The Christ-Exalting Master

Scripture Reading

Colossians 3:22–4:1 NIV84

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism. 1 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Ephesians 6:9 NASB95

9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

Introduction

In our study in Colossians 3 (and into chapter 4) we are looking together at what it means to live out our lives in response to the work of God in us through Christ.

We’ve been considering some of the glorious truths that are applicable to us as Christians. We have been considering the implications of the Gospel in our lives, in terms of how we should live in response to the Gospel.

What are the character qualities that are to mark us as Christians because of what God has done for us through Christ.

Following that, we’ve considered together some of the more practical outworkings of our salvation as it ought to be increasingly evidenced in our relationships with one another - in terms of family particularly, but also in terms of working relationships.

Last week we considered the manner in which slaves are to submit to, respect and honour their masters. Recall that I said this would relate to us specifically within our own context in terms of a worker / employee under their manager, or boss, or supervisor etc. Respect and submission as to the Lord is what is important in this relationship.

This evening we will be considering the master’s treatment of their slaves, as Paul addresses it in this verse. And just to help from the outset, the instructions given here are essentially applicable to all instances where you are in a position of authority over another. So this would be applicable to managers and their treatment of subordinates. It would be applicable to supervisors and those under their supervision. It would be applicable to bosses in general.

As we delve into this, we will find that the Gospel truly does make a difference in terms of how those in authority are called to treat those under them.

Notice two things from our text…

The Instructions

The Basis

1. The Instructions

As we consider the instructions together, I would like us to consider them under each of the verses that deal with this subject matter.

In the first line of Colossians 4:1 we read, “...Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair...”

Before we let our minds run too far in terms of imposing our modern understanding on the text, we need to think a little further of the context in that day.

Slavery was a normal part of life for the people to whom Paul wrote. It was absolutely normal to own a slave or slaves.

As I mentioned when I dealt with the preceding instructions to slaves, these slaves were the property of their owners, which essentially meant that they abandoned their own rights.

In many of the societies of that day, it would have been considered appropriate for masters to do just about anything they please with their slaves.

Slaves of that day and within that culture had no legal rights.

One historical website writes this concerning slavery in that day:

“Under Roman law, enslaved people had no personal rights and were regarded as the property of their masters. They could be bought, sold, and mistreated at will and were unable to own property, enter into a contract, or legally marry.”

The historian Diodorus Siculus wrote in 1st century BC. Concerning the slaves who were working in the mines, he wrote this:

“… the slaves who are engaged in the working of [the mines] produce for their masters' revenues in sums defying belief, but they themselves wear out their bodies both by day and by night in the diggings under the earth, dying in large numbers because of the exceptional hardships they endure. For no respite or pause is granted them in their labours, but compelled beneath blows of the overseers to endure the severity of their plight, they throw away their lives in this wretched manner […]; indeed death in their eyes is more to be desired than life, because of the magnitude of the hardships they must bear.”

– (Diodorus Siculus 5.38.1)

That is a striking situation to be in. It flies in the face of everything that our present day emphasis on human rights teaches us. There were no labour laws whatsoever to protect these people. They were seen and counted as objects.

You can just imagine what kind of impact this had on the slaves. They could easily be mistreated by their masters.

Very evidently, God was not unsympathetic towards the needs of the slaves.

Furthermore, those who are redeemed and set free from bondage to sin, must have a radically different understanding of the treatment of slaves.

Note that Paul doesn’t instruct masters to release their slaves, but rather he concerns himself with how those slaves are to be treated by Christian masters.

As Paul addresses masters here, he exhorts them to “provide for their slaves what is right and fair.”

Before I go any further, it’s important to point out that the word that the NIV translates as “provide” really means to grant to, or “to cause to have.” It has the idea of making something a reality.

Then, Paul mentions two things that are to be granted to the slaves.

That which is right, and that which is fair.

We must see that Paul is not saying that masters should grant something to them that is right and fair. Rather, the Greek can simply be translated as, “Grant them justice and fairness.”

That’s exactly how the NASB translates it… "Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness...”

In the context of a society that could routinely and without consequence treat their slaves harshly and even brutally, the instruction by Paul to masters is brief but powerful. It is a striking instruction. They are to grant to their slaves justice and fairness.

