Colossians 3:18-25
18 “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not become bitter against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not antagonize your children, so that they will not become discouraged. 22 Slaves, obey those who are your human masters in everything, not with eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For the one who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”
Wives, be subject…husbands love your wives: Wives are to respect their husbands as this is precisely what husbands desire. Likewise, wives are hungry for love from their husbands. Husbands are therefore to love their wives as Christ loves the church (see also Ephesians 5:25).
Children be obedient…fathers do not exasperate: The enemy desires to encourage children to not obey their parents. Likewise, he wants fathers to be exasperated with their children. Children are to love their parents by listening to them, and fathers are to seek to serve their children and encourage them in the Lord. This, along with how husbands and wives are to treat one another, will encourage unity.
Slaves: In the context, slaves were working for wages. Therefore, Paul is encouraging the slaves to obey their employers as if they are working for the Lord. Slaves can genuinely love their employers by receiving Christ’s love in the moment and transmitting it to their bosses.
Do your work heartily: Grace never encourages passivity. Instead, grace encourages us to work hard and excellently. It is impossible to find fulfillment in laziness as a believer.
Inheritance: Inheritance speaks of the full revelation of all that is ours in Christ. When we believe, we receive the full inheritance of salvation and God’s kingdom. Our inheritance has nothing to do with the length of our relationship with Christ. This would not be grace. Instead, all people receive the same payment upon belief in Jesus. This eternal perspective is what fuels our work here on the earth.
Receive the consequences: While we do not receive divine consequences for sinning, we will experience consequences in this life. In the context, this can also be applied to the relationships addressed earlier. If love is not expressed in each relationship, then there will be earthly consequences.
