Eph 6:5-9 = Master-fully

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

Explanation: Understanding Slavery and Paul’s Undermining of It (6:5–9)

The historical context for slavery

Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary Chapter 35: Slaves and Masters (Ephesians 6:5–9)

Slavery was part of the social and economic fabric of the ancient world. It has been estimated that in the Roman Empire at this time there were about sixty million slaves. That means about half of the population was enslaved to the other half.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon G. Christian Relationships: Employment (6:5–9)

Most of them would be in pagan employment, but a few may have had Christian masters, as Onesimus, who was a slave of Philemon.

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon G. Christian Relationships: Employment (6:5–9)

The fact that Paul has more to say to slaves than to masters (as in Col 3:22–4:1) may reflect the social structure of these Asian churches.

Why we are opposed to slavery

Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary Christianity and Slavery

Aristotle, the most brilliant of the Greeks, wrote that there could never be friendship between master and slave, for master and slave have nothing in common: “a slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave.”

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon G. Christian Relationships: Employment (6:5–9)

In a society that followed Aristotle in regarding slaves as no more than living tools this was a sufficiently radical change of attitude.

Image bearers

Galatians 3:27–29 “27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Paul’s undermining of slavery (6:5–9)

First, although Paul did not outright condemn slavery here, he did not condone it. Further he would certainly be against the kind of mistreatment we often associate with slavery as we imagine it to be.

Second, Paul’s discussion of the duties of Christian slaves and the responsibilities of Christian masters transforms the institution, even if it falls short of calling for outright abolition.

Third, it is this transformational theology (which came from viewing all persons as made in God’s image) that ultimately destroyed slavery and continues to transform all our earthly relationships today.

Message

Exhortations: Paul’s Christ-Centered Words to Employees (Slaves) and Employers (Masters) (6:5–9)

To Slaves: Do your work as unto Christ (6:5–8).

Earthly Masters Claims Over Us

Be Obedient

Be Subservient

De Diligent

Heavenly Masters Claim Over Us

Slave of Christ

Rewards of Christ

Glorify Christ by working respectfully (6:5a).

Glorify Christ by working wholeheartedly (6:5b–6).

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

Glorify Christ by working willingly (6:7).

Work Diligently / Subserviently

Glorify Christ by working expectantly (6:8).

Proverbs 16:3 “3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.”

1 Tim 5.18 “18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.””

To Masters: Treat your workers as you would Christ (6:9).

A Word of Mutual Responsibility

A Word of Managerial Restraint

The Abuse of Power

The Abuse of Position

Practice mutuality.

Le 25:43 “43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.”

Dt 10:17 “17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.”

Avoid hostility.

Seek Christ-centered accountability.

Philem. 16 “16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”

Remember God’s impartiality… Arbitrate Impartially

2 Co 5:10 “10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

Matthew 25:32–33 “32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.”

Labor as if everything depended upon your labor. Put no trust in your labor, but let all your dependence be upon God the Holy Ghost.

GEORGE MÜLLER

Do not imagine that God is pleased with many good works, so much as with the doing of them with a good will, without self-seeking or human respect.

JOHN OF THE CROSS

Do little things as though they were great, because of the majesty of Jesus Christ who does them in us, and who lives our life; and do the greatest things as though they were little and easy, because of His omnipotence.

BLAISE PASCAL

Close

III. Application: How This Passage Can Change Your Life

Ephesians Gospel-Bound Masters (6:9)

The applications to us are not difficult. If slaves and masters were obligated to demonstrate Christ to each other in a context of such great inequity, then how much more should we be willing to represent him in our work contexts. If our employer is unfair, that no more excuses us from acting with integrity than a slave was excused from Christlikeness in a society of unfairness. If an employee is difficult, that gives a boss, who represents Jesus, no more option of retribution or arbitrariness than a master.

A. This passage should change the way we view work.

Genesis 2:15 “15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

1. Employees: Work through Christ, like Christ, and for Christ.

2. Employer: Lead through Christ, like Christ, and for Christ.

Colossians 3:23–25 “23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.”

B. This passage should change the way we relate to all kinds of people.

Galatians 3:26–29 “26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

C. This passage should change the way we evaluate what is important.

Matthew 6:19–21 “19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

2 Cor 4.17 “17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,”

Employees

Do your work as unto Christ

Work Obediently

Work Wholeheartedly

Work Willingly/Diligently

Work Expectantly

Employers

Treat your workers as you would Christ.

Practice Mutuality

Avoid Hostility

Seek Accountability

Arbitrate Impartially

Group Questions

Share with the group about the best job you have ever had. What made it your favorite job?

Now share about the worst job you ever had and why it was so bad.

Why might this section of scripture be so controversial in Pauls day?

Why might it be potentially controversial in our own day especially in recent days?

In your current job/position/work environment where do you feel you should most improve your christ like work ethic?

How difficult is it for you to do your work unto Christ and not as a people pleaser? Why?

If you have a position, boss, co-workers, or responsibilities that maximize your sanctification how might V8 really encourage you?

Have you been in the past or are you currently a supervisor? Don’t use names but tell us about an employee that has been difficult for you to oversee. What made them or the situation so difficult for you?

As you look back upon that how did you fail to act as Paul asks us to here?

How should or does V9 help you to shape your view on leadership and toward your supervisors?