Introduction
‘Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.’ Colossians 3:1-4
LIVING AS THOSE MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST
Paul reminds the saints at Colossae that they need to keep their hearts and minds on heavenly things, Colossians 3:1-2.
Robertson, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Christian has to keep his feet upon the earth, but his head in the heavens. He must be heavenly-minded here on earth and so help to make earth like heaven.’
This is so important, even for Christians today, especially if we want to become mature by being transformed, Romans 12:2 / Romans 8:5-6. One way to help us keep our minds on heavenly things is simply to follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:8. Paul gives us another reason why we should keep our hearts and minds set on heavenly things.
He says, ‘we died’, Colossians 3:3, this happened when we were baptised into Christ, Romans 6:3-6. But what did we die to? We died to sin, Romans 6:7-13. The good news does not only tell us we died with Christ, but we were also ‘raised with Christ’, Colossians 3:1, which happened when we come up from the waters of baptism, Colossians 2:12. But we were raised with Christ for a purpose, Romans 6:4.
Our story will end in glory and the truth is we’ve already been glorified, it’s just that people haven’t seen it yet, Colossians 3:3-4 / Romans 8:30. We have already been glorified. Now you might think, well, nobody can see it.
Do you know why? Because they can’t see Jesus’ glory either. It’s impossible apart from the illumination of the Holy Spirit for people to see the glory of God in a man on a cross. And since your life is hidden in Christ and they can’t see His glory, Colossians 3:3-4, your life doesn’t make sense to them either.
Here we are trying to focus on heaven, trying to live by a different preoccupation, and not get caught up in the worry of the things of the world. And our life makes no sense at all to the world because we’re hidden in Christ, and they can’t see who He is. Paul says, ‘someday that’s going to change’, there’s going to come a day when the real world is revealed. That day is going to be the revelation of the Son of God.
‘Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices’ Colossians 3:5-9
To keep our hearts and minds on things above we must get rid of our earthly nature.
Dunn, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Despite the power of their having been identified with Christ in his death, there were still things, parts of their old lives, habits of hand and mind, which tied them ’to the earth’ and hindered the outworking of the ’mind set on what is above.’
SEXUAL IMMORALITY
‘Sexual immorality’, Colossians 3:5. in Greek is the word, ‘porneia’, this is a general term for any illicit sexual intercourse which includes adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality.
IMPURITY
‘Impurity’, Colossians 3:5, in Greek is the word, ‘akatharsia’ and it means uncleanness in a moral sense, the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living.
LUST
‘Lust’, Colossians 3:5, in Greek is the word, ‘pathos’ it was used by the Greeks in either a good or bad sense, in the New Testament in a bad sense, it means depraved passion, vile passions.
EVIL DESIRE
‘Evil desire’, Colossians 3:5, in Greek is the word, ‘epithumia’ and it means to desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust.
GREED
‘Greed’, Colossians 3:5, in Greek is the word, ‘pleonexia’ and it means greedy desire to have more, covetousness, avarice. Notice Paul says this is the same as ‘idolatry’. Greed puts things in the place of God. We’re to set our minds on things above, where God is, but when we’re greedy for material objects we have our minds on things below, making such objects our idols!
Why is it important to put these sins to death? ‘Because of these, the wrath of God is coming,’ Colossians 2:6. It’s one thing to do these things when we lived in them, but in Christ, we have died to them. They used to walk in these way, they used to live like this, but not anymore, Colossians 3:7.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Such behavior will bring God’s wrath eventually, Colossians 3:6. That is, God will discipline Christians as well as non-believers who practice these things. These activities normally characterize the unsaved, so Christians are to lay them aside, Colossians 3:8 / Matthew 5:29-30 / Romans 8:13 / Ephesians 5:3-14.’
Paul hasn’t finished in his list of sins that need to be put to death within us. Notice he begins by naming the sins which are related to our emotions.
ANGER
‘Anger’, Colossians 3:8, in Greek is the word, ‘orge’ which means a movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but especially anger.
RAGE
‘Rage’, Colossians 3:8, in Greek is the word ‘thumos’ and it means passion, angry, heat, and anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again.
MALICE
‘Malice’, Colossians 3:8, in Greek is the word, ‘kakia’ which means malignity, malice, ill-will, desire to injure. Now notice that Paul now gives a list of sins that deal with the tongue.
SLANDER
‘Slander’, Colossians 3:8, in Greek is the word, ‘blasphemia’ and it means to slander, detraction, speech, injurious to another’s good name, impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty.
FILTHY LANGUAGE
‘Filthy language’, Colossians 3:8, in Greek is the word, ‘aischrologia’ and it means foul speaking, low and obscene speech.
LYING
‘Lying’, Colossians 3:9, in Greek is the word, ‘pseudomai’ and it means, to lie, to speak deliberate falsehoods, to deceive one by a lie, to lie to.
And what is the reason for putting to death all these sins? ‘Taken off our old self,’ Colossians 3:9. God is trying to help us become mature and sin only hinders us from becoming mature. And let’s be honest, we won’t put to death these sins and other sins not on Paul’s list here, overnight, they may take days, weeks, months or even years in some people’s cases, Colossians 2:11-12.
‘And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.’ Colossians 3:10-11
Notice what Paul says here to encourage us to put to death those sins, He reminds us that have put on our ‘new self’, Colossians 3:10. Again, this is a reference to what happens at our baptism, Galatians 3:27. Those behavioural practices of life that they put off must be replaced with positive actions of righteousness. Now that they were walking in newness of life, their behaviour must characterise the One after whom they called themselves, Philippians 1:27.
We are ‘new’ because of the washing of sin by the blood of Jesus, we are ‘new’ because we decided to maintain direction in our life that’s guided by his knowledge of Christ, Colossians 3:10. We’re continually renewed by the knowledge of Christ in walking the Christian life.
The renewing process is a continual growth in the knowledge of Jesus, 2 Corinthians 3:18 / 2 Corinthians 4:16 / 2 Peter 3:18. Our growth is pointed in the direction of the image of Jesus, Colossians 3:10 / Romans 8:29 / 2 Corinthians 3:18 / Ephesians 4:11-15, and so, we’re continually becoming more like Jesus, 2 Peter 1:3-8.
One identifying characteristic of those who are being conformed to the image of Christ is the fact that they begin to see humanity as God sees all men, Colossians 3:11. God sees no race or social or economic classifications. In Christ, our racism is broken down. Racism is dissolved in the minds of those who grow to understand that we are one in Christ.
