A Fresh Look at Relationships in Ephesians 6 The teachings in Ephesians 6 regarding wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters are closely tied to Pastor David Jang’s longtime emphasis on a “kingdom ethic.” He has long expounded the significance of restoring relationships as the foundation of the home, with the central idea not being merely moral exhortation but rather a gospel-based insight. In other words, from the perspective that “God first comes to those who appear vulnerable,” the way Paul in Ephesians addresses wives, children, and slaves first demonstrates more than just an “inversion of order”; it reveals a kingdom value system that cares for the weak. When Pastor David Jang interprets this text, he underscores that in every sphere—home, society, and church—it’s not the “dynamics of power” but “the fullness of the Holy Spirit” that builds one another up, which he calls the very key to unlocking “blessings unto a thousand generations.”
Pastor David Jang’s sermons usually follow the flow of the biblical text while also offering concrete applications suited to our times. Accordingly, he interprets the latter half of Ephesians 5 through Ephesians 6 in light of the admonition to “not get drunk on wine but be filled with the Spirit,” thereby casting renewed light on the life of the family and society. He raises the question, “Who is the foundation of the family?” and points out that what might otherwise be presented in the order “husband and wife, parents and children, masters and slaves” is instead written as “wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters.” He calls this the “kingdom ethic” and “the paradoxical worldview required of God’s people,” insisting that it embodies “the secret of relationships.” If one truly understands the gospel, then even in the midst of a broken home or discord, there is potential for a new breakthrough “in the Lord.” Put simply, because “in the Lord” assumes the power of Jesus Christ, this exhortation transcends mere ethical teaching to become a gospel promise that transforms real life.
When explaining Ephesians 6 for today’s society, Pastor David Jang highlights four main themes. First, the hidden mystery of creation and the responsibility of love in the relationship between wives and husbands. Second, the point of intersection between honor and blessing as revealed through the relationship between children and parents. Third, the paradox of “service and authority” implied in the relationship between slaves and masters. Fourth, the practical ways a Spirit-filled life turns our daily routines upside down. Through these four themes, he reiterates that believers are not meant to remain only within the church; rather, they serve as tools to transform the entire family, workplace, and broader society with “kingdom values.” “The Lord who first raises up the weak” is the unifying message across these four themes, and if this is overlooked, Christian ethics end up settling at the worldly level of “just don’t harm others.” Now, using these four themes as our central axis, we will unpack Pastor David Jang’s perspective and sermon content in a continuous flow of around 6,500 words, adding only subheadings but no other formal divisions.
The Mystery of Creation and the Responsibility of Love in the Relationship Between Wives and Husbands
From the latter part of Ephesians 5 through chapter 6, Pastor David Jang notes how Paul addresses “wives and husbands” in a surprising order, beginning with the wife. In traditional cultures where the husband is regarded as the head of the household, it would be natural to address “the husband first, followed by the wife.” But Paul starts by speaking to the wife, then moves on to the husband. Pastor David Jang interprets this to mean that “Scripture calls us to re-interpret familiar hierarchies in the Holy Spirit.” Conventionally, the husband is thought to hold the leadership role; however, from the gospel perspective, there is a “mystery that speaks first to the weaker party.”
He sees marital conflict as arising when the principle of mutual service and respect is overlooked. Such strife is the tragedy that unfolds when God’s creation principle—revealed in Genesis 2 to form “one flesh” and manifest the image of God—is broken. In Ephesians, Paul compares this relationship to “Christ and the church,” teaching that husbands and wives are to fulfill their roles in a complementary manner. Pastor David Jang states, “Just as Christ gave Himself for the church, husbands should devote themselves to their wives, and just as the church honors Christ, wives should also honor their husbands—two sides of the same coin.”
Church tradition has sometimes used the line “the husband is the head of the wife, and the wife should submit” to justify patriarchal views, but Pastor David Jang points out that “Paul never endorses suppressing wives.” In fact, he contends that “the command for husbands to love their wives so much that they would give their very lives carries far more weight.” That is, the statement “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord” and “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church” cannot be separated. If one loses sight of the mutuality, serious problems arise. Pastor David Jang explains, “When awakened in the Spirit, each side strives to elevate the other. But without the Spirit’s power, it’s difficult for one side to fully submit or for the other side to lead sacrificially without overasserting authority.”
