---
title: "Ephesians 6 - Study King James Bible with barnes notes on the whole bible"
description: "Read Ephesians 6 with barnes notes on the whole bible commentary. 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may"
image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/barnes-notes-on-the-whole-bible/ephesians/6"
---

[ Read](/kjv/ephesians/6)[ Commentary](/study/ephesians/6)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/ephesians/6) Audio

 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

 2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

 4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

 5 Servants, be obedient to them that are *your* masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether *he be* bond or free.

 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high *places*.

 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

 21 But that ye also may know my affairs, *and* how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

 22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and *that* he might comfort your hearts.

 23 Peace *be* to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 24 Grace *be* with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
 
[Ephesians 5](/study/ephesians/5) [Philippians 1](/study/philippians/1)

## Commentary

 To verse 1
 
**Children -**τέκνα tekna This word usually signifies those who are young; but it is used here, evidently, to denote those who were under the care and government of their parents, or those who were not of age. 

**Obey your parents -**This is the first great duty which God has enjoined on children. It is, to do what their parents command them to do. The God of nature indicates that this is duty; for he has impressed it on the minds of all in every age; and the Author of revelation confirms it. It is particularly important: 

(1) Because the good order of a family, and hence of the community, depends on it; no community or family being prosperous where there is not due subordination in the household. 

(2) Because the welfare of the child depends on it; it being of the highest importance that a child should be early taught obedience to “law,” as no one can be prosperous or happy who is not thus obedient. 

(3) Because the child is not competent as yet; to “reason” on what is right, or qualified to direct himself; and, while that is the case, he must be subject to the will of some other person. 

(4) Because the parent, by his age and experience, is to be presumed to be qualified to direct and guide a child. The love which God has implanted in the heart of a parent for a child secures, in general, the administration of this domestic government in such a way as not to injure the child. A father will not, unless under strong passion or the excitement of intoxication, abuse his authority. He loves the child too much. He desires his welfare; and the placing of the child under the authority of the parent is about the same thing in regard to the welfare of the child, as it would be to endow the child at once with all the wisdom and experience of the parent himself. 

(5) It is important, because the family government is designed to be an imitation of the government of God. The government of God is what a perfect family government would be; and to accustom a child to be obedient to a parent, is designed to be one method of leading him to be obedient to God. No child that is disobedient to a parent will be obedient to God; and that child that is most obedient to a father and mother will be most likely to become a Christian, and an heir of heaven. And it may be observed, in general, that no disobedient child is virtuous, prosperous, or happy. Everyone foresees the ruin of such a child; and most of the cases of crime that lead to the penitentiary, or the gallows, commence by disobedience to parents. 

**In the Lord -**That is, as far as their commandments agree with those of God, and no further. No parent can have a right to require a child to steal, or lie, or cheat, or assist him in committing murder, or in doing any other wrong thing. No parent has a right to forbid a child to pray, to read the Bible, to worship God, or to make a profession of religion. The duties and rights of children in such cases are similar to those of wives (see the notes on [Ephesians 5:22](/kjv/ephesians/5/22)); and in all cases, God is to be obeyed rather than man. When a parent, however, is opposed to a child; when he expresses an unwillingness that a child should attend a particular church, or make a profession of religion, such opposition should in all cases be a sufficient reason for the child to pause and re-examine the subject. he should pray much, and think much, and inquire much, before, in any case, he acts contrary to the will of a father or mother; and, when he does do it, he should state to them, with great gentleness and kindness, that he believes he ought to love and serve God. 

**For this is right -**It is right: 

(1)Because it is so appointed by God as a duty; 

(2)Because children owe a debt of gratitude to their parents for what they have done for them; 

(3)Because it will be for the good of the children themselves, and for the welfare of society.

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