Chapter Six
Eph. 6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord,
As a sculptor, reproducing the figure of the human body, first creates the head, then the neck, and finally the legs, so too Paul, having spoken of the husband as the first principle, and the wife as the second principle, now speaks of the third principle — children. For over the wife one husband has authority, but over children the wife also has authority. So "obey," he says, "your parents," but "in the Lord," that is, when their commands are in agreement with the law of the Lord. Because if a father urges toward impiety, or wishes to make his daughter a harlot, or wants to teach his son a shameful way of conduct, such commands are contrary to the Lord, and they must not be obeyed.
Eph. 6:1. "for justice demands this."
Eph. 6:2. Honor your father and mother, this is the first commandment with a promise:
And by nature this is, he says, just, and it is commanded by the law. But how does he say that this is the first commandment? For this is not the first commandment, but rather: "thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery." But notice that he added: "with a promise." For those first commandments do not speak of a promise and a reward, because they contain a prohibition of evil, not a command to do good; and there is no reward for one who merely abstains from evil. But this commandment, since it concerns the doing of good, is the first to contain a promise. And the order is remarkable. As soon as the lawgiver turned people away from evil deeds, intending to lead them toward the doing of good works, he placed honor toward parents in the first place. For since they are the first benefactors to us after God, as the sources of life, it is only just that they be the first to enjoy our fruits.
Eph. 6:3. To be well with you, and you may be long-lived on the earth.
Look how briefly and concisely he speaks in the present case, because children are not able to follow a lengthy discourse. And besides, if a husband will conform to the laws which he set forth above, little effort is needed to bring children into submission. But he does not speak of the Kingdom or of anything lofty, but points to what the childish soul especially desires to hear, because his word is addressed to children. And what is more pleasant for children than long life? At one time this was also prescribed by law to the Jews, as to children, since they were not able to hear anything more perfect.
Eph. 6:4. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children,
He did not say: love; because nature demands this from them even apart from their will, but: "do not provoke," that is, do not deprive them of their portion and inheritance, do not oppress them harshly, treating them not as free persons but as slaves, and constantly be patient with them.
Eph. 6:4. But bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
He goes back to the beginning and foundation of obedience and shows fathers how they can make their children obedient. For if you wish, he says, that your children obey you, bring them up in the word of God, and do not say that it is the business of monks to read the Divine Scripture. For this is the duty of every Christian, and especially of those living in the world, since they are in greater need of help, as they live in the midst of the tumult of life. Likewise it is needful for you that your children hear the Scripture; for from it they can learn: "Honor your father and your mother." Then, you bring up your son on Greek writings, from which all that is worst is learned, and will you not nourish him with the word of God?
Eph. 6:5. Slaves, obey your masters according to the flesh
Since the virtue of servants also contributes to the good order of the household, he does not leave this aspect without attention either, but approaches it last, because it is also last in its dignity. But he speaks with them not as with unreasonable children, but as with mature persons, as we shall point out further on. Obey, he says, your masters according to the flesh, that is, temporary ones. He immediately comforts them, pointing out that slavery is temporary and is abolished together with the flesh.
Eph. 6:5. with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ,
Concerning the wife he simply said: "let her fear her husband," but here he expresses it more strongly: for trembling is the highest degree of fear. For the wife is equal to the husband and free, but slaves are not equal. Although they too are brothers in Christ, since he commands that even the free submit to one another, and even the wife to the husband, how much more must slaves submit to their masters. For this is not some degrading matter, but on the contrary, it is the highest nobility — to know how to humble oneself and yield to one's neighbor. And since many slaves fear their masters not out of good will, but secretly scheme and plot against them, he adds: "in singleness of heart," eliminating scheming.
Eph. 6:6. Not with visible service only, as men-pleasers,
That is, not only in the presence and before the eyes of your masters, but also in their absence, serve them in the same way.
Eph. 6:6. but as slaves of Christ,
One who pleases men does not serve Christ, as he says in another place: "if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Gal. 1:10).
Eph. 6:6. Fulfilling the will of God from the soul,
Eph. 6:7. Serving with goodwill,
For it is possible to serve in simplicity of heart and sincerely, but not with all one's strength, fulfilling only some particular task; therefore he now adds: "from the soul," that is, with all strength and readiness; even "with zeal," that is, with complete devotion and willingness, and not under compulsion. In such a case, even the lowliness of servitude is removed, if slaves voluntarily do good and do not wait for compulsion and beatings. By the will of God he means either submission (for God desires this, that is, good order), or he is saying: in that obey your masters, slaves, which God wills. For it may happen that, as was also said concerning children, masters urge them toward something shameful or toward impiety, and this is not the divine will.
Eph. 6:7. "as to the Lord, and not as to men,"
For God Himself accepts good disposition toward masters, since He Himself established this good order, and he who does not serve them as he ought opposes the divine law.