In the fifth of our series on the book of Ephesians, Pastor Steve Reilly unpacks Paul’s teaching regarding what it means to live a life worthy of our calling in the context of the home. Paul gives teaching to husbands, wives, children and slaves, using the format of the “household code” - a well-known structure in Paul’s day for discussing relationships in households where all of the above were present. Uniquely in his day, Paul brings Jesus into the home to show the difference made by His presence and Lordship. For example, various philosophers wrote “household codes,” which told a husband how to rule - only Paul talks about how a husband should love his wife. Jesus’s rulership is about self-sacrifice and service for the good of others. Pastor Steve unpacks what sacrifice and service - two dimensions of Jesus’s life example, mean in the context of marriage, asking “How submitted are we to the servant way of Jesus?”
In discussing children and parents, Pastor Steve points out that the age at which children become adults varies from culture to culture. In Paul’s day, a girl could be regarded as an adult from age 12, and most would be married by age 17. Whilst children should always honour their parents, there is a time when they leave to create new households of their own, and thereby become responsible for their own decisions.
Pastor Steve discusses what it means to create a nurturing home environment to bring children up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Pastor Steve discusses slavery in the ancient world and how Paul addressed the realities of Christians living in households either as slaves, or with them. In declaring that both slaves and masters have a master in heaven, to whom all will give account, Paul sows the seeds for the abolition of slavery which we are now free to oppose wherever we encounter it.
Join Pastor Steve in his closing prayer for blessing on our families, our service, and our work and that in all things we reveal Jesus to the world as we live a life worthy of our calling in Jesus.
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