Ephesians 6:5-9 • Under Authority Pt. 2

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Review & Overview

1. Ephesians’ Overview

Here, in chapters 4–6, Paul shifts gears. He lays out what it looks like to live out our faith, with 35 specific instructions on how to walk worthy of our calling.

He moves from big spiritual truths to practical, everyday life—how we relate to others, live in unity, and even fight spiritual battles.

Ephesians starts in the spiritual but ends in the physical regarding relationships, and in the real world.

So Chapters 4-6 deals with the Christian’s Position Physically.

2 Previous Study’s Review

Submission in Marriage - Submission to Parents

And that brings us to Vs. 5 and our study today. Read…

3. Current Study’s Overview

The Title of Today’s Message is: Under Authority: Obedience That Worships Pt. 2

Because… Paul here gives instructions to slaves and masters, he’s speaking to a world where slavery was very common.

So this wasn’t a side issue—it was everywhere.

In fact, by the first century, one out of every three people in the Roman Empire was a slave.

And some historians even suggest that over half the population had been enslaved at some point.

So it’s hard for us to imagine that kind of world because of the type of slavery we experienced here in America and because of the freedom we now have.

Now, slavery in the Roman culture, people were bought, sold, and treated as property.

Masters held huge amount of power over slaves and could punish them however they wanted.

But there are records of some masters who were kind and fair, and others were cruel, and stories of abuse were common as well.

But, the slavery that is spoken of in the Bible is not quite the same as the slavery we experienced here in the states.

Roman slavery was not based on race. People became slaves mainly through debt or war.

And it wasn’t unusual for someone to be a slave for a time and later gain their freedom by the age of thirty.

Some slaves were even able to earn wages or rewards, so that they could buy their freedom.

And also, there were all kinds of slaves in that world:

field workers, household servants, business managers, and even educated professionals like doctors, teachers, and scribes.

Many of these educated slaves were highly valued and could earn trust and privileges from their master.

Many scholars say Luke the writer of Luke and Acts who was a doctor was a slave to a man named Theopholis.

Some, slaves, chose to stay with their masters even after being offered freedom because they had good lives and relationships. They were known as “bond slaves.”

Now, within the household, slaves were often considered part of the family.

And here’s something beautiful about the early church: when believers gathered to worship, masters and slaves sat side by side.

They broke bread together. They were equals before God. They knew…

Galatians 3:28 NKJV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

But what’s interesting, Paul and the other New Testament writers never launch a political campaign to overthrow slavery, but what they do is teach something revolutionary, they reframe the concept of slavery.

In Christ, the relationship between slave and master is transformed.

Both are under the same Lord, both are accountable to the same Master in heaven, and both are called to serve Him with sincerity and respect.

And though the context here is slavery, the principle still carries into our world today.

It shapes how we view work—how we treat those we lead, and how we serve those we work for.

In the same way Paul called slaves and masters to live as unto Christ, this passage speaks to every believer who has a boss, or who is one.

It calls us to bring Christ into every place we work, lead, and serve.

Paul’s message cuts to the heart of human pride: no matter your position, you belong to Christ, and that changes everything.

So if your taking notes, we want to look at 4 things regarding the relationship between a Slave and a Master.

1. Slaves: Serve in Submission Vs. 5

Paul’s command for slaves to obey their masters here follows the same pattern he’s used with wives and children earlier in this letter.

Just as children are called to obey and wives to show respect, slaves are instructed to submit to their masters, but there’s a deeper layer here.

In the physical realm, they might belong to their masters, but in the spiritual realm, they belong completely to Christ.

That fact changes the way they are to see themselves and their obedience.

Paul makes it clear that the master-slave relationship exists only “according to the flesh”, because it’s temporary and earthly.

Because these believers have been bought by a far greater Master, purchased not with money but with the blood of Christ.

So while they must still honor their earthly masters, their true allegiance is to Jesus, who rules over both slave and free.

Now notice, Paul says to obey “with fear and trembling,” he’s not telling them to live in terror.

In Roman culture, fear usually meant dread of punishment, but Paul lifts it to a higher meaning.

He’s talking about reverence, he’s talking about having an awareness, that how they obey on earth reflects their relationship with God.

It’s the same idea he expresses in Philippians 2:12: “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

In other words, their work wasn’t just about pleasing people, it was about honoring Jesus.

Then the verse tells us that our obedience should be done “with sincerity of heart.”

