Submission to Parents (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Paul now turns his attention to the parent-child relationship.
Spirit filled
It is very important that we understand this in its context. Paul is speaking about what the Spirit-filled life looks like; it is a life of submission to other believers. In other words, Paul is saying our attitude towards our parents is a direct indication of the true state of our souls.
Obey
Children are to submit to and obey their parents. There is not much more that needs to be said. What does a Spirit filled child look like? It looks like a child who does what they are told, when they are told to do it, with a good attitude.
In the Lord
God has ordained who your parents are. He has established them as your authority. To resist them is to resist God (Romans 13.) However, the same God that established parental authority also established the boundaries of that authority. Parents do not have the authority to command their children to sin. Children’s obedience is to be “in the Lord,” or in accordance with God’s established authority structure and in accordance with His decrees.
This is right
Here Paul points out that this obedience is only right or equitable. It is only common courtesy to abide by someone’s wishes when you are a guest in their home. It is against all sense of right and wrong for a child to rebel against the one who meets their every need. A Spirit-filled child will understand their obligations to their parents, and they will understand what is right and wrong. It is wrong to free-load in someone else’s house and disrupt the peace of their home when they are the ones paying for everything.
Honor
The way we honor (value) our parents demonstrates the true state of our souls before God. Jesus clearly demonstrated that the way we treat our parents AS ADULTS is a direct application of the fifth commandment. Even after we are out of our parents house we must show honor to our parents. Part of honoring your parents is taking care of them when they are old.
God’s long-lasting blessing
Paul here quotes from the Ten Commandments. The promise there was that if the children of Israel kept God’s covenant by honoring their parents that God would bless them by allowing them to stay in the Promised Land. Paul is here equating the same blessings with the new covenant people of God. He is in essence saying that if you want God’s long-lasting blessings on your church, have a culture where parents are honored.
Application:
What does your attitude and actions towards your parents say about the state of your soul? Will you come to the Father through Jesus?