I’d like us to consider these two terms individually for a moment.

Justice:

This is a key concept in the Scriptures in terms of how Christians are to live their lives. It just as applicable to the Christian master as any other person.

These instructions are rooted in the very nature and character of God Himself.

Proverbs 21:3 NASB95

3 To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

Psalm 89:14 NASB95

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.

Isaiah 9:7 NASB95

7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Consider that justice is one of the attributes of God. He must enact justice because He is righteous, and always ensures perfect justice.

The fact that we have some sense of what justice is because we have been created by a God that is just, and He has created us with a sense of just.

Now, that sense of justice has become corrput due to the fall. Nonetheless, He calls us to conduct ourselves with justice. As redeemed sinners, we ought to be growing in our understanding of true, Biblical Justice.

I would like to add to that…Biblical justice is impartial, and is rooted in our identity as image bearers of God. In other words,

Leviticus 19:15 NASB95

15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

When God was giving instruction to Moses in terms of judging the disputes of the Israelites he said…

Deuteronomy 1:17 (NASB95)

17 ‘You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God’s....

Further on in the book of Deuteronomy,

Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB95

17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.

Now, if you bring that thinking of impartiality into the context of the master and the slave, you will see how differently an earthly master would be required to treat those under him when compared with the sinful world.

Now, the justice that God calls Christians to live out has to do with how we treat others around us, particularly in the context of covenant relationship.

“Justice is the actions that a person takes to honor the rights of others. Blessings envisioned for one person in the community is of equal value for all.” Cafferky, Michael E.. Business Ethics in Biblical Perspective (p. 101). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. 

As Christian masters, to carry out justice and to act towards others, even their slaves, in a just manner was to consider the inherent rights of those slaves, and to consider the covenant blessings for them as well (obviously assuming that they are Christians).

I don’t say this to mean that there was to be complete equality of resources and possessions. But certainly there was to be complete equality and dignity afforded every other person.

In the context of that day, this would have been a truly radical way of thinking. To treat those who culturally had no rights whatsoever as those who were equally with rights was a radical departure from the thinking of the day.

Masters were being called to grant that which was just for their slaves.

Fairness:

The other dimension in their treatment of slaves was that they were to treat them with fairness.

The Greek word used normally means “equality” and was a fundamental term in Greek democracy and law (G. Stählin, TDNT 3.345–48).1 [Dunn, J. D. G. (1996) (p. 259) ]

It speaks to the importance of equal dignity, and dealing with things proportionately.

In the context of masters and their slaves, what Paul is essentially saying to them as that they are to treat these slaves as image-bearers before God, worthy of honour and fair treatment, despite their humble position as slaves.

Practically speaking, this perspective should be cultivated in our lives as Christians in general. To have a haughty attitude, or to see ourselves as more important than those around us, either because we’re more gifted, in a higher position, more financially well-off… whatever it is, this kind of thinking is inappropriate for the Christian.

James 2:1–4 NASB95

1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?

Notice that… evil motives.

The same is applicable to masters relationship over his slaves. Or, the employer / manager / supervisor relationship over subordinates. It is to be one that shows honour.

This comes out further when we consider the parallel in Ephesians 6:9…

Ephesians 6:9 NIV84

9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Notice the way Paul says in this verse that masters are to “do the same things to them....” They are to treat slaves in “similar manner.” Now, obviously the relationship between slave and master has not been changed. But there is a common basis in terms of treatment of the other. One commentary notes it in these terms:

“in effect Paul is saying to the masters: “Promote the welfare of your slaves as you expect them to promote yours. Show the same interest in them and in their affairs as you hope they will show in you and your affairs.”1 (Hendriksen / Kistemaker).

Masters are called to take an interest in and show concern for the livelihood and affairs of their slaves, not considering themselves as more important that their slaves.

We must note that Paul almost assumes that the slaves are also servants of Christ - in Christ. It’s not stated specifically, and certainly the exhortation would be applicable whether or not the slave was a Christian, but if they are a believer, there really is a serious motivation for treating them well.

These slaves are fellow-heirs of the grace of God. They are those who share in the heavenly inheritance in Christ. They are those who will receive their own inheritance in glory one day.

