and don’t expect unreasonable things from them. On. the other hand, Paul does not mean that the children are to be free from restraint or to run the house. They are to be in subjec tion (v. 20; I Tim. 3:4, 12). The reason for parental restraint is that they, the children, be not despondent. That is, brokenhearted. Punishment is to teach and develop the character of the child, not to break him or cause him to lose con fidence and respect for his parents. Verse 22. “Slaves.” In the scale of personal rights, the slave is at the bottom. He is completely at his mas ter’s mercy. If the slave is to do his best for his master, how much more we should serve those who have hired us and pay us more than our mere board and keep. “Obey according to all things.” Exactly the same as verse 20. Absolute obedience. The only ex ception would be in the following out of a command that was definite ly contrary to the revealed will of God. Obedience is to be rendered to those who are your lords according to the flesh. Here lord means mas ter, owner, and in a sense god, for he controlled the life and death of the slave. But the control and influ ence of our earthly masters or em ployers is limited to this physical life. They cannot touch our souls ex cept we let them (Luke 12:4, 5). Verse 23. “That which you do.” This phrase is very similar in form and meaning to the opening of verse 17, “Do from the soul.” While verse 17 omits the second verb, here the verb is both included and exchanged for the stronger word “work.” “Soul” is almost synonymous with “heart” (v. 22) and refers to the innermost urges and desires of our being. In stead of having superficial or mone tary motives, our lives are to be di rected by deep-seated principles. Verse 24. “Knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance.” Thank God, our faith is not based on guesswork or 32
the only one apt to be guilty of breaking this command. With the increase of the mother’s power and prestige in modern society would also come the application of this command to them. IF WE ONLY UNDERSTOOD Could we but draw back the curtains That surround each other's lives, See the naked heart and spirit, Know what spur the action gives; Often we should find it better, Purer than we judge we should; We might love each other better, If we only understood. Could we judge all deeds by motives, See the good and bad within. Why then we'd love the sinner, All the while we loathe the sin; Could we know the powers working To overthrow integrity, We should love despite the errors With more patient charity. If we knew the cares and trials. Knew the efforts in vain, And the bitter disappointment, Understood the loss and gain— Would the grim forever roughness Seem— I wonder— just the same? Should we help where now we hinder, Should we pity where now we blame. Ah! We judge each other harshly, Knowing not life's hidden force; Knowing not the fount of action Is less turbid at its source— Seeing not amid the evil All the golden grain of good; And we would love each other better If we only understood. — Rudyard Kipling “Provoke not your children,” that is, don’t over-irritate or exasperate them. Don’t force them to drastic action. Instead of nagging, the fa ther’s attitude is to be similar to that demanded in verse 19. Treat them as human beings, respect their ideas,
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