In other words we are to obey with honesty, integrity, and a single focus. No hidden motives or eye-service.

A sincere heart doesn’t look for shortcuts or try to impress when someone’s watching.

A person who obeys with a sincere heart does what’s right because it’s right.

And you know, both the Greek and Jewish cultures valued this kind of sincerity, and Paul calls Christians to model it.

The world loves this kind of heart and we are called to be in the world with sincere hearts.

And notice how Paul finishes this verse, he says they are to obey “as to Christ.”

This is the most important part. When a Christian slave obeyed his master, he was ultimately obeying Jesus Himself.

Paul wants them to see their daily labor as an act of worship, not because their earthly master was worthy of it, but because their heavenly Master is.

Their obedience wasn’t just for human approval but as part of their faithfulness to Christ, done with the same devotion they’d show Him directly.

So Paul’s point in verse 5 isn’t just about having proper workplace manners or keeping social order, it’s about worship.

When a believer serves with respect, sincerity, and integrity, even under an imperfect earthly authority, they’re really serving the Lord.

That perspective lifts ordinary obedience into sacred territory.

And in verse 6, Paul takes this idea even further, showing that true Christian service goes beyond appearances.

It’s not about doing the right thing when someone’s watching, it’s about serving from the heart, knowing that Christ Himself is our audience.

2. Slaves: Serve with Sincerity Vs. 6

Paul continues his instruction by showing both what genuine obedience is not and what it is.

On the negative side, he says slaves shouldn’t serve only when their masters are watching, trying to earn their approval or to obtain favor.

The Greek word he uses for “eye-service” is very interesting.

It’s the greek word: ophthalmodoulia, of-thal-mod-oo-li'-ah. It’s a compound word:

ophthalmos - Literally means eye or sight.

douleia - Literally means slave.

So this word could also be translated to: slavery to the eye.

And what’s interesting is that this word doesn’t appear anywhere else in ancient Greek literature, outside of the bible.

Which means Paul likely made this word up to describe this very idea of: doing work only when someone’s looking.

It’s a word picture of shallow obedience, service that depends on human attention instead of inner conviction.

APPLICATION: Generate a brief applicational point on Eye service.

Instead, Paul calls believers to something higher.

We’re not to be “men-pleasers” (anthrō-popareskoi), but “slaves of Christ.”

That’s the whole point Paul is trying to make here. Their ultimate Master isn’t their employer or superior, it’s Jesus Himself.

Serving Christ means doing everything as an act of worship to Him, even in circumstances that are unfair or difficult.

A slave might be ignored, mistreated, or overlooked on earth, but the Lord of heaven sees their faithfulness and promises to reward it.

Understand this, what feels like humiliation in this life will one day be turned into honor in the presence of God in heaven.

Paul also says they’re to “do the will of God from the heart.”

In other words, our obedience flows from within, not from external pressure.

God’s will should take first place in every believer’s life, shaping how we live, work, and respond to authority.

Romans 12:2 NKJV

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Peter 4:2 NKJV

2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

We are to to spend the rest of our lives living “for the will of God.”

So for Christian slaves, obedience wasn’t just a social duty, it was a spiritual offering to God.

They were to serve with sincerity, not grudgingly or bitterly, but wholeheartedly.

When they worked faithfully under their earthly masters, they were really working for God.

That perspective transforms the hardest circumstances into opportunities for worship.

3. Slaves: Serve with a Smile Vs. 7-8

Paul continues by urging believers to serve “with a good attitude,” that’s what that word means goodwill.

He’s describing a heart that serves willingly, not grudgingly, a person who chooses to work with a spirit of kindness and positivity.

This kind of attitude would’ve stood out crazy in the ancient world.

A slave who worked with genuine goodwill, with a good attitude, even under harsh conditions.

That would not only honor God but would also disarm and perhaps even soften the hearts of their master.

But, Paul here isn’t being naive.

He knows that maintaining a good attitude toward a cruel or demanding master isn’t easy.

That’s why he adds the key phrase: “as to the Lord, and not to men,”

He’s reminding them that every act of service, no matter how small, unseen, or unappreciated, is actually directed toward Christ Himself.

Their true Master isn’t sitting on a Roman castle but He’s reigning from heaven.

And that perspective could calm their hearts when life felt unfair, because it shifted their focus from the temporary to the eternal.

Then Paul expands on this thought here in verse 8: God sees it all, and He will personally reward every good deed done in His name.