Though sociological behaviour between groups of people divides men in societies by cultural characteristics, such cannot divide disciples in the church, Colossians 3:11 / Galatians 3:26-29. Being ‘in Christ’ doesn’t mean that men lose their culture, all men are related to one another in society through their common cultural characteristics. However, when we come into Christ, our culture is moulded by God.
We’re transformed into the image of Christ and so dwell as one man with all who are in Christ. In the Christian community, therefore, every member is moulded to be able to dwell in eternity with those of other cultures.
Fellowship in the church becomes the test as to whether we can dwell in heaven with those who have come from different cultural backgrounds.
We need to remember that ‘Christ is all and in all’, Colossians 3:11. This is one of the greatest statements made in Scripture that declares the fact that it is all about Jesus. In life and worship, the Christian must proclaim the centrality of Christ to our behaviour. If our worship is focused on what we can get out of it, then we have missed the point.
If we become Christian to see what material blessings we can receive, we don’t understand who Jesus is and what we must be in response to His deity.
Every disciple must awake every morning and declare that it is a day the Lord has made, Psalm 118:24, and thus declared Christ is all in all for the day.
‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.’ Colossians 3:12-17
Notice that Paul gives us other reasons as to why we should put on these new ‘clothes’. He says we are ‘God’s chosen people, holy, dearly loved and forgiven by Christ’, Colossians 3:12. If these things alone don’t encourage us to be transformed, I don’t know what will. God has foreseen that in final judgment He will elect out of the world His children, 1 Peter 1:21 / 1 Peter 2:5 / 1 Peter 2:9.
From our standpoint that is confined to time, we haven’t realised the action of His future election of the church out of the world. However, since God does know the future, and what He will do, then Christians can be referred to in time as the elect of God.
Therefore, since we are the ones who will in the future be called into eternal glory, we must put on the nature of Christ with whom we will dwell in heaven. The nature that must characterise the elect is developed by loving God and one’s neighbour, Matthew 22:37-40 / John 13:34-35.
Interpersonal relationships are based on loving our neighbour, Mark 12:30-31. Love in action will thus produce the fruit of the Spirit in one’s life, Galatians 5:22-23. Paul continues to describe the ‘clothing’ Christians must put on. He begins by reminding us that there are two ways we need to treat others, Colossians 3:12.
COMPASSION
‘Compassion’, Colossians 3:12, in Greek is the word, ‘oiktirmos’ which means pity, mercy, or a heart of compassion.
KINDNESS
‘Kindness’, Colossians 3:12, in Greek is the word, ‘chrestotes’ and it means usefulness, kindness.
Paul continues and gives us two more things that we need to put on in relation to our state of mind.
HUMILITY
‘Humility’, Colossians 3:12, in Greek is the word, ‘tapeinophrosune’ and it means to have a humble opinion of oneself, a deep sense of one’s moral littleness, modesty, humility, lowliness of mind.
GENTLENESS
‘Gentleness’, Colossians 3:12, in Greek is the word, ‘praotes’ and it means mildness, meekness.
Paul continues and gives us three more things that we need to put on in relation to how we act when we’re being mistreated by others.
PATIENCE
‘Patience’, Colossians 3:12, in Greek is the word, ‘makrothumia’ and it means forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.
BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER
‘Bearing with one another’, Colossians 3:13, in Greek is the word, ‘anechomai’ and it means to sustain, to bear, to endure.
FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER
‘Forgiving one another’, Colossians 3:13, in Greek is the word, ‘charizomai’ and it means to do something pleasant or agreeable, to do a favour, gratify, to grant forgiveness, to pardon. Forgiving others is demanded because we have been forgiven by Christ!
LOVE
Paul continues and gives us one more thing that we need to put on and that’s ‘love’, Colossians 3:14. This is the Greek word, ‘agape’ meaning goodwill, benevolence. Paul says love ‘binds them all together in perfect unity,’ Colossians 3:14. Without love, none of the other virtues can last, with it, the others can be easily maintained.
And when all these are tied together, the Christian can display the character of Christ Himself. But Paul isn’t finished yet, he speaks about ‘the peace of God which must dwell in our hearts,’ Colossians 3:15. Why? Because we were called to be at ‘peace’ in one body, the church, Colossians 3:15.
This is one reason why Jesus came to die on the cross, Ephesians 2:14-18. In other words, if we disrupt the peace of the body, church, we disrupt the work of Christ on the cross and so we must be diligent to ‘maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond peace,’ Ephesians 4:3.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, where there is contention and strife, it’s among members of the body who aren’t letting the peace of God rule in their hearts. Peace in the body, the church, begins with peace ruling in our hearts.
And this whole process begins when we follow Paul’s advice in Colossians 3:1-2. And this peace is experienced as we engage in ‘thankful prayer’, Colossians 3:15 / Philippians 4:6-7.
Paul continues with our new ‘clothing’ and tells us we need to ‘let the message of Christ dwell among you richly,’ Colossians 3:16. This is possible only through a serious effort to learn it, whether it be through Bible study on our own or in a class or through sermons but as we know learning is one thing but obeying what we’re learning is another, James 1:22-25.
Notice also that Paul says that the message is to dwell in us ‘richly’, Colossians 3:16, this happens when we add to our study of the Word of God the element of ‘song.’ We know this because Paul says we’re to let the Word dwell in us richly, in other words, by ‘teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,’ Colossians 3:16. In other words, if the Word of God is going to dwell in us, it doesn’t only involve the mind through Bible study, but it also involves the heart, our emotions, and through song.
We have to understand the words of the songs we’re singing and sing with gratitude in our hearts and when we do it’s all joy, Ephesians 5:19. In both Ephesians and Colossians notice the phrase ‘one another’ Colossians 3:16 / Ephesians 5:19, is used. Paul is reminding us of what the type of music is to be used, and that type of music is congregational singing. Paul mentions three categories of singing.
PSALMS
‘Psalms’, Colossians 3:16, were songs that were sung with the sole purpose of praising God, this may include some of the psalms and melodies which we find written by David in the Book of Psalms.
HYMNS
‘Hymns’, Colossians 3:16, may well be songs that were composed by the early Christians which focused mainly on thanksgiving for what God has done in their lives and their salvation.
SPIRITUAL SONGS
‘Spiritual songs’, Colossians 3:16, were songs that were sung to encourage and edify the soul in worship, this was the means of teaching and admonishing one another.