Ephesians 5:33 does say, “Let the wife see that she respects her husband,” but the prior, more pressing requirement for the husband is “self-sacrificial devotion.” Pastor David Jang calls this principle “sacrificial leadership,” warning that if we exclude this call to sacrificial love and only emphasize “Wives, submit to your husbands,” the family will collapse. At the same time, he also highlights the paradox that when wives genuinely show respect, husbands feel more inclined to lay down their lives for the family. For instance, in everyday conflicts over financial difficulties or childcare burdens, if the wife belittles her husband, he may lose his motivation to take responsibility.
Why is the admonition to “be filled with the Spirit” so crucial? Pastor David Jang explains that “human resources alone are insufficient to keep loving sacrificially for the long haul.” When people grow weary and emotionally drained, it becomes nearly impossible to care for one another. But if one is filled with the Holy Spirit, an inner power emerges that enables sacrificial giving. Wine may temporarily lift our spirits, but it doesn’t solve problems. In contrast, when the Holy Spirit is poured out, “the Lord’s joy, patience, and mutual care” infiltrate the home and bring healing.
Another perspective Pastor David Jang frequently mentions is the Genesis notion that “creation begins in the evening.” Although we typically think “morning marks the start of the day,” Scripture says, “There was evening and there was morning.” He asserts that this is an inversion of the traditional notion, suggesting that the home should also reflect “God’s creation order, which lifts up the weaker party before the stronger.” Speaking first to the wife signifies that the husband should listen to the “relatively weaker voice in the home,” just as the wife is to honor her husband “as unto the Lord.” Through their mutual respect, God’s image is restored. This, Pastor David Jang maintains, is the secret of creation’s order, the path that integrates both love and responsibility in family life.
The Point of Intersection Between Honor and Blessing in the Relationship Between Children and Parents
Regarding Ephesians 6:1–4, Pastor David Jang teaches that the relationship between children and parents aligns with the structure of the Ten Commandments, calling it “the first commandment with a promise.” The verse “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” underscores that “in the Lord” is pivotal. It’s not just a conditional phrase; it is, he argues, a fundamental declaration for those who know the gospel. There are many violent or irresponsible parents in the world, but “in the Lord” presupposes the power of Jesus Christ. For unbelieving families, “Obey your parents” might sound impossible, yet for believers, there is that foundation called “in the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:2 states, “Honor your father and mother—which is the first commandment with a promise.” Pastor David Jang sees the commandment to “honor one’s parents” in the Ten Commandments as a crucial bridge that links the commands concerning God to those concerning one’s neighbor. That is, “honoring your parents” becomes the starting point that connects loving God to loving people. He expresses sadness over how “parental honor” is waning in rapidly changing societies, yet he strongly believes the church must play a vital role in restoring it. “Even children who have been abused in broken homes can find forgiveness and reconciliation once they discover the Fatherhood of God ‘in the Lord,’” he insists.
Pastor David Jang doesn’t oversimplify the blessing found in Ephesians 6:3: “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Instead, he stresses that “honor” involves an act of “lifting up” those above us. He often uses an anecdote about a granddaughter who buys one ice cream cone and gives it to her grandmother, causing the granddaughter’s younger sibling to cry out of jealousy, complaining, “Why do you only love Grandma?” But the grandmother, rather than feeling guilty, calls it “wise” and accepts the cone. Pastor David Jang interprets this scene to show that “honor is the practice of lifting up those above us,” and the next generation sees that and reciprocates, creating a positive cycle.
He also cites Mark 7, where Jesus rebukes the tradition of “Corban,” exposing the hypocrisy of claiming, “What I should have given to my parents, I’ve given to God, so I’m excused.” Jesus firmly replies, “You nullify the word of God,” highlighting that devotion to God never justifies neglecting one’s parents. Pastor David Jang warns the church to remain vigilant against this distortion, emphasizing the core of the gospel: “Love restores all relationships.” Because that love flows from being “in the Lord,” “honor your parents” is not just a culturally commendable virtue but a “command that leads us into the gospel.”
