Vs. 5 “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ. Vs.6 “not with eye service, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; Vs. 7 “with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Vs. 8 “knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

Vs. 5 “servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh…” Slavery was common in the days of Paul, so much so, that one writer states, “slaves outnumbered freemen” (Vincent). Slavery was part of the ancient culture, which prevailed in the days of Christ and Paul, and The New Testament neither formally condemned it nor approved it. Paul sent Onesimus, a run away slave, who was saved and converted to Christianity back to his master, Philemon.

With the coming of Christianity, and its great principles many question would arise about the institution of slavery. Therefore much space is given in the New Testament to the subject, but It was left to the progress of Christianity for abolishment.

In verses 5 - 8 Paul stresses the fact that servants are responsible to be obedient to their master’s according to the flesh. Their service was to be with “fear and trembling.” The servant was to hold his master in great esteem, fearing to displease him, and trembling at his righteous indignation.

They were to serve with “singleness of heart”, not feigning obedience, but faithfully performing the pleasure of him whose servant he was in the flesh. “As unto Christ,” the Christian slave was to discharge his duty as a service performed unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Such dedication to duty would be beyond reproach. “As unto Christ,” This approach is the best for it creates a pure and powerful motive, the incentive of which increases with the passing of time.

“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers.” The servant must be honest, performing his duty at all times, and not only when his master is observing. Otherwise his service would be strictly unto men, and for the eyes of men. We need to remember that our Heavenly Master is on the scenes at all times. It is regretful that many professing Christians are dishonest with their employers in this respect. A shirking of duty is an evil of great magnitude, it involves lying and stealing, but worse yet, it sets a bad example, and gives the ungodly an occasion to blaspheme the God of heaven. It is truly sad, when the worldling can truthfully say of the professing saint, “he Is the best worker on the job, when the boss is present.”

Vs. 6 “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”

“Doing the will of God from the heart,” Mere outward service may be sufficient to deceive and thereby satisfy the earthly master, but the saint needs to remember that his Eternal Master, “...seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).

Then too, we have this word from our blessed Saviour, Who was faithful all things,
Matt. 6:1 “Take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.”

The word “alms” in the text is to be taken in the generic, as representing, not only the externals of our Christian profession, but also the exercise of morality, it refers to all actions of the believer, including the thoughts of his heart. For the believer’s actions to be proper toward men is to make sure the motive behind our potions is to glorify God.

Self advertisement (eyeservice) and display is strongly condemned by the word of God. Self effacement and self denial is highly commended by the word of God. A good deed ceases to be a good deed when it is done to draw attention to self, or any person other than God.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Mt. 5:16). Our light is to point toward, and to reveal God in us, and not for our own glory, or praise of men.

Vs. 7 “With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

A good will or proper attitude toward their masters was necessary to consistent obedience. Unrighteous masters will be judged by God, yet the slave was to render lawful obedience to his master regardless of his master’s standing before God. All of his service was to be performed with regard for Christ, and when his motive in services was to glorify his Heavenly Master, it was accepted by Christ as service unto himself. Remembering we are first the servants of Christ and can only serve man honestly when our aim is to glorify God.


Me want to bear in mind, Paul is writing to men/women who were for the most part slaves contrary to their will, yet, he tells them, Not only to be obedient, but to be in readiness, and that with a good will or attitude. How much more would this apply to modern day employer - employee relationship. The employee first asked his employer for a job, or this is usually the rule, and promised to perform certain duties for a fixed amount of remuneration for his labor. The wage agreed upon, anything less than the service required by the employer would denote dishonesty on the part of the employee. Fidelity is required in employer - employee relationships as well as in other agreements.

To deceive the employer, causing him to believe you are measuring to the agreement is to be a hypocrite. A hypocrite is a person who assumes a character that he or she does not possess. Christ reserved His most scathing rebukes for hypocrites. And he says to the Believer, “...thou shalt be as the hypocrites are...” (Mt. 6:5).

Vs. 8 “knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

The best wages received at the hands of men are not worthy of comparison to those things which God hath in store for them who love, and faithfully serve Him. Our earthly masters may cheat us, neglect us, yea may even abuse our bodies with undue punishment, and all this when they should be rewarding us for obedient service. While we may have to forego due recompense of reward at the hands of unjust stewards on earth, we shall receive that wage due us in heaven, plus interest.

The participle, “knowing” in verse eight causes us to realize that no earthly master can deprive us of an honest wage, though he holds it from us. Our Lord is the infallible and eternal paymaster and He many times over makes up the difference whereof we were short changed by the stewards of our bodies. “Whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” That is guaranteed income.

Whatsoever work is done with an aim to glorify God, though it sub-serves men is taken note of by our Heavenly Master, and is certain to be rewarded. While on the other hand, we may give ourselves to the meanest drudgery, and pretend to do it unto the Lord, yet be in fact done to draw attention to one’s self, thereby
missing the reward and approval of God, and incur his disfavor.
 

“Knowing” that the servant shall be rewarded for faithfulness, should encourage the believer, and cause him to seize every opportunity to serve, whether he “be bond or free.” The bondservant should have his master‘s interest at heart, and should serve so as to promote that interest. The supreme Interest being that of God’s glory, and when the saint “bond Or free” strives to promote God’s glory in the world, he will receive a wage whether anybody in all the world ever takes note of it.