All of which are to be sung with the purpose of ‘teaching’ and ‘admonishing’ one another with spiritual truths, Colossians 3:16 / Ephesians 5:19. The Ephesian passage also tells us that we are to ‘make music in our hearts’, Ephesians 5:19. When we sing, we are teaching and admonishing each other and so filling each other with the words of Christ. This isn’t an outward attitude, expressed with instruments, or by clapping our hands in time with the song, it’s very much an inner attitude.
God says listen, ‘apart from glorifying Him, singing is also a way of getting fed spiritually’. When we’re singing the words to a song, we are feeding each other on the word of God at the same time. And because we are feeding on those words, we are also promoting the purity of the heart within ourselves.
God tells us that we’ve got four things to think about when we are praising Him in song.
1. We can sing Psalms, spiritual songs, and hymns.
2. Our singing needs to be aimed at Him.
3. We need to sing with gratitude.
4. We need to sing from the heart.
That’s why we sing together as a body of believers and that’s why we have to sing together at the same time because when we sing together, we are praising God together, and that’s part of our worship to Him. Have you ever noticed what comes before Ephesians 5:19? Yes, it’s Ephesians 5:18, but what does Ephesians 5:17-18 say? ‘Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.’
Is Paul jumping on to a different subject in Ephesians 5:19? Of course not, he’s still speaking about our attitude towards other people and the will of God. Being filled with the Spirit means filling our minds with the word of God and what that does, is creates gratitude in our hearts, which is expressed in our singing to God. That’s why Paul says, ‘Don’t get drunk on wine’, Ephesians 5:19, he’s saying the Lord’s will for us is joy, not alcohol.
He goes on to say in Ephesians 5:20-21, ‘Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’ In other words, everything we do in our worship assemblies is done out of gratitude. Paul says it should always be like this, he says we should be thankful for all things, we should be thankful for everything in Jesus’ name, and our thankfulness should be aimed at God, Ephesians 5:20 / Colossians 3:17.
Singing praises to God is a privilege, it’s a joy and God has given each of us a voice with which to praise Him. Think about it, if our singing comes from our hearts, it goes straight to the heart of God, and that’s a wonderful experience.
The word ‘singing’ in our English translations is from the Greek word ‘psallo’, which literally means, ‘plucking the heartstrings.’ When we use our voices to praise God, we are plucking our heartstrings and so not only is God pleased but it also brings us great joy.
Paul continues and says, ‘and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him,’ Colossians 3:17. This is speaking about the authority of Christ. For if we say or do all ‘in the name of the Lord Jesus’, that is, by His authority, then it’s evident that we have put on the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Did you know that singing is only mentioned nine times in the New Testament? We have examples of singing individually, Matthew 26:30. The word hymn in Matthew 26:30, is actually the word hymning, which basically means they sang a lot of hymns from the Psalms, probably the Hallel Psalms which are Psalms 115-118. We also have examples of singing as a congregation, Romans 15:8-9, and there are a few more examples we could read but we’re going to look at those later.
The first mention of any musical instrument in the Bible is found in Genesis 4:21, and the first mention of singing with a musical instrument is found in Genesis 31:26-27. Wasn’t Moses commanded to make musical instruments? Moses was commanded to make silver trumpets but not for the purpose of music or worship, Numbers 10:2.
What about David, didn’t he introduce musical instruments to Old Testament worship? 1 Chronicles 23:5. Didn’t God command the use of instrumental music in Old Testament worship? 2 Chronicles 29:25. Remember that Moses no-where appointed any musical instruments to be used in worship. There was nothing of the kind under the first tabernacle and that’s because God didn’t ask for them. The above text is telling us that Hezekiah appointed the Levites in the house of the Lord, and David commanded the use of the instruments mentioned.
What did God command? He commanded through His prophets that the Levites should praise the Lord, but it doesn’t mean that the Lord commanded the use of the instruments. It was by the order of David that so many instruments of music should be introduced into the divine service, 1 Chronicles 23:4-5.
Here’s what Adam Clarke, the most renowned scholar of the Methodist Church, wrote about this text.
‘I believe that David was not authorised by the Lord to introduce that multitude of musical instruments into the Divine worship of which we read, and I am satisfied that his conduct in this respect is most solemnly reprehended by this prophet; and I farther believe that the use of such instruments of music, in the Christian Church, is without the sanction and against the will of God; and that they are ‘sinful’.
Yes, David introduced musical instruments into temple worship, but God didn’t ask for them. David also introduced the idea of building a temple for God, but God didn’t ask for one to be built in the first place, 1 Chronicles 17:1-6. Musical instruments in worship were David’s idea, not God’s, building a temple for God to dwell in was David’s idea, not God’s.
Why did God allow instruments in worship? One plausible answer to that question is that God permitted it, just like He permitted divorce because of the hardness of their hearts, and their spiritual immaturity, Matthew 19:8. Now we could go to Revelation 5:8, and ask the question, are there harps in heaven? Perhaps there are and apart from Revelation being a highly figurative book, we need to remember that we’re dealing with the here and now, not the future.
There are no examples or commands to use instrumental music in the New Testament, but the New Testament expressively commands us to sing. The New Testament doesn’t explicitly condemn the use of musical instruments, but the New Testament doesn’t explicitly condemn praying to Mary or baptising infants, does it? We don’t go by the things that are not there in Scripture, we go by the things that are there.
Now we can’t say that any kind of instruments wasn’t available to the early Christians because there were, but Christians were directed by the Holy Spirit to use only their voices. They were commanded to pluck their heartstrings rather than plucking the strings of a musical instrument.
Around 600 years after the apostles had gone, Pope Vitalian introduced an organ in the Latin Church around 670 A.D. But the opposition was so great it was removed to preserve unity, and it would be another 200 years before it would be adopted into the Latin Mass. In 1054 A.D. a great division took place between the eastern and the western churches of Europe. While the western churches are Catholic adopted the use of images, a universal head, Pope, instrumental music, and sprinkling for baptism, the eastern churches, Orthodox, rejected these things.
To this very day Orthodox churches, Greek, Russian and Eastern, use only vocal music. Secular history is very clear that the use of instrumental music in public worship did not take place until about the 10th century, which was one of the innovations of the Catholic Church. It was never a practice in the early centuries of the church, in fact, the renowned musicologist Curt Sachs of Columbia University said, ‘All ancient Christian music was vocal.’
