Ephesians 6:1-3 - Honour your father and mother

6:1

The chapter starts by continuing the theme of submission, applying it first to children, and then to slaves and masters. Children are told to “obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right”. A symptom of breakdown in society is children not respecting their parents (2 Tim 3:2). It is often said in all sorts of scenarios that people have to earn respect. This is actually wrong. We are to start by giving respect, and those in receipt of that respect should live lives worthy of that respect. This is subtly different from earning respect.

6:2,3

Paul then quotes from the ten commandments (Ex 20:12), pointing out that this commandment comes with a promise that “it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land”. Obedience to parents is a vital pillar in a good society. This is also an example that the Law is still relevant to the new covenant. God’s moral standards have not changed.