John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 6:5

"Servants, be obedient unto them that according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;" — Ephesians 6:5 (ASV)

Servants, be obedient. His exhortation to servants is all the more earnest because of the hardship and bitterness of their condition, which makes it more difficult to endure. He does not speak merely of outward obedience, but says more about fear willingly given, for it is very rare to find someone who willingly submits to the control of another. The servants (δοῦλοι) whom he directly addresses were not hired servants, like those today, but slaves, as they were in ancient times. Their slavery was permanent, unless they obtained freedom through the favor of their masters—masters who bought them with money so they could impose the most degrading tasks on them and could, with full legal protection, exercise the power of life and death over them. To such people he says, obey your masters, lest they should wrongly imagine that physical freedom had been secured for them by the gospel.

But as some of the worst individuals were compelled by the fear of punishment, he distinguishes between Christian and ungodly servants by the feelings they held. With fear and trembling; that is, with the careful respect that comes from an honest purpose. However, it can hardly be expected that so much deference will be paid to a mere human being unless a higher authority enforces the obligation. Therefore, he adds, as doing the will of God (Ephesians 6:6). From this it follows that it is not enough if their obedience satisfies human eyes, for God requires truth and sincerity of heart.

When they serve their masters faithfully, they obey God. It is as if he had said, “Do not suppose that you were thrown into slavery by human judgment. It is God who has laid this burden on you, who has placed you under the authority of your masters. Anyone who conscientiously tries to give what they owe to their master performs their duty not only to a human being but to God.”

With good will doing service (Ephesians 6:7). This is contrasted with the suppressed indignation that swells in the hearts of slaves. Although they dare not openly rebel or show signs of stubbornness, their dislike of the authority exercised over them is so strong that they obey their masters with the greatest unwillingness and reluctance.

Whoever reads the accounts of the dispositions and conduct of slaves, scattered throughout the writings of the ancients, will readily see that the number of commands given here does not exceed that of the moral failings that prevailed among this group, and which it was important to correct. But the same instruction applies to male and female servants of our own times. It is God who appoints and regulates all the arrangements of society. Since the condition of servants today is much more agreeable than that of slaves in ancient times, they ought to consider themselves far less excusable if they do not try in every way to comply with Paul’s commands.

Masters according to the flesh (Ephesians 6:5). This expression is used to soften the harsh aspect of slavery. He reminds them that their spiritual freedom—which was by far the most desirable—remained untouched.

Eye-service (ὀφθαλμοδουλεία) is mentioned; because almost all servants are prone to flattery, but as soon as their master’s back is turned, they freely indulge in contempt, or perhaps in ridicule. Paul therefore urges godly persons to keep at the greatest distance from such deceitful pretenses.