Colossians 3:25-4:1
And Ye Masters…
Introduction:
- In this section, Paul
has been dealing with the issue of submission to authority
within the Christian household.
- In every area, God
expected each one to submit to the authority over them.
- Vs.18 – wives were to
submit to their husbands…
- Vs. 20 – children were
to obey their parents…
- Vs. 22 – servants were
to obey their masters…
- Paul also gives some
instructions to those who are IN a position of authority.
- Those in a position of
authority were to kind and gracious to those under them.
- Vs. 19 – the husbands
were to love their wives…
- Vs. 21 – the fathers
were to sensitive to their children and not provoke them to anger
or discourage them by being oppressive.
- 4:1 – the masters were
also to be just and equal to servants.
- Rather than give
directions which would upset the natural order of their society, and could
potentially throw their socio-economic system into chaos (for which
Christianity would have been blamed) Paul gave instructions to believers
that would improve the quality of life for everyone… regardless of
the system… regardless of one’s position… regardless of one’s lot in life.
- For the past few weeks,
we looked at Paul’s instructions to the servants… slaves.
- They were to obey their
masters
- They were to perform
their duties heartily
- They were to do so with
a heavenly mindset:
i.
They were not serving men but
Christ
ii.
Although they received precious
little by way of rewards for their service on earth, they would be rewarded one
day at the Bema Seat.
iii.
Even if they were being treated
unfairly on earth, the Bema Seat would correct all that.
iv.
In glory and throughout
eternity, JUSTICE would prevail… even if it was noticeably absent in their
present, earthly circumstances.
v.
Vs. 24 - If they did well on earth, endured injustice, one
day they would get the reward that was coming to them.
- Next Paul addresses the
masters. He tells them to beware, because they would get what was coming
to them too!
He that Does Wrong Shall Be Rewarded Too (3:25)
A.
But he that doeth wrong…
- Note the word “but”.
This changes the direction of Paul’s discussion.
- He had been talking
about good rewards for good service.
- Now he warns that bad
service… poor work will also be judged and rewarded accordingly.
- He switches gears from
that which was position to negative: rewards for faithful service and
good works TO a “reward” for unfaithful service… evil works.
- It is also possible
that this term “but” not only contrasts the two kinds of works… but also contrasts
the two kinds of men: servants and masters.
i.
The chapter division implies
that vs.25 is to be included in the section on servants (beginning at vs.22)
ii.
The preposition “but” may
indicate that Paul intended to end his notes to the servants at vs.24 and begin
his message to the masters at vs.25.
iii.
Actually, the warning about
evil works is appropriate for both servants and masters.
iv.
However, the fact that Paul
amends that warning with the phrase, “And there is no respect of persons” seems
to imply that he had the masters in mind.
v.
Certainly no slave would expect
special treatment because he was a slave!
vi.
But the masters might expect
special treatment just because they are big shots! They were the power
brokers and the movers and shakers of their day.
- There are “rewards” for
evil doers: whether slave or
master… for as believers, whether bond or free, we are all servants of
Jesus Christ…
- Servants of Christ
(bond or free) are to perform their duties with Christlike character.
- As Paul wrote the book
of Colossians, the issue of master/slave relationships was on his heart.
- For while in prison,
Paul met a runaway slave named Onesimus.
- He ran away from his
master Philemon, who was a Christian friend of Paul’s.
- In prison Paul wrote
the book of Colossians and had another friend, Tychicus deliver this
letter to the Colossians for him.
- Along with the book of
Colossians, Tychicus also was to deliver the letter to Philemon and to
deliver Onesimus himself to his master!
- Paul sent this
converted slave back to his Christian master.
- Legally, Philemon had
the right to beat, whip, and even kill this runaway slave… who evidently
STOLE from his master as he ran away.
- Paul wrote to Philemon
and told this master how to treat his slave.