When the Protestant Reformation began in the early 1500s many left the Catholic Church and established other churches. Almost without exception, the leaders of these denominations were opposed to the use of instrumental music in worship. During the Reformation period, only the Church of England and the Lutherans carried over the use of instrumental music from their Roman Catholic past. In modern-day worship not only is it common to hear organs and pianos but full orchestras.
Professional musicians are even employed but again we need to remind ourselves that this may well be pleasing to the ears of men, but Paul said to ‘make melody in your heart to the Lord,’ Ephesians 5:19. It’s not a matter of feelings, it’s a matter of gratitude, everything we do in our worship assemblies is done out of gratitude. Paul says it should always be like this, he says we should be thankful for all things, we should be thankful for everything in Jesus’ name, and our thankfulness should be aimed at God, Ephesians 5:20.
Paul doesn’t say that he ‘will sing with an instrument’, he says ‘I will sing with my spirit and my mind,’ 1 Corinthians 14:15. The word ‘singing’ in our English translations is from the Greek word ‘psallo’, which literally means, ‘plucking the heart strings’. When we use our voices to praise God, we are plucking our heartstrings and so not only is God pleased but it also brings us great joy, James 5:17.
John Wesley the founder of the Methodist church, said the following.
‘I have no objection to instruments in our chapels provided they are neither heard nor seen.’
John Calvin the forerunner of the Presbyterian Church wrote the following.
‘Musical instruments in celebrating the praise of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting of lamps, the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews.’
Charles Spurgeon the famous preacher of the Baptist church in London said the following.
‘Musical instruments would hinder rather than help our praise. Sing unto Him. This is the sweetest and best music. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it.’
They all understood that the whole object of Christian worship is to bring glory to God and worship is not intended to please men, but to please God, Hebrews 13:15.
Richard Wagner, one of the great musicians and composers in America once expressed his opinion about vocal music in these words.
‘There is no doubt but that those qualities absolutely necessary to church music, namely, modesty, dignity and soulfulness are more inherent in the vocal style than in any other. Vocal music is in general more expressive than the mechanically produced tones of instruments is undeniable. Religious feeling finds its most natural expression in vocal utterance, for the human heart is the source of both devotion and song.’
The real question we should be asking ourselves is simply this, are we singing and making melody in our hearts or just miming the words? Do the words of the songs, move us and put our minds on heavenly things? Colossians 3:1-2.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN HOUSEHOLDS
‘Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.’ Colossians 3:18
WIVES
The relationship between a husband and wife can be one of the greatest relationships we have, they can certainly bring out the worst in us, but they can also bring out the best in us, Ephesians 5:22-24. God decided that man needed some kind of companionship in this world, Genesis 2:18, and when Adam couldn’t find it within the animal kingdom, God went on to create Eve from Adam, Genesis 2:22. When Adam saw Eve for the first time, he said, ‘here is someone like me, she’s a part of my body, my own flesh, and bones. I’ll call her woman.’ Genesis 2:23.
We know the rest of the story; Eve fell for the serpent’s lies and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. She then offers some of the fruit to Adam and he ate it, and so sin entered the world, Genesis 3:6. We know that Satan was cursed by God, Genesis 3:14, we know that Adam was cursed by God, Genesis 3:17, and to Eve He said her desire will be for her husband, Genesis 3:16.
When God created Eve, He did so by using one of Adam’s ribs, Genesis 2:21-22, the word ‘rib’ is very misleading, the actual text literally says it was a shank that was removed from Adam’s side. The point is that woman wasn’t made out of an inferior substance, woman was a part of him, a very important part of him. God created an ‘ezer’, a helper for Adam. He didn’t create a slave; He didn’t create a servant. He created someone who would share in the responsibilities of life, he created them as equals.
In many cultures, even today, women are treated no better than slaves. The Greeks believed, ‘we have courtesans for the sake of pleasure, we have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation, and we have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately.’
A Greek author says the following concerning Greek wives.
‘Let her live that she might see as little as possible, hear as little as possible and ask as little as possible.’
As far as the Greeks were concerned, a wife’s role was simply to run the house, and take care of the children, while the husband enjoyed pleasure and companionship from someone else.
When the Romans came on the scene their view of women wasn’t much better, they believed ‘women are married to be divorced.’ Under Roman law, a wife had no legal rights, everything she was and had, came from her husband, and so, she was completely dependent on her husband.
Hebrew women actually had it better than many most other women in other cultures, but only just better. We know that by the time Christ came along divorce was becoming rampant among the Jews and all the rights lay with the man, Deuteronomy 24:1.
By the time Christ comes along, the Jews were using the phrase ‘something indecent about her’, Deuteronomy 24:1, as an excuse for divorce. Some believed it meant adultery, others believed it meant if the wife had burned your dinner or went out with their heads uncovered. Others believed it meant that the husband found someone more attractive. And so, in the Jewish culture, a woman had more rights than a slave but only just.
Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:22, are the same words that Paul writes to the Colossian church in Colossians 3:18. The wife must submit to her husband and the husband must love his wife as Christ loved the church at the same time.
Remember the Greeks and the Romans didn’t see their wives as a person, they saw them as a piece of property. Their wives weren’t allowed to make decisions of their own, especially when it came to religion. It was the husband who decided what everybody’s religion was going to be in their household.
The wife had no rights whatsoever and so, as far as the women, the children, and the slaves were concerned, they were just objects, they had no say in anything. And so, we can imagine the impact the Gospel would have had in that society.
Imagine the impact on the Jews as they are told that God loves the Gentiles as much as them! Imagine the impact on the slaves as they are told that God loves them as much as their owners! Imagine the impact on the females as they are told that God loves them as much as the men!
Imagine the impact the Gospel would have had in that society when Paul declares that males and females are one, Galatians 3:28. I’m sure all the women and all the slaves, couldn’t believe what Paul was preaching. We can imagine them asking Paul, ‘are you telling us we’re all one in Christ Jesus?’ I can imagine Paul saying, ‘yes you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re a Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, your all one on Christ Jesus,’ Galatians 3:28.
While the women and slaves are rejoicing at this good news, I can imagine the men in that society going absolutely nuts. If these women believe what this Paul guy says, they might think they are just as important as we are! If these slaves believe what this Paul guy says, they might get too big for their boots, they might try and take over and we men will lose control of our homes and eventually our society!