Considering Ephesians 6:4—“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord”—Pastor David Jang notes how interesting it is that fathers are specifically warned first. This instruction prevents parents from ignoring their children’s feelings and wielding patriarchal power. In reality, many children find their fathers distant and intimidating. Yet in the gospel, “fatherhood” respects and cherishes children as God-given life. “Training and instruction in the Lord” does not merely refer to secular knowledge but to discipline that presupposes Christ’s sacrifice and love, something that is both strict yet nurturing.
Summarizing this, Pastor David Jang says, “Children should obey and honor their parents, but parents do not have the right to oppress their children.” He parallels this dynamic to our relationship with “God the Father,” explaining that “not exasperating” children involves respecting their individuality and striving not to cause them harm. Meanwhile, “bringing them up in the Lord’s training and instruction” is not unconditional laxity but guiding them in Christ’s love so that the gospel is consistently imparted.
In essence, the relationship between children and parents in Ephesians 6 reminds us that the family is “the basic unit of the kingdom of heaven.” Among the triad of education—church, school, and home—the home is central. Once the home crumbles, the church and society inevitably shake. Only when both “children who honor parents in the Lord” and “parents who do not exasperate their children” stand correctly can a healthy structure form, according to Pastor David Jang. Being fully aware of how many broken homes there are, he pleads that the rifts can be mended by the power of the gospel. The church, he argues, must serve as a “refuge for wounded children and troubled parents alike, offering healing through the gospel.”
The Enduring Significance of Slaves and Masters: A Paradox of Service and Authority
Ephesians 6:5 and onward addresses slaves and masters. Although slavery has been abolished in most modern states, one might think these instructions have little direct relevance today. Yet Pastor David Jang believes we can understand Paul’s era while recognizing that the message transcends time, guiding relationships between weak and strong, or between employees and employers in the 21st century. Again, Paul addresses “slaves” first, not “masters.” Conventionally, you’d expect the exhortation to be directed at those in power, but the gospel proceeds in the opposite direction.
Pastor David Jang calls this “the secret of the gospel and kingdom ethics.” In worldly terms, you would flatter or be wary of those who wield power, but the gospel says, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” Even if slaves stand on a lower rung in social hierarchy, “in the kingdom of God” they are by no means inferior, and God values genuine service, “not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers,” but from a pure heart.
He often refers to this as having the right “motivation before God.” If a believer merely pretends to work hard while harboring ill will toward their boss, their heart isn’t pure before God. Conversely, even a seemingly menial task performed “as unto the Lord” brings glory to God. The verse “whether slave or free, if anyone does good, they will receive back from the Lord” (Eph. 6:8) supports this principle. Pastor David Jang emphasizes that Scripture doesn’t deny the idea of “God rewarding those who do good.” This reward may not necessarily mean secular success or material abundance, but “honor in heaven” or “spiritual blessing” will definitely follow.
Then he points out the radical nature of the command in verse 9—“Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening.” During Roman times, under the law, slaves were property, and masters had control even over a slave’s life. Yet Paul reminds them that “He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Pastor David Jang addresses the misunderstanding that “the church condoned slavery because Paul didn’t outright abolish it.” Instead, through the gospel, slaves and masters became brothers, and this eventually dismantled the institution of slavery from within, something verified in the letter to Philemon.
Pastor David Jang argues that in modern life, everyone experiences both the role of “slave” and “master.” In certain organizations, one may have authority, while in other contexts, one receives orders from someone else. The key, in the Holy Spirit, is to “work as unto the Lord” and to “refrain from threats.” Earthly authority and power are temporary; all of us are equal before God. Therefore, those who are “masters” must practice “servant leadership,” and those in the position of “slaves” must “fix their eyes on God rather than on man,” Pastor David Jang repeatedly exhorts.
Practical Application: How a Life Filled with the Holy Spirit Transforms Home and Society
Pastor David Jang concludes his sermon by returning to the directive, “Do not get drunk on wine… but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18). He asserts that a decisive turning point in the relationships between wives and husbands, children and parents, and slaves and masters hinges on “the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” “In fear, anxiety, anger, and hurt, the power to love first comes only when the Holy Spirit descends,” he emphasizes. Then, a Spirit-filled individual can channel positive influence into their home, church, and workplace.
