Jesus changed the world

Children and Parents

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother”–which is the first commandment with a promise– “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

I've never liked this particular passsge as it didn't seem to be truly freeing to those who were undertrodden. But, it is important to know the context of the situation in which Paul is speakingn to the Ephesians. To our modern ears, it seems like Paul is saying that we must have a hierarchial view of life. But really, as my friend James puts it "I believe Paul intends to put stress into the reading because while wives, children, and slaves all are expected to submit as those who are the least in the society and culture he writes in, the idea that husbands, fathers, and masters should become like Christ and make themselves the least and serve the wives, children, and slaves undermines these hierarchal systems." When Paul tells husbands to treat his wife sacrificially, and slave owners as equals and fathers with care to how their children will be affected by this fatherly treatment he's showing them a better, godly way. While not as  'revolutionary as we in the 21st century would like, it definitely was revolutionary for its time.

For more imformation see :Does Ephesians 5 and 6 endorse or subvert hierarchical systems and relationships?