That’s why Christianity was regarded as dangerous and rebellious at that time. And so, after declaring that all are one in Christ Jesus, Paul has to be very careful about how he teaches these women to enjoy their new freedom in Christ, whilst living within their culture.
There is some good news and bad news concerning ‘wives submitting to their husbands’, Ephesians 5:22. The good news is that the word, ‘submit’ isn’t in the original text. The bad news is, it should be, otherwise the text wouldn’t make sense. When the Bible was written there were no chapters and verses and so, let’s read how it actually reads, ‘Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ, wives, to your husbands as to the Lord,’ Ephesians 5:21-22.
In other words, we don’t start with, ‘wives submit to your husbands’, we start with, ‘submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.’ And notice that Paul doesn’t say, ‘wives submit yourselves to your husbands,’ he says, ‘wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord,’ Ephesians 5:22.
Put yourself in the place of a married woman living in Ephesus. Imagine you’re sitting there amongst the congregation and suddenly, you hear this letter being read out to everyone and you realise that Paul is actually addressing you, as a woman!
I’m sure they would be thinking, at last, someone who actually recognises we exist! Someone who acknowledges that we’re smart enough to understand what he’s saying! Imagine being there when Paul’s words were being readout, and hearing those first few words, ‘Wives, submit to your husbands’.
We can almost imagine the women thinking, ‘oh here we go again, another man putting us back in our place where we belong!’ But then they hear the words, ‘as you do to the Lord,’ Ephesians 5:22. Now, what does ‘in the Lord’ mean? Colossians 3:18. I think the way to figure this out in part is to look at the phrase ‘in the Lord’ every time it occurs in the Bible. That won’t take long because it only occurs three times.
When it’s used in 1 Corinthians 7:39, does it mean that the person she marries must be a Christian? That is certainly one alternative. It’s used in Ephesians 6:1, does that mean that if you have Christian parents, you have to obey them and if you don’t have Christian parents, you don’t have to obey them? No.
I think it means that children are to obey their parents in the sphere of the Lord’s authority. You have to obey your parents the way the Lord says to obey your parents. ‘In the Lord’ means in the way that the Lord guides you, in the way the Lord teaches you, in a way that shows you are in submission to the Lord.
Does Colossians 3:18, mean that if the husband is a Christian, you have to submit to him, but if he isn’t a Christian, you don’t have to submit to him? No. Paul’s counsel is to the wives. Wives, you are to submit to your husbands. How? In the Lord, in the way, the Lord would have you do it. Submit to him in the way the Lord leads you to submit to Him, not in the world’s concept, but Jesus’ concept. Wives, submit to your husbands in a way pleasing, acceptable to the Lord. ‘In the Lord’ signifies a realm of authority.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE WOMEN?
It doesn’t mean they were to submit to their husbands because they have no choice. It simply means, they’re to submit to their husbands, because the way they respond to their husbands is a powerful demonstration of their attitude towards their Lord.
The husband has been given certain responsibilities within the marriage and family and if the husband is fulfilling these responsibilities, then the wife is actually responding to the One who made him responsible. I’m sure you would have noticed that I used the word, ‘responsibility’ and not the word ‘authority’. Paul never says, ‘the husband is the authority figure in the home, who rules the family with an iron rod, and women better submit!’
He doesn’t say that he doesn’t say that men are superior, and women are inferior. He’s saying that a husband has been given responsibilities by God, and the wife simply needs to recognise those responsibilities and respond to them. When she recognises her husband’s God-given responsibilities and responds to them, it’s then that she’s submitting to her husband as to the Lord.
Peter says, if you were married to someone who isn’t a Christian, you can still submit to them, by showing them what it means to submit to the Lord, 1 Peter 3:1. And he says, you don’t even have to preach the Gospel to them, but you can show them the effect the Gospel has had on you, 1 Peter 3:1. Who knows, because of your Christ-like behaviour, they may one day become a Christian.
WHY SHOULD WIVES SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS?
Notice that Paul doesn’t say, ‘the husband is the head of the family’, he doesn’t say, ‘the husband is the head of the house’. Paul says, ‘the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour,’ Ephesians 5:23-24.
The word ‘head’ here, doesn’t mean authority as it’s used elsewhere. The word ‘head’ in this verse speaks about the source, the source that brings well-being, the source of supplying one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, Ephesians 1:22 / 1 Corinthians 11:3 / Colossians 1:18 / Colossians 2:19.
In other words, God has given the husband the responsibility of providing for his wife’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs, 1 Peter 3:7. Wives also have some responsibilities too, Proverbs 27:15 / Titus 2:3-5 / Proverbs 12:4.
When people get married, they become one but they both have different roles within that marriage relationship and when both couples recognise those roles and accept them, that’s called submitting to one another.
God wants nothing but the best for both the husband and the wife, which means the husband should want nothing but the best for his wife and the wife should want nothing but the best for her husband. And the only way you can really get the best out of each other is by submitting to the Lord and each other. Just as the church submits to Christ as it head, then the wife should submit to her husband, Ephesians 5:24 / 1 Corinthians 11:12 / Colossians 1:18.
HUSBANDS
‘Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.’ Colossians 3:19
Paul says marriage is all about love, and the Bible gives us the greatest example of all, of how husbands are to love their wives, Ephesians 5:25-27. The first example is this, ‘husbands must love their wives sacrificially’, Ephesians 5:25, and how did He demonstrate His love for the church? He died for her, He sacrificed Himself for her, He shed His own blood for her, Matthew 20:28 / Mark 10:45 / Luke 2:11 / John 4:42 / Acts 20:28 / Philippians 3:20.
Paul says, if husbands want successful marriages, they must look to Christ and what He did, by going to the cross of Calvary. When we look at Christ, we see an example of self-sacrificial love, we see Him dying to self, we see Him dying to selfish ambition. Husbands, we must be willing to sacrifice things that are very personal to them, in order to love our wives as Christ loved His church, Ephesians 5:25.
Husbands must love their wives intentionally and with a purpose. Christ dying on the cross wasn’t an accident, it was intentional, He died with a purpose in mind, Ephesians 1:5 / Ephesians 2:4 / Romans 5:8 / Colossians 1:21-22. Husbands are to intentionally love their wives; they are to purposely love their wives. Christ loved the church because He wants her to be holy, He wants her to be radiant, He wants her to be blameless, Colossians 1:22 / Jude 24.
Patterson, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ephesians 5:26.
