Eph 6:5-8 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 5 Servants, be obedient - Though δουλος frequently signifies a slave or bondman, yet it often implies a servant in general, or any one bound to another, either for a limited time, or for life. Even a slave, if a Christian, was bound to serve him faithfully by whose money he was bought, howsoever illegal that traffic may be considered. In heathen countries slavery was in some sort excusable; among Christians it is an enormity and a crime for which perdition has scarcely an adequate state of punishment. According to the flesh - Your masters in secular things; for they have no authority over your religion, nor over your souls. With fear and trembling - Because the law gives them a power to punish you for every act of disobedience. In singleness of your heart - Not merely through fear of punishment, but from a principle of uprightness, serving them as you would serve Christ.

‏ Ephesians 6:5-8

Verse 5

Servants, be obedient - Though δουλος frequently signifies a slave or bondman, yet it often implies a servant in general, or any one bound to another, either for a limited time, or for life. Even a slave, if a Christian, was bound to serve him faithfully by whose money he was bought, howsoever illegal that traffic may be considered. In heathen countries slavery was in some sort excusable; among Christians it is an enormity and a crime for which perdition has scarcely an adequate state of punishment.

According to the flesh - Your masters in secular things; for they have no authority over your religion, nor over your souls.

With fear and trembling - Because the law gives them a power to punish you for every act of disobedience.

In singleness of your heart - Not merely through fear of punishment, but from a principle of uprightness, serving them as you would serve Christ. Verse 6

Not with eye-service - Not merely in their presence, when their eye is upon you, as unfaithful and hypocritical servants do, without consulting conscience in any part of their work.

Doing the will of God - Seeing that you are in the state of servitude, it is the will of God that you should act conscientiously in it. Verse 7

With good will - Μετ' ευνοιας· With cheerfulness; do not take up your service as a cross, or bear it as a burden; but take it as coming in the order of God's providence, and a thing that is pleasing to him. Verse 8

Whatsoever good thing any man doeth - Though your masters should fail to give you the due reward of your fidelity and labor, yet, as ye have done your work as unto the Lord, he will take care to give you the proper recompense.

Whether he be bond - A slave, bought with money;

Or free - A person who has hired himself of his own free accord.