- Philem. 8-9 – Paul did not want to ORDER any action. He
worded his exhortation in the language of grace. (cf. vs.14)
- Vs. 16 – receive him not as a mere servant, but
above a servant, a brother in Christ! An equal in Christ!
- Vs.17 – receive him in the same way you would
receive me!
- Vs. 18-19 – if he owes you anything, I will repay it!
It is likely that this slave stole from his master when he ran away. “Put
that on my account!” Christlike character --- our sins were put on
Christ’s account… and He paid them all for us!
- Paul sets the example
of HOW to treat a slave… treat them as Christ treats us! Do unto others
as you would have others do unto you!
- Roman law had to address the dual status of slaves: by
nature they were persons, but from an economic standpoint they were
disposed of as property. The head of a household could legally execute his
slaves, and they would all be executed if the head of the household was
murdered.
- Christianity was not intended to change Roman law… it was
intended to change the hearts of men.
- And if your heart is not
right before God and men… keep in mind that one day we will stand before
the Lord…
B.
Motivation: God Is No
Respecter of Persons
- The Bema Seat is a
RAISED platform… but it is a level platform.
- On that platform the slave
and his master will stand on level ground, even if they didn’t stand
on level ground on earth.
- This was a warning to
the masters… God’s judgments are JUST and equal! Therefore, treat your
servants with justice and equity too.
- We picture Lady
Justice as being blindfolded and holding a level balance. That’s
the best way to picture from a human perspective: blind to a man’s outward
appearance, social ranking, skin color, and position in society.
- But with Divine
justice, God is not blind, but ALL SEEING… He sees all and knows
all. His eyes pierce into the minds and hearts of men… we stand naked before
His piercing eyes and nothing we have ever thought, said, or did escapes
His notice.
- The Christian master was
to deal with his servants as fairly and justly as he would want the Lord
Jesus to deal with him!
- And the Lord is no
respecter of persons.
- At the Bema seat, every
believer will stand on equal footing…
- And every believer will
be held to the exact same standard: Christlike character.
- Did you manifest
Christlike character in the way you performed your responsibilities on
earth… and in the way you treated others… or not???
- Was it Christ in us, or
the flesh working in us?
Give unto your servants that which is just and equal (4:1)
- In the first century,
most slave masters considered their slaves to be property… as human tools.
- This was a radical
notion Paul proposed in the New Testament: treat them as people...
and be fair and equal! (wives, children, & slaves had virtually no
standing before Roman law)
- Gal. 3:28 – there is no difference in Christ.
i.
Slaves and masters were
brothers and shared the exact same POSITION and the same calling in Christ.
ii.
The Christian master was to
treat a Christian slave as a BROTHER in the Lord!
iii.
That means that EVERY passage
in the NT that tells a brother how to treat a brother is to be applied to the
master toward his slave.
iv.
Think of some of those
passages: let each esteem others better than themselves… (Phil. 2:3)
v.
Look not every man on his own
things, but on the things of others… (Phil. 2:4)
vi.
Love thy neighbor as thyself.
vii.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly
love; in honour preferring one another.” (Rom.12:10)
viii.
“Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility.” (I Pet. 5:5)
- I Cor. 7:22 – the slave master (a freeman) was to
consider himself a slave to JC.
i.
Hence, he was not to do
whatever pleased himself. He was to please Christ… who loved the slaves as much
as He loved the masters.
- Col.3:17 – the masters were reminded that in whatever
they did with their slaves, they were to do so in the name of the Lord…
as representatives of Christ. They were to treat their slaves as
Christ would treat them… in His name…
- Col. 1:18 - And if Christ is preeminent in the
minds and hearts of the masters (as Paul exhorted), then this too would
change the way they treated their slaves. If that were the case, a
Christlike heart would prevail in human relationships.
- A spiritual
relationship will radically
change physical, social, and earthly relationships.
- The NT never calls for
the overthrow of a political system… or to change the social structure.
He calls for a change of heart instead. (Do unto others…)
- As Christians, we ARE
slaves to Christ. It is the greatest relationship that exists!
- I wouldn’t mind being a
slave to someone who treated me the way Christ treated people.
- In fact, if we were all
slaves to men who treated us as Christ treated people… slaves to men who
had hearts like that of the Lord Jesus, then we would be far better off…
regardless of what century, what society, or economic system we lived in!
- A Christlike
heart would change even
the WORST of human systems into the best of relationships!
- If everybody had a
heart like the Lord, (govn’t officials; workers; employers; masters;
kings; etc.) then it wouldn’t matter WHAT kind of government or social
structure we had!
- Imagine if you lived in
the first century and Jesus Christ hired you to work for Him in
his carpentry shop? What kind of an employer do you suppose Jesus Christ
would have been? How would He have treated you?
i.
He would have paid you a fair
wage… generously!
ii.
He would have been
understanding and compassionate toward you if you were sick.
iii.
He would have been interested
in YOU and in your family… how you were getting along in life…
iv.
He wouldn’t treat you like a
number or a commodity, but as family!
v.
He would have been more than a
boss; He would have been a wonderful friend and counselor!
vi.
And most importantly, He would surely
have shared with you the gospel of God’s grace… and He sure would have LIVED
the life before you… day in and day out!
vii.
Wouldn’t it be great if, in
real life, we could have a boss who was LIKE the Lord Jesus?
viii.
That’s what Paul is telling
employers or masters to BE!
ix.
I wouldn’t mind working for
Christ. In fact, I wouldn’t mind being a SLAVE to Jesus Christ!
- The real evil of earthly
systems does not lie in the system itself (slavery; caste system;
capitalism; communism; totalitarianism; monarchy; tribal rule). The
real evil lies in the hearts of sinful, selfish, greedy men.
- If the hearts of men were
like that of Christ, ANY system on earth would work… and it
might even be a taste of heaven!
- Wiersbe said: “The
heart of every problem is the problem of the heart.”
- The problem of
injustice that slaves endured was not really so much an economic
issue… or a social issue… or a political issue.
- It was a heart-issue.
That was the real problem… and remains the real problem of life in our
world today.
- That is how Paul
addressed the issue in Col.3.
- Paul calls upon the
Christian slave owners to GIVE unto their slaves that which is JUST and
EQUAL.
- Notice that Paul never
tells the slave owners to set all their slaves free and bring an end to
the systems.
- Rather, Paul
addresses the HEARTS of the masters… and tells them to just and
equal with their slaves.
- Give = offer
- The masters were to
offer justice and equity to their slaves.
- Paul gives BOTH
sides of the master/slave relationship.
i.
The servant/worker is to do his
best and give an honest day’s work.
ii.
The master/employer is to treat
his workers fairly and give them just compensation for their labor.
- Masters giving unto their
servants that which is “just & equal” would include their wages:
the laborer is worthy of his hire! Pay him fairly… even generously!
- It would include the
way they were treated.
i.
That would mean that slaves
were to be treated as EQUALS… (not in authority, but as persons)
ii.
In fact, the Christian slave
WAS his equal in Christ!
iii.
This would imply imposing the golden
rule: do unto others as you would have others do unto you!
- If Christian slave
masters OBEYED this command and did in fact treat their slaves with
justice and equity one might expect to see some unusual things begin to
occur:
i.
Some of those slaves might be given
their freedom!
ii.
Some of those freed slaves
might choose to remain with their master and work for him willingly!
iii.
Either way, the injustice of slavery
issue would be over!
iv.
A Christian in a position of
authority over others is expected to apply this passage: give unto them under
you that which is just and fair! (fair wages; fair treatment; dignity; respect;
justice)
- Eph. 6:9 – Masters were commanded to do the same
things unto them and to forbrear threatening.
- Do the same thing:
i.
Here Paul tells slave owners to
follow the SAME instructions that he just gave to their slaves.
ii.
Vs.7 – with GOOD WILL (a right heart attitude towards
others) perform your responsibilities as if you were dealing with the Lord
Jesus Himself!
iii.
The servants were expected to
do their work as if they were serving the Lord Jesus Himself.
iv.
The masters were to do the same
thing: deal with their slaves AS IF they were serving or ministering to the
Lord Jesus Himself, as His reprepresentative.
v.
Boy would that change things!
- Forbrearing
threatening: (vs.9)
i.
This is virtually the same
context… a parallel passage to Col. 3.
ii.
Here Paul tells the slave
owners not to threaten their servants. (harsh, vicious,
threatening language)
iii.
Forbear: dismiss… send away.
iv.
They were to dismiss any
idea of threatening the servants…
v.
They were not to terrorize
them verbally…
vi.
Servants of a Christian slave
owner should never live in fear or terror.
vii.
Paul addresses part of human
nature here: that it is human nature for men in positions of authority
to let that authority go to their heads… and they tend to throw their
weight around verbally through threatening.
viii.
And in the context, cruel
husbands sometimes threaten their wives and abuse them verbally. Sometimes parents
do the same with their children. And masters did it towards their slaves.
ix.
Cf. Col. 3:21
– fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged…
same idea.
x.
It is human nature to threaten
and to cause those under your authority to live in fear… to be
terrorized by what you might do to them…
xi.
It is human nature to behave
that way... but it is also evil! It is sinful… and God hates it.
- What great
application for the Christian
employer today!
- The obvious application
of the servant is to a worker or employee.
- The obvious application
concerning the master would be toward the employer… or an office manager…
a business owner… or a factory foreman… a school teacher…
- If you are in a position
of authority at work and have people under you, God has a message
for you in this passage:
i.
Treat them like people… not like numbers.
ii.
They are people made in the
image of God whether they are saved or not.
iii.
And treat them with justice and
equity!
Ye Also Have a Master in Heaven
- Paul exhorts the earthly
masters to be careful in the way they treat their servants…
- FOR they also have to
report to a Master in Heaven: the Lord Jesus Christ!
- The masters were not
only IN authority, but they were also UNDER authority… under the
authority of the Master in heaven.
- KNOWING: (4:1)
- Paul wanted the masters
to KNOW something.
- He wanted them to keep
this information in their minds and hearts as they dealt with their
servants: that they have a master in heaven to whom they must give an
account one day.
- KNOWING: (3:24)
- Paul wanted the
servants to KNOW something too.
- He wanted them to keep
this information in their minds and hearts as they performed their daily
chores heartily: they have a reward awaiting them in heaven for faithful
service.
- KNOWING: The grammar
is the same in both cases:
- Knowing = Perfect active participles
i.
This speaks to the fact that
they came to know this truth in the past and they now stand settled in this
truth…
ii.
There was some truth… some
settled knowledge that God wanted to be lodged in the minds of both the slaves
and the masters.
- The slaves: stood settled in the truth that they would
one day be rewarded for their faithful service in heaven.
i.
This would enable them to be
content even if they were not compensated on earth.
ii.
This settled knowledge would
enable them to persevere through injustices of all stripes.
- The masters: they also stood settled in another truth:
that they would one day face their master in heaven and would have to
give an account of their actions to Him!
i.
And he is no respecter of
persons.
ii.
Cf. Eph. 6:9 – the masters were
not to threaten KNOWING that they had a master in heaven… a Master who would
not be impressed with the fact that they were part of the upper class!
iii.
This is obviously a WARNING to
the slave owners.
- Notice the contast
in the truths that Paul tells them to keep in mind:
i.
Consolation to the slaves: a glorious heavenly reward! The thought of the
Bema Seat should lift up their hearts and encourage their souls as they do
their chores.
ii.
Warning to the masters: a Master who treats them with justice… and will
one day judge them as to how they treated their servants. The thought of the
Bema would not encourage them, but instill in them the fear of God! A stern
warning!
- The connection between
the main verb and the participle:
i.
Slaves: work heartily… KNOWING that there is a heavenly
reward. AS they work, they are to KNOW this. What a glorious motivator!
ii.
Masters: give justice & equity to your slaves… KNOWING
that you have a Master in heaven. AS they deal with their servants, they are to
KNOW this. This was a wonderful motivator… and also a warning!
- Eph. 6:9 - KNOWING: the same perfect, active,
participle as is found in our passage in Colossians twice.
iv.
Paul calls upon the Ephesian
masters to keep this truth settled in their minds as they deal
with their slaves: YOU too have a master in heaven with whom you will have to
give an account one day. And He is no respecter of persons!
v.
KNOWING this (keeping this
truth in the forefront of their minds) will prevent them from threatening their
servants.
vi.
Knowing this will also prevent
those here who may be in a managerial position at work… or a business owner and
employer… or a person in any position of authority… from threatening… and will
motivate such a person to treat them with justice and equity.
vii.
Wouldn’t it be great to have a
boss like that? (He treats you like a person; kind; compassionate; thoughtful;
treats you honestly, fairly, and with justice and equity?)
- Jas. 5:1- Here James deals with the subject of men in
positions of power and authority treating those under them unfairly.
i.
The system here does not seem
to be a master/slave relationship, but that of wealthy land owners and poor,
peasant workers.
ii.
James is really appealing to the
Christian workers suffering injustice and fraud. But he also gives a word of
warning to the wealthy... who may or may not be saved.
iii.
James approaches the subject as
Paul does.
1.
Paul did not call for the believers to change the
system of slavery… but to change their hearts and the way they treated other
human beings.
2.
James does not call for a redistribution of the wealth
or property. Instead he warns the wealthy and consoles the poor, just as Paul
did. He attempts to change their heart attitudes rather than the earthly
system.
iv.
Vs. 1-3 - James warns the
wealthy land owners who have
gathered much gold to themselves that their gold is rotting away before their
very eyes… cankered… and their earthly joys will soon be turned into misery.
v.
Vs. 4- they hired poor laborers to do their work and they
kept back their pay fraudulently. The warning is that God hears the
cries of these poor workers!
vi.
Vs. 5 – the wealthy land owners who are living well off
this fraud… they are rich and fat… are in fact more like pigs being fattened up
for the day of slaughter!
vii.
Vs. 6 – they were violent, unjust, and seemed to get away
with it in this life.
viii.
Vs. 7-8 – then James turns to the poor Christian workers
and reminds them that the Lord is coming and His reward is with Him…
ix.
The reminder of the Lord’s
coming was a two edged sword – it served to console the poor workers,
and it also served as a severe rebuke and warning to the unjust wealthy
land owners.
x.
God wants both parties to KNOW
that one day we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an
account for everything we did in this life… be it good or bad.
- KNOWING: this is Paul’s way of telling both the
slaves and the masters to be heavenly minded!
i.
They were to think on things
above as they lived out their lives here below!
ii.
They were to be settled in
their knowledge of the fact that the future Bema Seat… standing before
the Heavenly Master… our Judge… ought to have a profound effect on our present
lives!
iii.
As you live your life and deal
with people day in and day out… KNOW this! Keep it in mind…
iv.
Whether you are an employee or
an employer… KNOW these truths…
v.
Being heavenly minded makes us
BETTER workers and BETTER employees!
vi.
Being heavenly minded also
makes us better managers… and better employers.
vii.
It makes us more diligent in
our work… and more careful about the way we treat people under our authority…
viii.
It is good for us ALL – regardless
of our lot in life - to think on things above.
ix.
Keep the coming of the Lord in
the forefront of our thinking… as we endure difficulties and injustice in this
life… and as we deal with people.
- Our relationships to
one another on earth ought to be carried out in light of that future day
of judgment… where we all stand on equal footing before the Lord… and we
will all be judged by the same standard of justice and equity.
- Jesus said in Matt.
7:2: “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with
what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
- Be careful about how
we treat people and what we
expect of others. That standard might be held to us one day!