Ephesian 6 meaning, lessons, and prayer points
Ephesians 6 Explained
Ephesians 6 is a chapter in the New Testament book of Ephesians in the Bible. This chapter is famous for its discussion of spiritual warfare and the armor of God. Here is an overview of the chapter:
- Verses 1-4: Paul begins by giving instructions to children and parents on how to live in a godly way. He encourages children to obey their parents, and he instructs fathers to raise their children in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- Verses 5-9: Paul then turns his attention to slaves and masters, urging them to treat each other with respect and fairness. He tells slaves to obey their masters as they would obey Christ, and he tells masters to treat their slaves justly and fairly, knowing that they too have a Master in heaven.
- Verses 10-20: This is the section that is most often associated with spiritual warfare and the armor of God. Paul urges the Ephesians (and us) to “be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (v. 10). He tells them to put on the full armor of God so that they can stand against the devil’s schemes. The armor includes:
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- The belt of truth
- The breastplate of righteousness
- The shoes of the gospel of peace
- The shield of faith
- The helmet of salvation
- The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
- Paul explains that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. He encourages the Ephesians (and us) to pray in the Spirit on all occasions and to be alert and persistent in our prayers.
- Verses 21-24: Paul concludes the chapter by sending greetings and blessings to the Ephesians and asking for their prayers.
Overall, Ephesians 6 emphasizes the importance of living in a godly way, treating others with respect and fairness, and being prepared for spiritual warfare by putting on the full armor of God and relying on the power of prayer.
Ephesians 6 KJV
Children and Parents
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Bondservants and Masters
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
A Gracious Greeting
21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Lessons From Ephesians 6
Here are six lessons we can learn from this chapter:
- We are in a spiritual battle: Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” This verse reminds us that our struggles are not just physical or material, but spiritual in nature.
- We need to put on the armor of God: Ephesians 6:11 tells us to “put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” This armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit.
- Truth is essential: The first piece of armor mentioned in Ephesians 6 is the belt of truth. This reminds us of the importance of truth in our lives. We need to know the truth and live by it.
- Righteousness protects us: The breastplate of righteousness is another piece of armor mentioned in Ephesians 6. Righteousness protects us from the attacks of the enemy. We need to live righteously and seek to do what is right in God’s eyes.
- We need to be prepared to share the gospel: The shoes of the gospel of peace are mentioned in Ephesians 6:15. This reminds us that we need to be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others. We need to be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15).
- Prayer is powerful: Ephesians 6:18 tells us to “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Prayer is a powerful weapon in our spiritual arsenal. We need to be in constant communication with God and seek His guidance and strength as we face the challenges of life.
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Overall, Ephesians 6 provides practical guidance for living a godly life and reminds us of the importance of relying on God’s strength and seeking the support of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Heavenly Father, equip me with the spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6:10-18, so that I may stand firm against the schemes of the devil and resist his attacks on my faith.
- Lord Jesus, help me to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, and the helmet of salvation, so that I may be fully protected and ready to proclaim Your name to the world.
- Holy Spirit, guide me as I take up the shield of faith, which can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, and help me to wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, with confidence and discernment.
- Father, strengthen me to pray at all times in the Spirit, and to intercede for my fellow believers and for all those who do not yet know the love and grace of Christ.
- Lord, help me to be vigilant and alert, and to watch for the signs of spiritual warfare in my own life and in the world around me. Give me the courage and the faith to stand firm and to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony.
Other Translation
English Standard Version (ESV)