But as I mentioned, even if they themselves do not believe, the Christian master’s treatment of their slave should be radically different from the worlds.

In addition to this, Paul adds that masters are to give up threatening their servants.

In a culture where harsh and unfair treatment was rife and morally permissible according to their standards, God’s word called for and end to threats.

“This is not to suggest that slaves could not be warned of punishment if they did wrong. Rather, the clause rejects all forms of manipulating, demeaning, or terrifying slaves by threats.” )O’Brien, P. T. (1999). The letter to the Ephesians (p. 454). W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)

Slaves were to be treated here with honour and respect, and they were to be treated with kindness, tenderness, mercy and grace.

2. The Basis

Paul outlines the basis of this treatment in both Colossians 4:1 and Ephesians 6:9…

...because you know that you also have a Master in heaven. (Col.4:1)

...since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him… (Eph.6:9)

The basis for this good and careful treatment of slaves is the fact that there is a master in heaven. While to the slaves, this would have been an encouragement in the face of harsh masters, for masters, this truth would be a warning, or a caution to those who are masters.

Christian masters can never speak about their slaves, says Paul, merely as if they are their own property, and how they handle those slaves is therefore their business. No!! How they handled their slaves (and how we handle those who are under our supervision and management) is decidedly the Lord’s business!

And so note this: Both Christian slaves and masters are pointed to their Master, Christ. Loyalty and obedience to the same Lord is that which give shape to the treatment of others.

Paul is saying here to masters that they will render an account on the final day to this heavenly Lord for all that they have done, not least as to how they have treated their slaves (cf. Col. 4:1).

And then, note what Paul says further. The Lord to whom slaves and masters are accountable is completely impartial. We looked at that earlier from Deuteronomy 10:17

Deuteronomy 10:17 NASB95

17 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe.

One commentator notes:

At the judgment bar of God there is no ‘partiality’68 or ‘bias’ with him. The higher social status that masters have gives them no advantage whatever. He does not allow himself to be influenced by appearances. No ‘special deals’ can be made with him. Let masters, then, treat their slaves in the light of the fact that they are fellow-servants of this heavenly Lord.1

Slave

Now, let us make this somewhat more practical.

If you think about our natural human inclinations, and our natural treatment of others, particularly those who are under us… even more specifically those who really are at the bottom of the chain of command… the natural tendency within us is to consider them as less important, and ourselves as more important.

You will usually find bosses at work considering themselves to be more important than the basic office workers.... or the basic workers doing the physical, hard work on a project.

It comes from a sense of, I’ve worked hard; I’ve achieved; I’ve earned this; you ought to respect me.

Now, as much as there ought to be respect from subordinates, this is precisely where the danger comes in. Our minds should not go there.

It’s certainly true that we have differing responsibilities. It is certainly true that certain positions have required far more work, study, effort to get to than other positions. But every other person is your co-worker, and fellow heir with you of the grace of God (if a Christian) or a possible heir with you of the grace of God.

And God is not going to reward you according to your riches, or your title in the workplace. He’s going to reward each of us according to how we have lived, loving Him and loving our neighbour.

For Christians who may be in a position of greater authority, they need to remember that they are answerabe to a higher master and Lord. They are slaves themselves.

1 Corinthians 7:22 NASB95

22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.

Application / Conclusion

Let us consider some points of application.

First, the primary concern in the text is a Christian response to life’s situations. Christians are always to live with a sense of responsibility to God, and to live under the watchful eye of God.

For the Master, they have not come to a place of “being their own boss,” and thus “getting to call the shots.” Rather, God as their master has allowed them the opportunity to act in a position of responsibility, and He will have them give an account of how they have stewarded that responsibility.

On a practical level for us today.... who of you have a position of authority over others. I think there are many that do.

Let me encourage you to live out those practical character qualities that we’ve already considered throught this study, and to put them into practice in the context of those under your authority.

Let me remind you of some of those…

Colossians 3:12–15 NASB95

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

In a world where “might makes right,” and in a world where bosses are seeking to stamp down their foot of authority, may it be that those who are Christian masters, Christian managers, Christian supervisors, would bring to their workplaces a radically different approach that is filled with the mercy and grace of Christ.