Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 6:9

"And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, and forbear threatening: knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him." — Ephesians 6:9 (ASV)

The idea that “everyone” will be rewarded for whatever good he or she has done provides a transition to dealing with the duties of “masters.” The church did not include in its membership many people of higher social rank, and presumably the number of slave-owners in a local congregation was not large. But there must have been some who were masters, or it would have been pointless for Paul to address them.

In fact, Paul wrote a personal letter to Philemon at Colosse about reinstating his fugitive slave, Onesimus. The golden rule is extended to this most controversial of all relationships within the society of the day. Masters were to treat their slaves as they themselves expected to be treated. Though they gave the orders, they were to do so as themselves being under the authority of a heavenly Master.

The common factor is that both were seeking to do the will of God (v.6). Masters must therefore refrain from browbeating their slaves by the threat of severe reprisals for unsatisfactory work. Vicious cruelty was rife among pagan slave-owners. Since their victims had no legal redress, they could be kicked around at will. Christian masters were to show themselves different by not cracking the whip but treating their slaves kindly and fairly.

Christian masters as well as Christian slaves (v.8) know that they all serve a heavenly Lord to whom they equally belong. With him no “favoritism” (GK 4721) exists. This word means literally to look to see who someone is before deciding how to treat that person. God has no “teacher’s pets.” Slaves are as precious in his sight as masters, and more is expected from those who are entrusted with greater responsibilities.