A believer might never receive recognition on earth, but God keeps perfect records.

The Lord Himself will repay each one “for whatever good they do, whether slave or free.”

And we see this through out scripture:

Proverbs 24:12 NKJV

12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

Revelation 22:12 NKJV

12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

At the judgment seat of Christ, Paul reminds us, every believer will give an account for how they lived.

Our failures will be forgiven, but our faithfulness will be rewarded.

For the slave in Ephesus—and for us today—that should bring great comfort.

Even when people are unfair, God never overlooks a single act of obedience, a single moment of integrity, or a single good attitude offered for His sake.

Earthly masters might ignore it, but our heavenly Master never will. His rewards are eternal, far beyond anything this world could ever repay.

With that promise of eternal reward, Paul ends his words to slaves and shifts his focus to their masters.

The same God who watches the humble servant also watches the one in charge.

In other words, the ground is level at the foot of the cross—both slave and master answer to the same Lord.

Just as slaves were called to serve with sincerity and goodwill, masters are now reminded to lead with justice and compassion, knowing that they too are servants under the authority of Christ.

4. Masters: Serve Under the Savior Vs.9

After addressing slaves, Paul now turns to masters—and what he says is revolutionary for the ancient world.

Just as slaves were to serve their masters with sincerity and goodwill, Paul tells masters to show the same attitude toward their servants.

That alone would have been shocking in the first century.

Roman culture gave masters almost absolute control, yet Paul reminds them that both slave and master stand equal before the same God, both answer to the same heavenly Master.

Paul’s argument builds on verse 8, where he just said that God rewards both slave and free for the good they do.

That means masters aren’t exempt from accountability. Their authority is temporary and limited, but God’s authority is eternal.

Every believer—whether servant or master—has been freed from sin’s slavery to become a servant of Christ.

Romans 6:22 NKJV

22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

The true question isn’t, “Who do you control?” but “Whom do you serve?”

Masters enjoy earthly privilege and power, but if they misus that power, they will face God’s judgment.

So Paul here is suggesting, to trade that temporary advantage for eternal reward.

Now notice, Paul specifically tells masters not to “threaten” their slaves.

In Roman society, threats and punishments were the norm—brutal methods of control.

A slave could be beaten, whipped, or even killed without consequence.

So Fear kept the system running. But Paul calls Christian masters to something completely different: to treat those under their care with love, loyalty, and fairness.

In a world where cruelty was common, that command would have been crazy!

The reason is simple: Christian masters have a Master too—one who reigns in heaven and shows no favoritism.

God doesn’t see social rank or wealth.

1 Peter 1:17 NKJV

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;

Rome might have honored the powerful, but God doesn’t play favorites.

In His eyes, a slave and a Caesar are made of the same dust. The rich owner with hundreds of servants gets no special pass in judgment.

Every act of injustice will be brought to account before the throne of God.

Paul’s teaching here echoes his larger vision of mutual submission from…

Ephesians 5:21 NKJV

21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

In God’s design, every relationship—whether husband and wife, parent and child, or master and slave—functions under that same principle of humility and responsibility.

Authority is never about domination; it’s about stewardship.

Those who lead are called to build up, not break down, those under their care.

This principle naturally extends into today’s world of work.

While slavery is gone, the same heart issue remains wherever one person has authority over another.

Paul’s words easily apply to employers and employees. In modern workplaces, tension often replaces teamwork, and management and labor see each other as enemies.

But Paul’s vision is radically different. It’s revolutionary.

In Christ, both worker and boss should see themselves as teammates serving the same Lord and working toward a shared good.

When leadership is marked by fairness and service, and labor is done with sincerity and excellence, the workplace becomes a place of witness—a reflection of what God’s kingdom looks like when lived out on earth.

As we draw to a close, At the end of the day, this passage isn’t just about slaves and masters, or even employees and employers—it’s about Jesus.

He is the ultimate Master—perfect in authority, yet rich in mercy.

Where earthly masters could be harsh or unfair, Christ is gentle and humble in heart. Where others demand service, He stooped down to serve.

We were once slaves—not to people, but to sin itself.

Yet He bought us, not with silver or gold, but with His own blood.

And now, we belong to Him. That means whether we work, lead, or serve, we do it all for our Master in heaven—the One who never mistreats, never overlooks, and never forgets.

So let’s live as people who have been set free—working with sincerity, leading with grace, and serving with joy—because our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of it all.

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