Ephesians 6:7-8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ephesians 6:1-9

Here we have further directions concerning relative duties, in which the apostle is very particular. I. The duty of children to their parents. Come, you children, hearken to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord. The great duty of children is to obey their parents (Eph. 6:1), parents being the instruments of their being, God and nature having given them an authority to command, in subserviency to God; and, if children will be obedient to their pious parents, they will be in a fair way to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 6:5-9

6:5-9 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as you would Christ himself. Do not work only when you are being watched. Do not work only to satisfy men. But work as the slave of Christ, doing God's will heartily. Let your service be given with good-will, as to Christ and not to men. Be well assured that each of us, whether he is slave or free, will be rewarded by the Lord for whatever good we have done. And you masters, act in the same way towards your... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Ephesians 6:5-9

Paul's advice to slaves provides us with the gospel of the Christian workman. (i) He does not tell them to rebel; he tells them to be Christian where they are. The great message of Christianity to every man is that it is where God has set us that we must live out the Christian life. The circumstances may be all against us, but that only makes the challenge greater. Christianity does not offer us escape from circumstances; it offers us conquest of circumstances. (ii) He tells the slaves... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:7

With good will doing service ,.... To their masters; not grudgingly, with an ill will; no otherwise, nor longer than when they are forced to it; but of a ready mind, and with a cheerful spirit, taking delight in their work, and reckoning it a pleasure to serve their masters; as an Israelite that is not sold, who does his work ברצונו , "with his good will", and according to his own mind F2 Maimon. Hilchot Abadim, c. 1. sect. 7. ; doing what they do as to the Lord, and not to men ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ephesians 6:8

Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doth ,.... According to the will of God, from right principles in his heart, and with a view to God's glory: the same shall he receive of the Lord ; that is, he shall receive the fruit and advantage of it, in a way of grace, whether he be bond or free ; a bondman or a free man, a master or a servant. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:7

With good will - Μετ ' ευνοιας· With cheerfulness; do not take up your service as a cross, or bear it as a burden; but take it as coming in the order of God's providence, and a thing that is pleasing to him. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:8

Whatsoever good thing any man doeth - Though your masters should fail to give you the due reward of your fidelity and labor, yet, as ye have done your work as unto the Lord, he will take care to give you the proper recompense. Whether he be bond - A slave, bought with money; Or free - A person who has hired himself of his own free accord. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:7

Verse 7 With good will doing service. (Ver. 7.) This is contrasted with the suppressed indignation which swells the bosom of slaves. Though they dare not openly break out or give signs of obstinacy, their dislike of the authority exercised over them is so strong, that it is with the greatest unwillingness and reluctance that they obey their masters. Whoever reads the accounts of the dispositions and conduct of slaves, which are scattered through the writings of the ancients, will be at no loss... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 6:8

Verse 8 8.Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth. What a powerful consolation! However unworthy, however ungrateful or cruel, their masters may be, God will accept their services as rendered to himself. When servants take into account the pride and arrogance of their masters, they often become more indolent from the thought that their labor is thrown away. But Paul informs them that their reward is laid up with God for services which appear to be ill bestowed on unfeeling men; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ephesians 6:5-8

Duties of servants. It is interesting to reflect that the New Testament devotes more space to the instruction of servants than to the instruction of either parents or children, husbands or wives. The servants, or rather slaves, were a large and interesting class in the cities of Asia Minor, often greatly more numerous than freemen, and very many of them had embraced the gospel with great heartiness. There were obvious reasons for a studious minuteness in the counsels given to such a class.... read more

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