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Eph.6:1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is what justice requires. “Children, listen to your parents about the Lord: this is” pleasing and righteous, that is, in accordance with the law of God. This is what the Apostle added: Eph.6:2. Honor your father and mother, this is the first commandment with a promise. “Honor thy father and mother: which is the first commandment of promise.” There are other commandments before this one, but the Lawgiver did not connect promises with them. And here I added: Eph.6:3. May it be good for you and you will live long on earth. “May it be good for you and you may live long on earth” (Ex. 20:12). The Divine Apostle showed that what was superfluous in the law, after the coming of the Lawgiver, lost its force, but what was prescribed by nature itself has force even after the New Testament. Eph.6:4. And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the teaching and admonition of the Lord. “And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and teaching of the Lord.” He commanded the children to obey, serve their fathers and not offend them, and to raise the fathers piously and teach the Divine. Eph.6:5. Servants, obey your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to Christ. “Rabbi, listen to your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, like Christ.” If necessary, he makes laws for slaves. For the body of the Church contains everything: husbands and wives, fathers and children, slaves and masters, rich and poor, rulers and subordinates. Therefore, he commands that slaves serve their masters with proper fear and be free from evil. He expressed this by saying: “in the simplicity of your heart.” He added: “like Christ,” thereby comforting and teaching that a reward is sincerely prepared for those who serve. Eph.6:6. Not with only visible obligingness, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul. Eph.6:7. Serving with zeal as the Lord, not as men. “Not working before your eyes as a people-pleaser, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the soul,” “serving with prudence the Lord, and not man.” The Apostle called serving masters with good will serving the Lord, again comforting the slaves. Service “before the eyes” refers to service not offered from a sincere heart, but embellished by outward appearance. It also indicates the prepared reward. Eph.6:8. Knowing that everyone will receive from the Lord according to the good he has done, whether slave or free. “Knowing that if anyone does good, he will receive it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or whether he is free. The Apostle showed that slavery and domination are limited to present life, but after departing from here there will be a difference not between slavery and dominion, but between virtue and vice. Eph.6:9. And you, gentlemen, do the same with them, moderating your severity, knowing that above you and above them there is a Lord in heaven, with whom there is no partiality. “And Lord, do the same for them,” so that they do not serve as slaves, but serve with good will. For the Apostle also added this: “Rebuke them laxly,” that is, treat them with kindness and meekness. Then he frightens the gentlemen themselves. “He knows that both you and the Lord are in heaven, and He has no blame.” The way you want to have a Master towards you, be the same way towards a servant, because God does not know the difference between a slave and a master, He created everyone the same. The order in this admonition is worthy of surprise. The apostle first prescribed laws for husbands and wives, because marriage precedes childbearing; then to children and fathers, because the fruit of marriage is childbearing; after the birth of a child, one is called a father, the other a son; He gave the last place to the mutual union of servants and masters, because this union is established by circumstances, and the former are honored by natural advantages. Why, having prescribed separate laws about this, he also offers a general admonition. Eph.6:10. Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. “And for the rest, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the might of His strength.” Put aside all fear, guarded by the power of God. Eph.6:11. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can stand against the wiles of the devil. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Military commanders in sensual warfare do not arm their wives, children, or the elderly. The military commander of the Lord Christ gives everyone the full royal armament and points out the tricks of the enemy. For he called tricks “wiles” because the enemy often, under the guise of virtue, prepares vice and in other cases mixes vanity with fasting, prayer and care for those in need, and introduces reprehensible arrogance into chastity. The apostle also shows many enemies. Eph.6:12. Because our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spirits of wickedness in high places. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, and against the powers, and against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against the spiritual wickedness in high places.” Evil demons were among the holy ranks, but for their malice they were deprived of this rank. And even to this day they have these names to denounce their corruption. The Apostle called them “world holders” not because they received authority from God, but because they voluntarily loved the slavery of those living carelessly. And the divine Apostle imitates the valiant military leader, who, with the intention that there should be no laziness in his army, describes the courage of his enemies. He also points out the benefits of victory in order to make the soldiers more zealous; because, he says, the struggle is with the heavenly, that is, heavenly ranks, and the reward for this struggle is the Kingdom of Heaven. Eph.6:13. For this purpose, take on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having done everything, to stand. “For this sake, take up all the weapons of God, so that you will be able to resist on the day of cruelty, and everything you have done. “Fierce day” he calls the day of battle, giving this name from the devil active on that day. At that time, they were clearly subjected to abuse, being persecuted, tormented and suffering all kinds of death. Eph.6:14. