INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS STUDY , Ron Ward
CHILDREN, OBEY YOUR PARENTS
Passage: Ephesians 6:1~9  
Key verse: 1
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.(A) 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a](B)
4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children;(C) instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.(D)
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect(E) and fear, and with sincerity of heart,(F) just as you would obey Christ.(G) 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,(H) doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,(I) 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do,(J) whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours(K) is in heaven, and there is no favoritism(L) with him.
Footnotes
- Ephesians 6:3 Deut. 5:16
- Ephesians 6:4 Or Parents
Cross references
- Ephesians 6:1 : Pr 6:20; Col 3:20
- Ephesians 6:3 : Ex 20:12; Dt 5:16
- Ephesians 6:4 : Col 3:21
- Ephesians 6:4 : Ge 18:19; Dt 6:7; Pr 13:24; 22:6
- Ephesians 6:5 : 1Ti 6:1; Tit 2:9; 1Pe 2:18
- Ephesians 6:5 : Col 3:22
- Ephesians 6:5 : Eph 5:22
- Ephesians 6:6 : S Ro 6:22
- Ephesians 6:7 : Col 3:23
- Ephesians 6:8 : S Mt 16:27; Col 3:24
- Ephesians 6:9 : Job 31:13, 14
- Ephesians 6:9 : S Ac 10:34
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
Also, Paul cautions fathers against exasperating and oppressing their children and driving them to rebellion. Parents need to discipline themselves before they can discipline their children.
Lastly, Paul encourages slaves to serve their masters as before the Lord, and for masters to treat their slaves right. We all must remember that God sees how we treat others and do everything before the Lord looking for his reward. We must deny the sinful nature to rebel against authority or to abuse positions of power.
Prayer: Father, thank you for blessing us when our relationships are respectful and healthy in Christ.
One Word: Children, obey your parents in the Lord