Certainly, the church itself can experience conflicts and injuries. Pastor David Jang notes, “Especially children from broken homes often gather in the church. The church has a huge responsibility to heal their wounds and help them discover the true ‘Fatherhood of God.’” To achieve this, the church must lead by example, practicing “kingdom ethics.” Church leaders must also “stop threatening,” forsaking external showiness for genuine service. Parents and children alike should learn to embrace one another. The same goes for family life: if parents repent in the Holy Spirit and husbands sacrifice for their wives, wives will begin to honor them in turn. This progressive “inversion of order” and “commitment to love” eventually stabilizes the home.
So how do we maintain being filled with the Spirit? Pastor David Jang maintains that regular self-examination through Bible study and prayer is crucial. Just as Paul exhorts in Ephesians to “put on the new self,” we must daily repent and seek the Spirit’s power. Also vital, he believes, is belonging to a worshiping community characterized by praise and gratitude. In corporate gatherings where believers seek the Holy Spirit in worship, we experience the joy of the Spirit working among “the body of Christ.” In that experience, individual weaknesses are surpassed, and we begin to treat each other “as unto the Lord,” a kind of “preview of God’s kingdom” in the church.
He also warns against “misdirected zeal” where believers focus on church activities but neglect their families. This aligns with the aforementioned “Corban” problem. Claiming “I’m dedicated to God” while neglecting one’s parents or family is contrary to the spirit of the gospel. True devotion should guide us to care for our families first. Drawing from many real-life cases, Pastor David Jang asks, “If your household is crumbling and yet you’re diligently serving in church, what do you think the world will say about the church?” Hence, he urges people, “Even if your family is in turmoil, do not treat your parents or spouse with contempt. Do what you can to love and honor them, relying on the Spirit’s help. Then God will open a way.”
The three pairs of relationships in Ephesians 6—wives and husbands, parents and children, and slaves and masters—thus serve as concrete examples of “how Spirit-filled living operates in everyday life.” As Pastor David Jang repeatedly notes, embracing the paradox of the gospel changes our workplaces and homes. The world prioritizes the strong, but Ephesians 6 and the gospel show us that “by addressing the weak first, God eventually transforms the strong.” Wives come first, children come first, slaves come first, and God first admonishes them. This sequence is “the order of the kingdom.”
Pastor David Jang clarifies that this does not mean, “Ignore the weak when they are treated unjustly.” Rather, he states that “although injustice must be corrected, the gospel’s solution always starts with ‘listening to the voice of God as it is first addressed to me.’” Whether one is a wife, a child, or a slave—labeled as the lower tier—when they practice submission and respect “in the Lord,” God, “our Master in heaven,” reciprocates directly. In parallel, those in higher positions—husbands, parents, or masters—must heed the same warning “not to threaten.”
The gospel overturns human hierarchies, revealing within that very upheaval the “higher, more perfect love and justice of God.” Pastor David Jang explains that “this paradoxical triumph is precisely what Christ’s cross revealed.” Instead of toppling the Roman Empire with military force, Jesus bore the cross, paying the price for sin and opening the way to eternal life. This runs counter to conventional wisdom and is the foundation for the ethical commands in Ephesians 6.
He cautions that the church has sometimes misapplied Ephesians 6 to “legitimize the old system of slavery or patriarchal authority,” and we must be on guard against repeating past mistakes. The true power of the gospel leads us beyond such distortions, forming a community that practices love, respect, and service. Despite modern legislation that guarantees equality, workplace abuse and domestic violence remain widespread, and even within the church, there are incidents of abusing authority between “clergy” and “laypeople.” In these situations, the church must not merely “take sides” but proclaim the fundamental gospel message that “we are all brothers,” and set up spiritual and institutional mechanisms that foster genuine obedience to that vision. Moreover, Pastor David Jang reminds us that our ultimate aim is “reconciliation and peace, not hostility.”
In conclusion, Pastor David Jang’s exposition of Ephesians 6 consistently presents four interconnected messages. First, in the relationship between wives and husbands, “giving priority to the wife” reveals the gospel’s upside-down order. Second, when it comes to children and parents, “honor in the Lord” sets in motion blessings that can endure for a thousand generations as the “first commandment with a promise.” Third, the directive to “address slaves first, then tell masters to stop threatening” points to the fact that God cares more about our internal posture before Him than our outward status. Fourth, the power to carry out all these instructions is found in the command “do not get drunk on wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit,” and indeed, it is the fullness of the Spirit that brings healing to households and society.