‘The purpose Jesus Christ had in mind when He sacrificed Himself for His bride, the church, was to set her apart (sanctify, make her holy) for Himself as His own forever, Hebrews 2:11 / Hebrews 10:10 / Hebrews 10:14 / Hebrews 13:12.’
Hoehner, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ephesians 5:27.
‘The cleansing here is spiritual rather than physical. The Word of God cleanses us in the sense that when we believe the gospel it washes our sins away as water washes dirt away, Titus 3:5 / 1 Corinthians 6:11. Thus, washing is a metaphor of redemption.’
Marriage isn’t just about two people, it’s about three people, God must be the third chord in our marriage relationship, Ecclesiastes 4:12. If husbands want their wives to be like Christ wants His church, then we must remember to keep God in the middle of our marriages. The husband might put a strain on that marriage, the wife might put a strain on that marriage, but if God almighty is intertwined within that marriage, it makes it a lot harder to break. There’s strength in marriages when God is in the middle of them.
Husbands must see their wives as part of their bodies, Ephesians 5:28. Paul said earlier that ‘the body is the church’, which would include our Christian wives, Ephesians 5:23. The last time I looked, everyone, I know has a body attached to their head. Paul is saying a head without a body is no good to anyone, a body without a head is absolutely useless, Ephesians 5:29 / 1 Corinthians 12:17-18.
Sometimes men get so busy doing a thousand other things, and we jump up at a moment’s notice to help other people out, to such an extent that we neglect our own home, Songs of Solomon 1:6. We need to help each other, support each other, and encourage each other, Ephesians 5:30, all of which are driven by Christ’s love for His church, Colossians 3:19 / Colossians 3:21. If husbands don’t treat their wives with respect, and if they don’t see their wives as heirs of this wonderful life, God won’t answer their prayers, 1 Peter 3:7 / Proverbs 31:10-12.
Just because a wife submits to her husband, doesn’t mean, she’s our personal slave. Peter says husbands are to be considerate of their wives and treat them with respect, 1 Peter 3:7. Husbands need to consider her needs, consider her desires, consider her feelings and thoughts, and respect her in all things, respect her opinions, respect everything she does and says. Marriage is about togetherness, completeness, oneness, it’s about ‘us’.
Husbands need to keep studying their wives, Ephesians 5:28-30. Before most people get married, there’s usually a courting period that takes place first. It’s then that we study each other’s spiritual character, we study each other’s humour, we study each other’s mannerisms and let’s be honest, we study each other’s physical bodies. But after we had been married for a few years, we stop studying each other.
Solomon speaking in physical terms, speaks about studying each other, Song of Solomon 7:1-5, but Paul is speaking in physical and spiritual terms. If Christ provides everything the church needs, He feeds her, He blesses her and He protects her, then husbands should do the same with their wives. What Christ provides for you as a Christian husband, you should provide for your Christian wife. If you’re so important to Christ, then your wife should be just as important to you.
In Ephesians 5:31-33, Paul quoting from Genesis 2:24, tells us that when a man and women come together in marriage, they become one. And he uses that text to describe Christ’s relationship with His church, they have become one, Ephesians 5:31.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ephesians 5:32.
‘The mystery in view is the truth previously hidden but now brought to light. The relationship that exists between a husband and his wife is the same as the one that exists between Christ and His church. The church has as close a tie to Christ spiritually as a wife has to her husband spiritually. Paul revealed that Genesis 2:24, contains a more profound truth than people previously realized. The mystery is great because it has far-reaching implications.’
He again reminds husbands that they should protect, defend, and provide for their wives, just as Christ does for His church. And if the husband does all these things, then his wife will truly respect him for it, Ephesians 5:33.
But that will only happen when the husband and the wife remember the words of Solomon, ‘I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine,’ Songs of Solomon 6:3. Someone once said that ‘The Song of Solomon’ is the one book of the Bible dedicated solely to romantic love. They go on to say, ‘Isn’t it ironic that its initials are SOS!’
Our wives need to know that she isn’t just our wife, she needs to know that she’s the wife of a man, who treasures her and builds her up. As Christ is the head of the church so also the husband is head of the family. A wife should be submissive to her husband and a husband should be submissive to his wife. A husband must sacrificially love his wife as Christ did for His church and as Christ and His people are one, so also the husband and wife are one.
CHILDREN
‘Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.’ Colossians 3:20
So far Paul has dealt with what it means for wives to submit to their husbands and how a husband should love his wife and now he goes on to speak about why children need to obey and honour their parents, Ephesians 6:1-3 / Colossians 3:20.
Reminding children that they must obey their parents is almost old school these days because we’ve got to the point in our society where children have almost more rights than their parents. But whether society accepts this command or not is irrelevant, because God says, ‘it’s right for children to obey their parents’, Ephesians 6:1.
The greatest example of an obedient child is Jesus Himself, Luke 2:51. Mary and Joseph weren’t well off, they were poor, Luke 2:24, and I’m sure that being poor brought about a lot of financial stress on their family. And like most parents, I doubt very much if they were perfect parents, but nonetheless, Jesus lived obediently under their roof for around thirty years, Luke 2:51.
I believe there are times when children shouldn’t obey their parents. For example, if our parents asked us to steal some food from the shop, should we obey them? If our parents fell away from the Lord, and they asked us to stop attending worship, should we obey them?
The Lord is above our parents and there may come a time when you have to choose between obeying God and obeying your parents, Luke 14:26-33. Remember in the Old Testament when Saul asked his son Jonathan to help him kill David? 1 Samuel 19:1.
There are times when children shouldn’t obey their parents, here Jonathan refused to help his father to sin. He chose to obey God rather than his father, Saul, 1 Samuel 20:31-34. And if children find themselves in a position where their parents want them to do something which goes against the Lord, then the child should refuse to obey them, Matthew 10:37.
What does it mean to ‘honour’ your father and mother? Ephesians 6:2. The word ‘honour’ basically means ‘heavy,’ which implies that our parents carry some weight in our life. Our parents brought us into this world, they cared for us, nurtured us, fed us, clothed us, provided for our needs, loved us, kept us safe and watched us.
But it was God Himself, who placed our parents over us. And He holds children especially accountable for our relationship with them because they share something of the honour of God Himself, Ephesians 3:14-15. In other words, every family stems its existence, its concept, and its experience from God. We’re in a family and are under a father because God Himself created men and women in His likeness and created marriage and the family.
