John Calvin Commentary Colossians 3:22

"Servants, obey in all things them that are your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord:" — Colossians 3:22 (ASV)

Servants, be obedient. Anything stated here concerning servants requires no explanation, as it has already been explained in commenting on Ephesians 6:1, with the exception of these two expressions: For we serve the Lord Christ; and, He who will act unjustly will receive the reward of his iniquity.

By the first statement, he means that service is done to men in such a way that Christ at the same time holds supreme dominion and is the supreme master. Here, truly, is excellent consolation for all who are under subjection, since they are informed that, while they willingly serve their masters, their services are acceptable to Christ, as though they had been rendered to Him. From this, Paul also gathers that they will receive from Him a reward, but it is the reward of inheritance, by which he means that the very thing that is bestowed as a reward for works is freely given to us by God, for inheritance comes from adoption.

In the second clause, he again comforts servants, by saying that if they are oppressed by the unjust cruelty of their masters, God Himself will take vengeance, and will not, on the ground that they are servants, overlook the injuries inflicted upon them, since there is no respect of persons with Him. For this thought might diminish their courage, if they imagined that God had no regard for them, or no great regard, and that their miseries gave Him no concern. Besides, it often happens that servants themselves try to avenge injurious and cruel treatment. Accordingly, he prevents this evil by admonishing them to wait patiently for the judgment of God.