoke their children,” that is, they must act without excessive severity. They must “bring them up in the teaching and admonition of the Lord.”

The Apostle considers the duty of children to obey their parents a debt of justice and one of the first commandments of God given by God concerning human relations.

To define the Christian character of children’s obedience, he says that it must be “in the Lord.”

“By the words ‘in the Lord,’ that is, in Jesus Christ, both this is declared, that such obedience is pleasing to the Lord, and this is suggested: if the will of parents disagrees with the will of God, children may disobey them, so as not to disobey the Lord” (Bishop Theophan).

Saint John Chrysostom teaches the necessity of obedience to parents in this way: “After God, they are the chief authors of our life. Therefore they have the first right to our honor, and afterward all other people.

“Honor your father and your mother”: here is the commandment. And here, immediately after it, is the reward that encourages its fulfillment: “that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the good land” (Ex 20:12).

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor”: here is the demand of perfection. And immediately after this comes the reward that encourages the attainment of such perfection: “and you will have treasure in heaven” (Mt 19:21).

“Rejoice in that day, when men hate you, and when they separate you and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.” Here is a great demand of ascetic struggle.

Having described the relations of spouses to one another, the Apostle naturally passes to the question of the relation of children to parents. Children must show Christian obedience (εν κυριω) to their parents, not only because they are physically and morally dependent on them. They must do so chiefly because the Law of God requires it, “for this is right,” in its fifth commandment. In the Decalogue, this is the first commandment accompanied by a promise of reward for its fulfillment (πρώτη έν επαγγελί).

“Here the Apostle does not converse about Christ or other lofty subjects, because the minds he addresses are still tender.

“For this reason he also makes the exhortation brief, since children cannot follow a long discourse. For the same reason he says not a word about the Kingdom of God.

“It is not for such an age to hear about this. Instead, he speaks of what the childlike soul most wants to hear, namely, that it will live long.

“If someone inquires why the Apostle does not speak to children about the Kingdom of grace, but offers a commandment from the law of Moses, we shall say that he did this because they are still very young.