But how do you honour your parents? You listen carefully to their instruction, and we take any advice they give us seriously. Children often forget that their parents were young once but now that they are older, they have many years of experience in life. They’ve lived longer than their children, they made some great choices in life but also some bad ones. Children need to understand that their parents don’t want them to make the same mistakes they made, they want us to be wiser and help us to make good decisions in life.
It was Mark Twain who said the following.
‘I thought my parents were out of it, that they were way behind the times, that they just didn’t get it, but once teenagers grow up and make it through that stage there develops a new respect for the wisdom of parents’.
Not only are kids to honour their parents, listen to their parents and take their advice seriously, but they must also understand that God takes their obedience to their parents seriously too, Deuteronomy 27:16 / Proverbs 20:20. The Bible says that honouring your parents is a life and death choice.
The people who carry the most weight in a child’s life should be their parents, why? Because they’ve got a personal interest in their well-being, they’ve got a personal interest in their soul and they want them to get to heaven more than anyone else on this planet, John 10:10.
Notice the reason Paul gives as to why children should honour their parents, Ephesians 6:2-3. Out of all the ten commandments, this is the only one that has the promise ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,’ Exodus 20:12 / Deuteronomy 5:16.
This doesn’t mean if children honour their parents that they’ll live to 100 and get a letter from the king of England. There have been some godly people who’ve lived long and there’s been some who’ve died young, despite honouring their parents. Jesus was obedient to His parents, but He still died at 33 years of age.
So, what does it mean? The answer is simple, just like God, parents want things to go well for their children, they want them to have a long life. Too many kids’ lives have come to end prematurely simply because they haven’t listened to their parent’s advice, Proverbs 15:5.
FATHERS
‘Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.’ Colossians 3:21
Morris, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This idea would have been revolutionary in its day; in the first-century Roman Empire, fathers could do pretty much what they liked in their families. They could even sentence family members to death, Genesis 22:1-14 / Genesis 38:24 / Deuteronomy 21:18-21.’
If fathers want their children to know what God is like, then they must show them through their lives, their speech, and their conduct, Ephesians 6:4. The way fathers conduct themselves is a reflection of the way God portrays Himself to us.
Paul says one of the goals of being a good father is to raise our children without discouraging them, Colossians 3:21. That word ‘discouraged’, carries with it the idea of losing heart and being spiritless. When it comes to raising our children, fathers need to instil hope in their child’s life, the need to show them what it means to be happy, confident, and courageous.
In today’s society children are being raised to put their hope in their looks, wealth, and popularity, but that’s not the kind of hope Paul has in mind. He’s speaking about giving our children hope in God, not things. Fathers shouldn’t discourage their children but give them hope in God. Children need to experience happiness, the happiness which can only come from knowing God, Romans 5:3-4 / Psalm 4:7-8. Fathers shouldn’t discourage their children but fill them with joy in God by helping them to hope in God.
I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with instilling self-confidence in a child, but there comes a point when they can easily become too self-confident in themselves, 2 Corinthians 1:9. We need to help them become more God-confident with their lives.
Paul not only says, ‘don’t discourage your children’, but he also says ‘Fathers, do not embitter your children,’ Colossians 3:21. That word ‘embitter’ or ‘exasperate’ carries with it the idea of over-exercising your authority.
Remember Paul said, ‘children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.’ Colossians 3:20. When we put these two sentences together, it’s clear that God has given parents tremendous authority and responsibility. But Paul’s warning here for fathers is that they shouldn’t misuse that God-given authority.
Fathers instead of discouraging their children, should train them and instruct them in God’s Word, Proverbs 22:6. Solomon says children who learn righteous living in the home will have a standard to which they’re able to return if they wander into a life of sin. Fathers must teach God’s Word to their children, and they must show them an example of what it means to live as Christians.
MOTHERS
Although Paul doesn’t deal with mothers here, let me share a few thoughts on mothers because I don’t know of a more special group of people who have a huge impact on a child’s life than mothers, 2 Timothy 1:5. The first thing we learn concerning Timothy’s mother and grandmother is that they were women of sincere faith. Their faith was so sincere Paul says to Timothy, ‘I see it in you’.
Now here’s the interesting part about Timothy’s mother and grandmother, we don’t know when these women became Christians, but what we do know is what Luke tells us ‘Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek,’ Acts 16:1.
It’s possible that Lois had been converted in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and had come home to tell her daughter. It’s also possible that both women were devout Jews who responded to Paul’s preaching when he visited Lystra. All we know about Timothy’s father is that he apparently was a Greek unbeliever.
Why a godly woman of faith like Eunice would marry a pagan man, no one knows, but Eunice’s story is in the Bible to give hope to women in mixed marriages. If her son, Timothy, could grow up to follow the Lord as he did, then God can do the same for your children, even if your husband isn’t a believer.
God intends for the father to take the lead in the spiritual training of the children, but mothers, can still have a great impact even in situations where the father is opposed to God, but this must involve having a sincere faith, 2 Timothy 1:5.
Sincere faith means that mothers sincerely live what they believe, they spend time with their kids, reading the Bible and praying together. Sincere faith means that mothers show their kids that they’re not perfect but always trying to please the Lord. It means they develop godly character qualities and attitudes of submission, thankfulness, and joy in the Lord, demonstrating that kind of faith will have a huge impact in children’s lives.
Timothy’s father wasn’t the man to instil that kind of faith in his son’s life, but his mother and grandmother did just that. Timothy could see the Lord in them, and it attracted him to the Lord. One of the main ways to instil that faith in our children is by training them in God’s Word, 2 Timothy 3:14.
This tells us that Timothy was clearly influenced by God’s Word, he was looking at his mother’s and grandmother’s lives and comparing the way they lived with the Scriptures. Over time he became convinced that the Scriptures were reliable and true, mothers should never underestimate the power of God’s Word to save.
Godly mothers will not only train their children in God’s Word, but they will also use God’s Word to lead them to saving faith in Jesus, 2 Timothy 3:15. Children need to know more than just Jesus loves them and wants to be their friend.
When they get to a certain age, they need to know what God’s Word says about the condition of their hearts. They need to understand why Christ came in the first place and died on that cross. They need to understand that they can’t earn God’s forgiveness but simply receive it.
They need to know, that they are sinners in need of salvation. Godly mothers will not only train their children in God’s Word and use God’s Word to lead them to saving faith in Jesus. But they will also train their children how to live by God’s Word, 2 Peter 1:3-4.
