The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 266

\ers. 5-8.-.Duties of servants. It is interesting to reflect that the New Testament de,o.es 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 cle.ss in the citie.s of Asia Minor, often greatly, more numerous than freemen, and very many of them had embraced the gospel with great heartiness. '!'here were obvious reasons for a studious minuteness in the counsels given to such a class. L THEIR DUTY IS SUllYED UP IN THE SINGLE WORD "OBEDIENCE," Christianity does not rndely strike at existing relations in life, but seeks to improve and sanctify them. In its appeals to slaves as well as to masters, it sowed the seed-corn, small as a grain of mustard seed, which grew into a harvest of emancipation in the ages which were to see the full power of the gospel. Obedience was therefore the duty of slaves, or servants, " in all things " (Col. iii. 22), that is, in all things included within the sphere of a master's rightful authority, not contrary to tho Law of God, or the gospel of Christ, or the dictates of conscience. It is set forth first in a negative, then in a positive form. L .lftgatively. "Not with eye-service, asmen-pleasers." 'l'his word is coined by the apostle for the occasion. Eye-service is either work done only to please the eye, but which cannot bear to be tested, or it may be good work done only when the =ter·s i;ye is l: 1,on the worker. This was a vice peculiar to slavery. But it enters i!'.lt0 all forms of sen-ice. Dishonest work is to be avoided quite as much as dishonest ,~·o:CA. An acted lie is as dishonourable as a spoken one. '!'here must be no mere per- ft:::..ctory discharge of human duties. 2. Positively. (1) ." With fear and tremb!iug.n Xot from ri;uard to the lash of the master, but with an anDous and tremulous des1re to uo our duty thoroughly. Obedience is to be yielded" with all fear" (1 Pet. ii. 18), that is with the fear of incurrina the just rebukes of their masters, and "as fearing God " (Col. iii. 22). (2) "In singl~ness of heart, as unto Christ." In simplicity and sincerity of spirit without dissimulation or hypocrisy. There is a great temptation to duplicity in those' subjected to another's will, especially if the service is irksome or unreasonable. Let there be a single desire to do your duty. (3) "With good-will doing service," not gru,1gingly, or murmuringly, or by constraint, but with cheerfu~ness ~nd alacrity, "seeking to please them well in all things," that they may obtain their good will (Titus ii. 9). II. 'l'HE MOTIVES TO sucH OBEDIENCE. 1. The command of God here addressed to all servants. 2. The Lord's mastcrs!Jip, for they are "the servants of Christ," and are " doing service as to the Lord, and not to men." Here is the constraining force of the L<,rd's love. How this motive sweetens, sanctifies, ennobles work I The work is done, r.ot for W'l.ges, not by constraint, but" unto the Lord," and therefore becomes part of OB. VL 1-24.] TllE EPISTLE 'l'O THE EPHESIANS. 267