Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

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.

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,

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,

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.

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…