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extends the promise to the children of all nations. The Hebrew word trans lated “ land” also means -“ earth.” In ancient times the Rechabits were an illustration of the fulfillment of this promise (see Jer. 35:1-19). In modern times the Chinese have reaped the fruits of obedience to parents: to obedience to parents more than anything else the sta- bilty and endurance of that race, is due. TUESDAY, August 25. Eph. 6:4. Having spoken of the duty of children to parents, Paul now speaks of the duty of fathers regarding their children. “ Fathers” owe a duty to their children as well as the children to their fathers. The duty of fathers to children is two fold, it has a positive and a negative side. On the negative side fathers must not exasperate their children, not “ pro voke them to wrath” (cf. Col. 3:21). Many doubtless do provoke their chil dren to wrath by unreasonable demands and by their nagging and in other ways, and then wonder why their children are not obedient. The fault lies at the par ents’ door. On the positive side par ents should “ nurture” their children “ in the chastening (rather, discipline) and admonition of the Lord.” As we are bidden to do this, we can do it-, for God never commands' the impossible. There fore, if our children are not brought to Christ by our “ discipline” and “ admon itions,” the fault again lies at our door. The “ discipline” and “ admonition” must be “ of the Lord,” i. e., that which He prompts and which is for His glory. Everything in the home life must cen ter in Him, it must be “ as unto the Lord” (ch. 5:22), “ in the Lord,” (v. 1), and “ of the Lord” (v. 4). The Bible emphasizes the duty of “ fathers,” while in our modern way of looking at things we would lay the heaviest part of the obligation of rearing the children upon the mother. The mother, however, is not overlooked in the Bible, for the word “ fathers” is used of both parents. (For example, in Hebrews 11:23 the word translated “ parents” in speaking of Moses’ “ parents,” is the same word here translated “ fathers” .) But the word does emphasize the father’s obli gation, and it sorely needs emphasis in our day. WEDNESDAY, August 26. Eph. 6:5-8. Paul continues the subject of home life, but now it is the reciprocal duties of servants and masters in a walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith we have been called. Spirit-filled servants will act in a certain way toward their servants, and Spirit-filled masters will act in a certain way toward their ser vants. What that way is verses 5 to 9 make clear. The Bible has much to say about the duties of Christian ser vants, and some of its most precious passages are found in words addressed primarily to “ servants,” or “ slaves” (cf. Col. 3:22-25; 1 Cor. 7:21, 22; 1 Tim. 6:1, 2; Tit. 2:9, 10; 1 Pet. 2:18-25). Servants on their part should “ be obe dient unto them that according to the flesh are their (your) masters.” In this .connection there is a double significance in the phrase “ masters according to the flesh.” On the one side it points to the glorious truth that no man can be our master except “ according to the flesh,” i. e., no man can be our master except in that which is outward and tempor ary. In our real, inward, abiding life “ according to the Spirit,” Christ alone is our Master. (The word translated “ Master” is the word ordinarily trans lated “ Lord” ). On the other side, the expression,; “ masters according to the flesh” teaches that though human mas ters are only masters according to the flesh, nevertheless, they are to be obeyed (cf. Col. 3:22). The gospel won many of its converts from the slave class, and bringing them-into liberty in Christ (1 Cor. 7:21-23), there was constant dan ger that they become uppish and dlail in their duty to their “ masters accord ing to the flesh,” and so dishonor Christ. The same peril confronts Chris tian servants today, and is often yielded to. Christian servants should not only obey, but obey with “ fear and trembl ing.” That does not mean with fright of men, or servile fear of any kind, but with sensitive and tremulous, consci entious care and reverence (cf. 1 Cor. 2:3: 2 Cor. 7:15; Phil. 2:12; Rom. 8:15; 2 Tim. 1 :7). The obedience should be also "in singleness of your heart,” i. e., not with any secondary motive, but from the single purpose that should rule every act of the Christian life, viz., to please Jesus Christ. The obedience should not be “ in the way of eye-service,” i. e., only to be seen and only while the master is watching. This word “ eye-service,” ; is found in only one other place in the Bible (Col. 3:22), and as far as known, nowhere else in any writing older than the Bible. Prob ably Paul coined the word under the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It is a good and suggestive word. “ Eye-service” is to please man, but a Christian servant is
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