LIFE TOGETHER Employer and Employees: We are to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ

. . . submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. EPH 5:21

In a society where offense, greed, and power-tripping are normal, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ sounds unrealistic and out of this world. What is the limit of this submission? Where do we draw the line? Why would we even do this in the first place? Contrary to everything we think and feel instinctively, the Bible commands us to live in love, unity, and humility. This was exemplified by Christ himself. What do you think mutual submission looks like at work or in the marketplace? How can this draw people to Christ?

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” GEN 16:9

John Gill

The angel of the Lord said to her—The same angel; though Jarchi thinks that one angel after another was sent, and that at every speech there was a fresh angel; and because this phrase is repeated again and again, some of the Rabbins have fancied there were four angels, and others five, but without any reason:

Return to your mistress and submit to her—Go back to her, humble yourself before her, acknowledge your fault, enter into her service again, and be subject to her; do her work and business, bear her corrections and chastisements; and “suffer to be afflicted,” by her, as the word may be rendered; take all patiently from her, which will be much more to your profit and advantage than to pursue the course you are in: and the more to encourage her to take his advice, he promises the following things (Gen 16:10-12).

5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

Teach and urge these things.

John Gill

Those who have believing masters—That believe in one God, in opposition to the Gentiles, that held many gods, and in Jesus Christ, in distinction from the Jews; who believed in him with the heart, and professed him with their mouths, and held the mystery of faith in a pure conscience. What is said before, is said to servants that had unbelieving masters; who would be ready to blaspheme, should they act amiss. Servants were under a snare both ways, through the insinuations of false teachers; who suggested, that their service was not consistent with their Christian liberty; that they ought not to serve wicked men, because being called of God, they were advanced above them; nor good men, because they were upon a level with them. But the apostle teaches another doctrine;

Must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers—Of the same family named of Christ, and of the same household of God, and of faith, and have the same father; for though with regard to spiritual blessings, privileges, and ordinances, they were equal; yet not with regard to temporal and civil affairs; and therefore should not treat them with less respect, or be more backward to obey their lawful commands, on that account:

Rather they must serve—More heartily, and with a greater good will, as to the Lord; these masters belonging to him, and being engaged in his cause; which they, their servants, by yielding a cheerful obedience to them, are assisting in: and the rather,

Since those . . . are believers—Faithful in lesser things, in giving to them, their servants, what is just and equal, proper food and suitable garments, and their just wages; and in using their wealth and riches in a good way, for the interest of Christ, the assistance of the poor saints, and the spreading of the gospel; and so in greater things, by holding fast the profession of their faith, adhering to Christ, his truths and ordinances: or “since those . . . believing, or believers”; it is the same word as before used; and therefore they should be precious to them, and high in their esteem; for faith is a precious grace, and such as have it are chosen of God, and precious:

Who benefit by their good service—Of the free grace of God; of redemption and salvation by Jesus Christ, and of all spiritual blessings in him; and therefore should serve them the more cheerfully. The Syriac version renders it, “such as enjoy rest in,” or “are refreshed by their service”; or “by their service to them,” as the Arabic version: the sense is, that when believing servants serve their believing masters readily and faithfully, their masters are well pleased with them, delight in their service, and consider it as a benefit to them, and a kindness done them; and which therefore should animate and encourage them to serve them. Some understand these characters of

Believers and beloved—Of the servants’ themselves; that because they are such; therefore they should serve, and not despise their believing masters; and particularly the last clause, which may be rendered, “who in return receive a benefit from them,” as food, garments, and wages; and besides, they are used with humanity and kindness, and in a manner becoming Christians; to which agrees the Ethiopic version, which renders it, “who will receive and help you”; will take care of you, and assist you, and supply you with what is proper and necessary:

And beloved—Of God, who had chosen them to salvation; and of Christ, who had redeemed them by his blood; and of the saints, who are taught of God to love one another; and this is another reason why they should be served, and not despised:

Teach and urge these things—The Syriac and Arabic versions add them; the servants. The apostle was not above instructing and exhorting persons of such a capacity, and in so low a state of life; and it became Timothy to do so likewise; and every minister of the word.

