LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL

Passage: Colossians 3:18-4:1

Key verse: 3:18,19

NIV

Instructions for Christian Households(A)

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands,(B) as is fitting in the Lord.

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

21 Fathers,[a] do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry 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 human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance(C) from the Lord as a reward.(D) It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.(E)

4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair,(F) because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes
  1. Colossians 3:21 Or Parents
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Rules for Christian Households

18 (A)Wives, submit to your husbands, as (B)is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and (C)do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents (D)in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey (E)in everything those who are your earthly masters,[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 (F)Whatever you do, work heartily, (G)as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord (H)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. (I)You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Footnotes
  1. Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
  2. Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

As those who are united with Christ, our relationships with others should change. Paul points out what that will look like in these verses. He deals with husbands and wives, parents and children, and slaves and masters. Wives should submit to their husbands and husbands should love their wives and not be harsh with them. Why? Because it is fitting in the Lord. This means this is what God wants us to do, as those who belong to him. Children should obey their parents and parents should not embitter their children. In doing so, the Lord is pleased, and children do not get discouraged.

Although the last part speaks of slaves and masters, it includes employees and employers as well. Slaves (employees) should sincerely obey their masters (employers). Masters (employers) should treat their slaves (employees) justly and fairly. Christ should be the center of all of our relationships. Mutual respect, the love of Christ, and accountability to God should be the hallmarks of this.

Prayer: Father, may Christ be the center and focus of all of our relationships. May you be honored and glorified through this.

One Word: Put Christ first in our relationships