What is the meaning of Ephesians 6:3? That it may go well with you Paul links honor toward parents with “well-being,” echoing the original promise in Exodus 20:12 and Deuteronomy 5:16. Scripture treats this as a real, present-life blessing: • Deuteronomy 5:16 says, “Honor your father and your mother… so that it may go well with you.” The same wording underscores God’s consistent heart from Sinai to Ephesus. • Proverbs 3:1-2 affirms, “My son, do not forget My teaching… for they will add length of days and years of life and peace to you.” Obedience brings peace as well as duration. • Psalm 128:1-2 pictures the family table: “Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in His ways! You will surely eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you will be happy and it will be well with you.” Honor begins at home and ripples outward into work, relationships, and spiritual vitality. • Colossians 3:20 ties the promise to Christ: “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.” Pleasing the Lord is the ultimate definition of “well.” Key takeaways: – God attaches tangible blessing to honoring parents, not as a bargaining chip but as an expression of His orderly design. – “Well” covers physical provision, emotional stability, and spiritual flourishing. – The promise is for everyday life, not just special seasons; it invites an ongoing posture of respect. And that you may have a long life on the earth Paul broadens the original phrase “in the land” (Exodus 20:12) to “on the earth,” applying the promise to Jew and Gentile alike. Longevity is a genuine, though general, reward for honoring parents. • Proverbs 10:27 declares, “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.” The principle is relational: honoring human authority reflects reverence for divine authority. • Psalm 91:16 records God’s pledge, “With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.” Long life and salvation stand together; eternal life does not cancel earthly blessing. • 1 Peter 3:10-12 quotes Psalm 34: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil… so that he might inherit a blessing.” Respectful speech—crucial in family settings—contributes to “good days.” • Deuteronomy 30:19-20 sets life and death before Israel, urging them to “choose life… so that you and your descendants may live.” Honoring parents is one concrete way to choose life. Points to remember: – The promise is typically fulfilled in ordinary providence; exceptions (martyrdom, sickness) do not negate God’s faithfulness. – “Long life” emphasizes quality as well as quantity; days filled with purpose count as “long” in God’s arithmetic (Psalm 90:12). – The phrase anticipates eternal life without emptying it of literal earthly meaning; present obedience foreshadows everlasting fellowship. summary Ephesians 6:3 assures that honoring father and mother brings two intertwined blessings: daily well-being and extended, meaningful life. The promise is rooted in God’s unchanging character, confirmed by the wider testimony of Scripture, and experienced whenever children—young or grown—treat their parents with respect. Obedience in the home becomes a channel for God’s goodness, shaping both the quality and longevity of life on the earth. |
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