Colossians 3:20 - Exposition

To children, be obedient to your parents in all things; for this is well pleasing in the Lord ( Ephesians 6:1 , Ephesians 6:2 ; Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 5:16 ; Le Deuteronomy 19:3 ; Proverbs 23:1-35 . 22; Luke 2:51 , Luke 2:52 ). In Ephesians 6:1 , Ephesians 6:2 "in all things" ( κατὰ πάντα , "in regard to all things") is wanting; and not the extent, but the intrinsic rightness of the command as it is found in the Decalogue is insisted on. But here, where "Christ is all and in all" ( Ephesians 6:11 ), it is "in the Lord" (Revised Text) that the child's obedience is declared to be "well pleasing." There is something especially pleasing in the behaviour of a lovingly obedient child, that wins "favour" both "with God and man" ( Luke 2:52 ). The law of filial obedience has its creative ground "in him" ( Colossians 1:16 ), and is an essential part of the Christian order of life, which is the natural order restored and perfected. "Well pleasing" is a favourite word of St. Paul's (comp. Colossians 1:10 ; Ephesians 5:10 ; Philippians 4:8 ; Romans 14:18 ; Titus 2:9 , etc.; used also in Hebrews).