Pastor David Jang often references the phrase “This is a great mystery.” By “mystery,” he does not mean something hidden; rather, he refers to the “divine paradox beyond human logic” revealed at the cross. As with the cross, the gospel may seem contrary to worldly notions, but it’s through such a path that the most astonishing glory of God is unveiled. The fact that wives, children, and slaves come first represents “the divine voice proclaiming that the strong do not come first,” and it is also how the providence of love is carried out. When contemporary Christians read this passage, they should not repeat old mistakes but “rediscover the subversive and healing power of the gospel,” says Pastor David Jang.
He closes many of his sermons with the exhortation, “Take this Word and live it out. We are citizens of the kingdom yet live in the cultures of this world, by the Spirit. Let wives lift up their husbands, let children honor their parents, and let slaves serve their masters such that the masters might, in turn, be drawn to the gospel. This is the paradox of the cross and the life of a new creation.” Through this reversal of relationship structures, families stand firm, churches are renewed, society brightens, and God’s kingdom expands. Since someone filled with the Spirit can’t help but pour out that love, the aroma of the gospel permeates every tough reality we encounter.
Thus, Pastor David Jang’s message from Ephesians 6 remains remarkably relevant today. He sometimes jokes, “We must read the Bible upside down for its real flavor,” meaning we should read “wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters” instead of the usual hierarchy. Even if our society appears egalitarian, in practice it can still overlook the weak, and the church must testify to the “God who speaks first to the powerless.” Just as the cross demonstrates, this paradoxical love is the essence of the kingdom ethic taught in Ephesians. In Christ, there is no longer Jew nor Gentile, slave nor free, male nor female; we are all brothers and sisters. “Husband, wife, parent, child, master, slave” are simply earthly roles given to us so we can learn “the sacrifice and service of Christ” in our life together.
Therefore, every time Pastor David Jang finishes his sermons on Ephesians 6, he concludes with a prayer, “Lord, let us truly live this teaching,” urging the congregation to remain worshipers “even after leaving the sanctuary, in the family and the workplace.” These everyday arenas of home and job become the actual stage where the order of heaven flows forth anew. Ultimately, the message he has reiterated thousands of times provides the most fundamental gospel solution to today’s collapsed families, generation gaps, and workplace oppression. The core is “Seek the fullness of the Spirit and care first for the weak,” meaning that wives and husbands should honor each other, parents and children should be bound by love, and slaves and masters should be transformed through service and humility. In that process, believers take comfort in the conviction that “our Master in heaven” rewards every small act of goodness in a mysterious yet certain way.
From this vantage point, Pastor David Jang contends that Ephesians 6 does not compromise with first-century Mediterranean slavery or patriarchal culture; rather, through the gospel, it generates a strong internal force that overturns such structures. That force is still alive today, and if the church interprets and applies the gospel rightly, it can play a pivotal role in healing broken homes and distorted societies. Especially in the context of multicultural or immigrant communities, where such situations are increasingly common, Pastor David Jang notes that God “always extends His hand to the weak first,” and thus the church ought to warmly welcome strangers, refugees, and other marginalized persons. When gospel-centered practices in the home extend to the church and society at large, the “kingdom of God order” we all long for truly begins to grow.
Lastly, Pastor David Jang reminds us never to lose our sense of awe encompassed in the confession, “This is a great mystery.” God’s ways far transcend our reasoning. The order may appear inverted, and it may seem that God speaks first to the weak, but this is the very wisdom and power of the gospel. As creation began in the dark of evening, so too, in the midst of hopeless family and societal problems, a new dawn can break forth. That is possible because “our Master in heaven” watches over all with righteous, personal love. In the end, the relationships of “wives and husbands, children and parents, slaves and masters” channel the light of the gospel into individuals, families, and society. That is precisely the “blessing unto a thousand generations,” a new pattern of life for those who exchange drunkenness for the fullness of the Spirit, says Pastor David Jang. No matter how often he preaches, his conclusion remains: “We cannot walk this path without the Holy Spirit, but if we walk with the Spirit, our families, the world, and our souls will change.” He closes every sermon by saying that this is the formidable challenge and comfort Ephesians 6 offers us today.
