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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eph_6:5-8
5Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; 6not by way of eye service, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. 7With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.
Eph_6:5 "slaves" This is Paul's third domestic example to show how being filled with the Spirit makes a difference in daily life (cf. Col_3:22). "Slaves" (douloi) refers to household servants.
▣ "be obedient" This is a Present active imperative. There is a great parallel passage in 1Pe_2:18-21. There is an obvious parallel between wives, children and servants, except that wives were not commanded to obey as children (for a period) and slaves are.
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▣ "who are your masters according to the flesh" Here the Greek term flesh (sarx) is used in the sense of the physical, not of evil. This general truth relates to both the Christian masters and pagan masters (i.e., to both kind and unkind bosses). Notice the phrase "in the Lord" is not found here as in the two previous domestic examples (cf. Eph_5:21; Eph_6:1).
Modern western culture does not have slaves, yet this spiritual truth surely applies to Christian employers and Christian employees.
▣ "with fear and trembling" This is a metaphor of respect (cf. 1Co_2:3; 2Co_7:15; Php_2:12).
▣ "in sincerity of heart" This is a metaphor from the term "singleness." It is used in two ways in the NT (1) sincerity (cf. II Col. 1:12; 11:3; Col_3:22) or (2) liberality (cf. Rom_12:8; 2Co_8:2; 2Co_9:11; 2Co_9:13). In this context it is obviously #1. A believer's motivation is always the key to proper action, not observation (cf. Eph_6:6-7). Believers live out their lives in every area as unto the Lord (cf. Col_3:22-25 and Rom_14:7-9)! They are motivated not by the worth or merit of another, but by who they are in Christ.
Christian husbands love their wives not because the wives are perfect or deserve it but because they are Christians. This is true of all human interpersonal relationships. Believers love God by loving others made in His image, for whom He died (cf. 1Jn_2:9; 1Jn_2:11; 1Jn_4:20). See Special Topic: Heart at Col_2:2.
▣ "as to Christ" Believers act toward others because of their relationship to Christ, not because of what the others deserve (cf. Eph_5:22; Rom_14:7-9). This is true of husbands and wives, parents and children, masters and slaves. Believers make people priority because of God's image and love for them, not because of their personal merit.
Eph_6:8 "knowing that whatever good thing" This context is not a worship setting but believers' daily relationships with others, fellow Christians and nonbelievers. God is concerned with all our actions. There is no secular; all is sacred!
Eph_6:8 a is a third class conditional sentence meaning potential future action. Believers are expected to do good works (cf. Eph_1:4; Eph_2:10; Eph_4:17 to Eph_5:14). Believers are not right with God by good works but they are saved unto good works.
▣ "will receive back from the Lord" God is watching believers' lives and they will give an account (cf. 2Co_5:10). The Bible does speak of rewards (cf. Mat_5:12; Mat_5:46; Mat_6:1-2; Mat_10:41-42; Luk_6:23; Luk_6:35; 1Co_3:8; 1Co_3:14; 1Co_9:17-18; 2Jn_1:8; Rev_11:18; Rev_14:13; Rev_22:12) and crowns (cf. 1Co_9:25; 2Ti_4:8; Jas_1:23; 1Pe_5:4; Rev_2:10). Paul was stating a general principle similar to Gal_6:7-9.