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. “Gird up your loins with truth.” The apostle first of all shows the insatiability of lust, because in the loins lie the kidneys, and in them lies the power of lust. So blessed David, mourning the sin of adultery, said: “For my soul is filled with reproaches” (Ps. 37:8), that is, he used natural lust: it was not used as it should be. So the divine Apostle said about Levi: “It was still in his father’s loins, when Melchizedek took his shit” (Heb. 7:10). Therefore he commands us to gird our loins with truth, so that we may desire what is true and abiding. “And wrapped in the armor of truth.” Let the rational power in the heart protect the truth and illuminate it, so as not to think about anything other than what is fair. Eph.6:15. And having shod your feet with the readiness to preach the gospel of peace. And “having shoes on his nose for the preparation of the gospel of peace.” Do not let your feet wander to unseemly deeds, but follow the gospel, so that you too may earn prophetic praise: “If the feet are red... of those who bring good news of peace, of those who bring good news” (Isa. 52:7). The Apostle used the word “peace” because he also mentioned warfare, so that we would be in peace with each other and with our common Master, but would fight only with the devil and his hordes. Eph.6:16. And most of all, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery arrows of the evil one. “Take the shield of faith over everyone, in it you will be able to extinguish all the arrows of the evil one.” Instead of a shield, let you have faith, because it shows you a helping God, it reveals to you rewards for warfare, proclamation as victors and crowns for valor. Yet it quenches the arrows of the evil one. And the Apostle called them “kindled,” thereby stirring up the soldiers and commanding them to firmly protect themselves. Eph.6:17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. “And take the helmet of salvation.” The Lord Christ himself, says the Apostle, will cover your head and, as if with some kind of helmet, will protect you with salvation, so as not to accept blows inflicted by your enemies. “And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. He called the “sword of the Spirit” the effectiveness of the Spirit, and called the “verb of God” the effectiveness of the Spirit. And this means that the All-Holy Spirit accomplishes our salvation as if by a word. For a spiritual man rebukes the devil, and he turns to flight. And this allows us to see the following: Eph.6:18. Pray at all times in the spirit with every prayer and petition, and strive for this very thing with all constancy and prayer for all the saints “Praying with all prayer and supplication at all times in the Spirit, and in this time vigilant with all patience and prayer.” Always surrounded by enemies, they cannot sleep. That is why the divine Apostle commands us to watch and pray unceasingly and not to weaken our bodily labor, but to remain in it with great patience. He commands us to pray not only for ourselves, but also for all our fellow believers. For this he added. "On All Saints". But he shows both his humility and his insatiability, because at the same time he is humble and insatiably admires, and says: Eph.6:19. And about me, so that the word may be given to me - with my mouth, openly and boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel. Eph.6:20. For whom I perform an embassy in chains, so that I can boldly preach as I should. "And about me". What do you need this prayer for? “Let the word be given to me by opening my mouth.” What exactly should I say? With “boldness to tell the mystery of the gospel”, “about it I will minister in prison, so that I may dare to speak in it, as it should be for me.” Ask me for courage, audacity, and abundance of words in order to carry out the course according to the Divine law. He pointed again to the bonds, encouraging them and teaching them that they should not be embarrassed or indulge in shame in suffering for the Master, but be magnified and boast about them. Eph.6:21. And so that you also know about my circumstances and affairs, Tychicus, beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will inform you about everything. Eph.6:22. Whom I sent to you for this very purpose, so that you would know about us and so that he would comfort your hearts. “Let you also know what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything,” “whose messenger to you for this purpose, let him know what he does about us, and may he comfort your hearts.” Tychicus was originally from Asia; Blessed Luke also informs us about this in Acts. For, having named the natives of Thessalonica and Beria who accompanied Paul, he added: “But Tychicus and Trophimus are Asians” (Acts 20:4). Eph.6:23. Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. "Peace of the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." He put peace in front, but he also put in love, showing that the latter produces the former. He also combined faith with love, prescribing love according to the law of the Gospel. He also indicated their Giver, not only God and the Father, but also the Lord Jesus Christ, and with Them the All-Holy Spirit. For he added: Eph.6:24. Grace be with all who always love our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption. Amen." For grace is not given to everyone unconditionally, but to those who love the Lord, and even to those not unconditionally, but with love, they keep His life-giving laws. Let us also keep these laws and burn with love for the Lord, so that we may become partakers of the apostolic blessing, by the grace of Christ Himself who saved us. With Him glory to the Father with the All-Holy Spirit, now and always and unto the ages of ages! Amen. The Epistle to the Ephesians was written from Rome by Tychicus. You might be interested in: