Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, 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 favoritism.
I think that most of us who have grown up around the church, or have been followers of Christ for a long time, tend to forget - or at least take for granted - the revolutionary power of the gospel.
Imagine a world where fathers had such absolute power over their families that they could disown, banish or even kill a child without committing a crime. Imagine a world where women were the material property of their husbands and had no legal rights or protection whatsoever. Imagine a world where one third of the population were regarded as slaves.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, 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 favoritism.
I think that most of us who have grown up around the church, or have been followers of Christ for a long time, tend to forget - or at least take for granted - the revolutionary power of the gospel.
Imagine a world where fathers had such absolute power over their families that they could disown, banish or even kill a child without committing a crime. Imagine a world where women were the material property of their husbands and had no legal rights or protection whatsoever. Imagine a world where one third of the population were regarded as slaves.
That was the world of the first century Roman Empire, the world into which the Apostle Paul wrote these words.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Here Paul is acknowledging that the gospel transforms the marriage relationship from one of virtual ownership to one of mutual respect and sacrifice.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
With these words, which sound somewhat basic to us, Paul is revolutionizing his reader’s understanding of family relationships. No longer are children to obey their parents out of fear of punishment, but rather out of respect and love for Christ. No longer are parents, especially fathers, to rely on the power of their position to exact obedience from their children, but rather by loving their children with the love that Christ has for them.
Now he turns his attention to relationships in the workplace.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Here Paul is acknowledging that the gospel transforms the marriage relationship from one of virtual ownership to one of mutual respect and sacrifice.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
With these words, which sound somewhat basic to us, Paul is revolutionizing his reader’s understanding of family relationships. No longer are children to obey their parents out of fear of punishment, but rather out of respect and love for Christ. No longer are parents, especially fathers, to rely on the power of their position to exact obedience from their children, but rather by loving their children with the love that Christ has for them.
Now he turns his attention to relationships in the workplace.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, 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 favoritism.
The word for “slave” here is the ancient Greek word doulos; and it carried a more nuanced meaning in the first century world than it does in our world. Doulos referred more to a class of people than to a slave from Civil War days in America. Historians estimate that up to one-third of the population of the ancient Roman Empire would have been considered doulos, or bond-servants. These people would have been the ancient equivalent of what we might think of as “blue collar” or “migrant” workers. They most likely did not own much property, but depended on working for the more affluent class for their livelihood. In any case, they were people for whom this message would have been revolutionary!
Paul is giving them the revolutionary good news that they do not work for their earthly masters, but for the Lord himself! This is revolutionary because when you know who you work for, and why you are working, everything changes. When you work for a boss that you fear or resent, your motivation is to do what’s necessary and to avoid punishment. You work harder when you know the boss is paying attention. When you work for the paycheck you get at the end of the week, you are a slave to your job and a slave to money.
The word for “slave” here is the ancient Greek word doulos; and it carried a more nuanced meaning in the first century world than it does in our world. Doulos referred more to a class of people than to a slave from Civil War days in America. Historians estimate that up to one-third of the population of the ancient Roman Empire would have been considered doulos, or bond-servants. These people would have been the ancient equivalent of what we might think of as “blue collar” or “migrant” workers. They most likely did not own much property, but depended on working for the more affluent class for their livelihood. In any case, they were people for whom this message would have been revolutionary!
Paul is giving them the revolutionary good news that they do not work for their earthly masters, but for the Lord himself! This is revolutionary because when you know who you work for, and why you are working, everything changes. When you work for a boss that you fear or resent, your motivation is to do what’s necessary and to avoid punishment. You work harder when you know the boss is paying attention. When you work for the paycheck you get at the end of the week, you are a slave to your job and a slave to money.
However, if you work for Christ, the one who created you, loves you, died for you, dwells in you by his Holy Spirit and promises an eternal reward, your motivation is to honor and serve him with your very best. When you work for his glory rather than for a paycheck, you are no longer a slave to your job, your boss or to money, you are free to do your work with passion and joy, whatever the job.
Paul is teaching that the gospel not only changes our eternal destiny through salvation, but it transforms all of our relationships as well. The gospel changes our understanding of marriage; the gospel changes our understanding of family; and the gospel changes our understanding of work.
Simply put, Christ changes everything.
Pastor Brian Coffey
Paul is teaching that the gospel not only changes our eternal destiny through salvation, but it transforms all of our relationships as well. The gospel changes our understanding of marriage; the gospel changes our understanding of family; and the gospel changes our understanding of work.
Simply put, Christ changes everything.
Pastor Brian Coffey
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