The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 256

EXPOSJ'l'ION. the apostle lays down general rules, and CHAPTER VL does not complicate his exhortations with Ver. 1.--0hildren, obey your pa.rents in exceptions. '.rhe latter part of the verso the Lord: for this is right. The first duty contains a special reason for the precept; it of children is obedience, o.nd "in the Lord," is tho first commandment with a promise i.e. in Christ, thiB duty is confirmed. The attached. But obviously the apostle meant ,v Kvpltp qualifies, not "po.rents," but" obey," more than this; for as in ver. 1 he had e.ud indice.tes that the element or life which affirmed .the duty to be one of natural roli- even children lead in fellowship with Christ gion, so here he means to add that it is also makes such obedience more easy and more part of the re'llealed will of God-it is one gracefnL The duty itself rests on the first of the comme.ndments; but still further, it principles of morality-" for this is right." is the first commandment with a promise. It is e.n obligation that rests on ihe very It may, perhaps, be said that this is appeal- nature of things, e.nd cannot change with ing, not to the higher, but to the lower part the spirit of the age; it is in no degree of our nature-to Olll.' selfishness, not our modifa:d by what is called the spirit of goodness; but it is not an op peal to one independence in children. part of our nature to the exclusion of the Ver. 2.-Ronour thy father and mother rest; it is e.n appeal tc our whole nature, (w~h is the first commandment with a for it is a part of our nature to expect tho.t promise). The exhortation, based on natural in the end virtue will be rewarded o.nd vico morality (ver. I), is here confirmed from punished. In the case of children it is the Decalogue. "Honour" is higher than difficult to look for forward; tho rewards obedience (ver. 1); it is the regard due to e.nd the punishments, to be influential, those who, by Divine appointment, a.re must be within the ken of vision. as it above ue, and to whom our most respectful were ; therefore it is quite suito.blo that, in consideration is due. Father and mother, writing to them, the o.postle should Jay though not quite on a footing of equality in emphasis on e. promise which ho.cl its speci11.l their relation to each other (eh. v. 2li), a.re fulfilment in the life tho.t now is. '''I ual e.s objects of honour and obedienco Ver. 3.-That it may be well with thee, t" thei.!- children. It is assumed here that and thou mayest live long on the earth. A they are Christians; where one was a free rendering (o.fter the manner of tho Christian and not the other, the duty would apostle) of the reason annexed to the firth be modified. But ill th&sc BUocio.ct verses oommandment, "that thy do.ys may bo long CH, VI, 1-24.] THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. 26i