Mothers don’t have to go outside of God’s Word to teach their children how to live, 2 Timothy 3:16. We don’t know what the lifelong impact Lois and Eunice had on young Timothy. Yes, he was raised in the Scriptures, yes, he became a Christian and a close friend of Paul, but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that the foundation of his faith was laid by his godly mother and grandmother.
There’s an important point which needs to be raised here concerning raising children. Just because mothers raise their children in the Scriptures, just because they showed them what saving faith looks like, just because they’ve demonstrated to them how the Christian life is, this is no guarantee that they will grow up to become Christians or stay faithful all their lives.
Now mothers especially feel like they’ve failed if their kids don’t become Christians or fall away, but they’re not a failure, not once in the Scriptures does it say parents are responsible for their children becoming Christians or remaining faithful. If God holds mothers accountable for anything, it’s raising their child up in His ways, Proverbs 22:6, but becoming a Christian is their choice, remaining faithful is their choice.
SLAVES
‘Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.’ Colossians 3:22-25
How do you become a slave? You could become a slave in one of three ways.
1. Your father was a slave and if his dad was a slave and he was born into that family, he was the owner’s property. The owner could sell him and do whatever he wants with him.
2. Maybe he was a thief who stole money and under Jewish or even Roman law, if you stole and could not pay back, then they can take you as a slave.
3. Maybe he was a murderer, but instead of killing him, they would decide to give him to the victim’s family and the family could take him or sell him or do whatever they liked.
So whatever reason, a slave has no rights whatsoever, he was a piece of property, and his masters owned him. And at the slave market they would auction them off, someone would buy them for so many shekels and now the slave belongs to him.
Imagine when the slave’s new master takes him home. Who is going to supply a bed for the slave? His master is going to supply a place for him to sleep. In the morning where is the slave going to get food from?
The slave doesn’t have any food with him, so his master has to feed him. The master has to feed and clothe and provide a place for his slave to sleep. The slave depended completely on the master for his life, he had nothing if the master did not provide it for him. That meant that the slave didn’t worry because he simply depended on the master but no matter what the master said the slave had to do it.
There is a section in Deuteronomy, which describes a special rule for slaves and their masters, Deuteronomy 15:12-17. On occasion, a Hebrew would end up purchasing a fellow Hebrew as a slave, Deuteronomy 15:12. Can you imagine for a moment that you are a Hebrew, and you have served me for 6 years? Deuteronomy 15:12. And congratulations, it’s your 7th year, you’ve served me and now you are free to go.
However, when we read on the text says, ‘and when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. Give to them as the LORD your God has blessed you,’ Deuteronomy 15:13-14.
Now if this was applied today, if I was to give the slave £5, the Lord would ask, is this supplying him liberally? No. Liberally is saying, ‘here is a blank cheque, here are the keys to a brand-new car for you which is parked outside and there is a holiday villa which is yours waiting in Hawaii.’ The slave has just gone from being a slave with nothing to having a charge account, a car, and a place to live. I have supplied him liberally now, Colossians 1:4.
Now any slave is saying, ‘this is my lucky day’ and most slaves would say, ‘thank you very much’ when the master says, ‘ok, it’s all yours, you’re free to go’. But as the slave begins to go, he turns, and says, ‘I don’t want to go’. Deuteronomy 15:16, says, when the servant says, ‘You know what master, I appreciate all of this, but I’d rather stay, you take care of me, you give me life, I don’t have to worry, can I stay?’
The Scripture says, ‘If he says that, then you take him to the doorpost of your house’. The reason you would go to the doorpost is because there is a strong piece of wood and then you take an awl, which is a metal object used to poke holes in leather. You would take his ear, and you take a hammer, and you would drive it through his ear, piercing his ear. And in that hole, you would hang something from it, which probably had his master’s name on it and for the rest of their life, they were your servant.
Though in this context Paul deals specifically with slave-master relationships that were the common work relationships of the Roman Empire, the principles that he discusses here should also be applied to employee-employer relationships. In such societies, an employee isn’t under bondage as a slave, for he can quit the job whenever he so desires, 1 Corinthians 7:17-24.
However, he is to treat his employer with no less respect and servitude as Paul here enjoins servants to respect their masters, Ephesians 6:6. We would conclude that an employee in today’s economic structure should treat his employer with even greater servitude in view of the fact that he has the freedom to quit the job.
In all things, the Christian employee must remember that it’s his responsibility to make his employer successful. If through irresponsible conduct he does not, he will be out of a job and subsequently bring shame on the name of Jesus.
Slaves should obey their masters with a sincere heart, Ephesians 6:6 / Colossians 3:23-25. If they give grudging service, such will bring harshness upon them by their masters. Their service should be motivated by a heart that fears God.
In the Old Testament, the fear of God was in reference to our obedience to God. Those who feared God obeyed His commandments. In this context, when we fear God, we will be the best employee we can possibly be in response to the will of God.
‘Work at it with all your heart’, Colossians 3:23, should be the attitude of all Christians who serve either masters or employers, Ecclesiastes 9:10 / Romans 12:11. Paul’s point is that Christianity changes the nature of our service to others. Those employees who are in the world may give grudging service to their employers but not so with Christians.
Their attitude toward their masters and employers should be based on their fear of God, 1 Peter 2:18-25. The service of the Christian is given to others as if they were working for the Lord, and not a master or employer, Ephesians 6:6-7.
When the Christian is working for their living, therefore, they are working on behalf of the Lord, Ephesians 6:7. When we become a Christian, our attitude changes concerning our work in making a living. As a Christian, they go to work every day for the Lord, not for people. By working to earn a living to support our own necessities, we earn in order to help the poor and to support the Gospel being spread throughout the world, Romans 10:15 / Philippians 4:17.
Those servants and employees who do wrong to their masters and employers will reap what they sow. Both servants and masters, employees and employers should work in view of the fact that all men will stand in judgment before God, Ephesians 6:8 / 2 Corinthians 5:10.
Wood, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Ephesians 6:8.
‘Like Jesus himself, Paul does not shrink from referring to rewards.’
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Whatever people may do; Christ will reward all of his workmen at last. It is the consciousness which would enable the workman, even though he was a slave, ‘to work zestfully and cheerfully even for a master who was unreasonable in his demands and impossible to please.’
As Christians, we must remember that all our service in this world to others is in view of the fact that God served our sin problem through Jesus. We all have to remember, whether slave or master, that on Judgement Day, the only people that will walk through the pearly gates are those who respond to the words, ‘well done, good and faithful servant!’ Matthew 25:21.
