EPHESIANS – WEEK 17
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY – PART 2
EPHESIANS 6:1-9
SEPTEMBER 13, 2026
EPHESIANS 6:1-9 – Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Facts About Authority:
- God Establishes Authority
- God commands us to honor legitimate authority
EPHESIANS 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger…
EPHESIANS 6:9 – Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening…
Because biblical authority is NEVER ownership.
It is ALWAYS stewardship.
- God Limits Those Who Exercise Authority
EPHESIANS 6:4 – Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
EPHESIANS 6:9 – Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
EPHESIANS 6:9 – Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
- Jesus Redefines Both Sides of Authority
MARK 10:42-45 – And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For (because) even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”