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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - Ephesians 6:9 - 6:9
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
the same things - Mutatis mutandis. Show the same regard to God’s will, and to your servants’ well-being, in your relation to them, as they ought to have in their relation to you. Love regulates the duties both of servants and masters, as one and the same light attempers various colors. Equality of nature and faith is superior to distinctions of rank [Bengel]. Christianity makes all men brothers: compare Lev 25:42, Lev 25:43; Deu 15:12; Jer 34:14 as to how the Hebrews were bound to treat their brethren in service; much more ought Christians to act with love.
threatening - Greek, “the threatening” which masters commonly use. “Masters” in the Greek, is not so strong a term as “despots”: it implies authority, but not absolute domination.
your Master also - The oldest manuscripts read, “the Master both of them and you”: “their Master and yours.” This more forcibly brings out the equality of slaves and masters in the sight of God. Seneca [Thyestes, 607], says, “Whatever an inferior dreads from you, this a superior Master threatens yourselves with: every authority here is under a higher above.” As you treat your servants, so will He treat you.
neither ... respect of persons - He will not, in judging, acquit thee because thou art a master, or condemn him because he is a servant (Act 10:34; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Col 3:25; 1Pe 1:17). Derived from Deu 10:17; 2Ch 19:7.