4 And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

Rashi

And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived from the first union (Bereishit Rabbah 45:4).

She looked with contempt on her mistress—She said, “As regards this woman Sarai, her conduct in private can certainly not be like that in public: she pretends to be a righteous woman, but she cannot really be righteous since all these years she has not been privileged to have children, whilst I have had that blessing from the first union” (Bereishit Rabbah 45:4).

5 And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the Lord judge between you and me!” GEN 16:4-5

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness . . . 1TI 6:1-3

6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart . . . EPH 6:5-6

. . . be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 1CO 16:16

John Gill

Be subject to such as these—To persons of such a character, and in such an office; if in ministering to poor saints, by assisting them, and by putting into their hands; and putting it in their power to discharge their work fully, in which they were so heartily concerned; and if in the work of the ministry of the word, by attending their ministrations, receiving the truths delivered by them with faith and love, so far as they appeared to be agreeably to the word of God; obeying their admonitions, counsels and advice, regarding their censures and reproofs by the authority of the church, and in their name, and by subjection to the laws of Christ’s house, as put in execution by them, see Heb 13:17.

And to every fellow worker—In any form, whether by relieving the poor, or by preaching the gospel:

And laborer—In the Lord’s vineyard, in the word and doctrine, for the good of souls, and the glory of Christ: for such are worthy of double honour, and ought to be valued and esteemed for their works’ sake, and submitted to in everything that is according to the rules of the gospel.

For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. HEB 6:10

John Gill

For God is not unjust—He is just and true, righteous in all his ways and works; there is no unrighteousness nor unfaithfulness in him; and this the apostle makes a reason of his strong persuasion of better things concerning the believing Hebrews; because he was well satisfied of the good work upon them, and he was assured that God was not unjust and unfaithful:

To overlook your work—Which is not to be understood of any good work done by them, for these are generally expressed in the plural number; and besides, these, if at all, are designed in the next clause; moreover, external good works, or such as appear to men to be so, are performed by hypocrites; nor can they be said to be better things, at least, not such as men are saved by: men may fall from these; and supposing them intended, the merit of works cannot be established, as is attempted from hence by the Papists; for the apostle could only consider them as fruits, not as causes of salvation; they are imperfect, and cannot justify, and therefore cannot save; they do not go before to procure salvation, but follow after, and, at most, but accompany; and though God does remember and not forget them, this is owing to his grace, and not to their merit; God’s righteousness in remembering them regards not a debt of justice, but a point of faithfulness: but this is to be understood of the work of God upon them, called in Scripture a good work, and the work of faith; and is elsewhere joined, as here, with the labour of love; see 1Th 1:3 and this might be called their work, not because wrought by them, but because it was wrought in them; and the grace that came along with it was exercised by them: now from hence the apostle might be persuaded of better things of them, even such as accompany salvation; since this work is a fruit of everlasting and unchangeable love, and is itself immortal, and the beginning of eternal life; and particularly faith is the effect of electing grace; shall never fail; is the means of the saints’ preservation; and is connected with everlasting salvation: it follows,

And the love that you have showed for his name—This may be understood either of love to God, the name of God being put for himself; who is to be loved for his own sake, on account of the perfections of his nature, as well as for the works of his hands; and which is to be showed for the sake of glorifying him: and this love is laborious; it sets a man to work for God; nor are any works to be regarded but what spring from love to God, and to his name; and from hence the apostle might entertain a good hope of these persons, since their love to God was an effect of God’s love to them, is a part of the work of grace, and cannot be lost; all things work together for good to such as love God; and these have a crown of life promised to them: or else it may be understood of love to the saints, as follows,

In serving the saints, as you still do—In seeking both their temporal and spiritual good; and though all men in general are to be loved, yet especially the saints, who are set apart by God, whose sins are expiated by Christ, and who are sanctified by the Spirit; and love to them being laborious, and appearing in many instances, and this shown for the Lord’s sake, for his name’s sake, might lead the apostle more strongly to conclude better things of them, even things of a saving nature; since charity or love to the saints is better than gifts, and is the evidence of grace, of passing from death to life, and of being the disciples of Christ; see 1Co 13:1-3.