Ephesians 6:9, commentary and pictures

The instruction stands in Ephesians 6:1-13 among the apostle's words on family responsibilities and obedience to God's commandments, setting forth the duties of fathers and parents to bring up children in the Lord and of children to obey, together with the duties of servants and masters, and the call for all to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. That call to strength is to put on the whole armor of God to stand against the wiles of the devil, wrestling not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness, and to withstand in the evil day. On the servants' side the surrounding command is to sincere and willing service done as service to Christ rather than for human approval or selfish motives, without carelessness or disrespect toward authority.

Masters are commanded to do the same things unto those under their authority, acting toward servants and workers with the same goodwill, fairness, righteousness, and Christian principles required of servants, forbearing threatening and avoiding harsh, lordly treatment. The same teaching extends the requirement to all associated together in work, with good will and service rendered on both sides rather than threats met with indifference. The reason is that masters themselves have a Master in heaven, to whom they answer and are accountable, and Christ is that heavenly Master to whom both employer and worker belong. With Him there is no respect of persons, no partiality or favoritism, and no judging with favoritism.

That call stands with salvation by grace through faith as the gift of God, with being quickened together with Christ and created in Christ Jesus unto good works, and with the Messiah bringing in reconciliation for iniquity and everlasting righteousness through His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, which must be acted upon, held firm unto the end, and shown by separation from the world. The principles of righteousness in the command apply to daily work and are to be learned from the Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, studied and obeyed rather than treated with indifference, and those who do the Word receive the reward. For those in authority over fellow workers, especially in the Office, this means studying the interests of those with whom they are associated and exercising kindness, Christian love, and integrity. For employers it means being fair in demands and wages, paying promptly, and treating workers with kindness.

The same impartiality means God does not favor certain places or people over others, so His goods should not be spent to benefit a favored location or group while places with no work are left without help. Those living out these duties of masters and employers, parents and children, are Christ's ambassadors with a message of truth to bring to the people in the great work that will be cut short in righteousness, requiring the whole heart to be consecrated to God for Him to mold and fashion after the divine similitude.