Colossians 3:22 Commentary and Bible Study

These are remarkable verses and not what we would expect today. The apostle appears he give no comfort to slaves, but only sets responsibilities before them. But the word does not tolerate slavery and campaigns to end it have come from Christians.There were many slaves in those days. For about half the population under Roman domain, that was the situation and that was how it would be for a long time to come. Many were born into it; some became slaves by being taken captive. Can you imagine the natural resentment in the heart of a slave? Most were treated badly with little or no pay. They worked all hours, and they were full of laziness, cheating masters whenever they could. But all that was to go following conversion. If this is true of slaves, how much more of us who are not slaves, but who have defined working hours and conditions! How much more should courtesy and politeness be characteristic of believers! There must be no duplicity at all. They were to work consciously not just for favour, and when they knew was some reward offered. They did it for God. Do it heartily with the whole soul, says Paul, with goodwill, initiative, and vigour. You are not doing it merely out of duty, but in a dedicated way. We, today, are not slaves but free. Slaves had to obey in every respect. As free people we have rights: the right to withdraw our labour, to refuse to do certain tasks. Slaves did not have those rights – rights won for us largely by believers. But let us be careful not to exercise rights according to the standard of the worldling. Slaves are required to put up with all, so let us be careful. If this is the will of God for slaves, we must exercise our rights sparingly, and in a reasonable manner. We must show the same willingness to carry out difficult and even unreasonable requests without hurrying to invoke our rights. We have a testimony to mount.The standard for the converted slave was diligence and respect, honesty, cheerfulness, and no grumbling. This was not offered on the basis of the worthiness of the master, but came from a quite separate incentive, based on a standard that originated with God. The master may not deserve respect because of his dishonesty, or cruelty, or unreasonableness, but the slave is not only serving the master, he is serving God. He holds a standard in his heart which sets him free from the tyranny of his master, and he can choose to serve honestly and sincerely even though his master does not deserve it. And slaves are to behave like this, no matter how unreasonably they are treated. ‘Obey in all things.’