Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 6 · Verse and explication 9
Vers. 9. And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatning: knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is their respect of persons with him.
HE doth here, in the first place, set down the duties of masters towards their servants, 1. positively, while he enjoyneth them to do the same things: which is to be understood, not of the duties themselves, which are much different from the duties of servants, (See them briefly summed up upon Col. 4. ver. 1. doct. 1, 2.) but of those properties and conditions which are common to the duties of both; so, that the master is bound to discharge his duty towards his servant in singlenesse of heart, as service to Christ, in obedience to the will and command of God, from his heart, with love and good-will, even as the servant is bound to minde those qualifications in his duty towards his master. Next, negatively, while he forbiddeth threatning, or rather commandeth to relax and moderate threatning, as the word doth signifie; and so the thing forbidden is excesse in threatning and boasts, when they are alway menacing, oftentimes for light occasions, and sometimes for none; And by proportion, all fierce and inhumane way of dealing with servants by masters, whether in words or deeds, is here forbidden also. In the second place he inforceth this duty, by minding them of that which they did know, at least ought to have known, even that they also aswell as their servants had a master above them to call them to an accompt, to wit, God, who, to make the argument more pungent, is described, 1. from His magnificent and stately Palace, where His glory shineth, to wit, the Heaven; not as if He were only there, and nowhere else, Jer. 23. 24. but to set forth His absolute dominion, 2 Chron. 20. 6. His omniscience, Psal. 11. 4. His holinesse, Isa. 57. 15. and His omnipotency, Psal. 115. 3. so that their sin could not be hid from Him, His holy Nature did hate it, He had both right and power to punish it. 2. From His impartiality and justice, in judging so that He respecteth not persons, nor faces, outward shew and appearance, as the word signifieth; and therefore, by persons is not meaned the substance, or personal subsistence of men, but their outward state and condition, even that which is conspicuous in man, and doth commonly make him more or lesse esteemed among men, as country, state of life, riches, poverty, wisdom, learning, &c. and consequently to respect persons, is to wrest judgement from a sinfull respect to the outward state, condition of parties, and such other things which are wholly extrinsick to the cause in hand, which vice the Lord is free of as being the righteous Judge of the world, who cannot be byassed by fear, love, pitty, or any other inordinate affection, as man is; and consequently, the outward dignity, power, or wealth of masters, would not make Him spare them, if they made not conscience of their duty. Hence Learn, 1. Though masters are freed from subjection and giving obedience unto their servants; yet not from doing duty unto them. Neither is there any power among men so absolute, no not that of Kings and supream Rulers, Rom. 13. 3. -4. -6. but it implyeth an obligation, through vertue of Gods Ordinance, upon those who are invested with it, to make conscience of several duties towards their inferiours and subjects: for, he saith, And ye masters, do the same things unto them. 2. It concerneth masters in their place as much as servants in theirs, not only to go about their duty, but also to advert to the manner wherein they do it, even that it be done in sincerity, cordially, chearfully, taking God for their party more than men: for, he saith, Ye masters, do the same things unto them. 3. It is not only lawfull, but in some cases necessary for masters sometimes to threaten, boast, cast down their countenance upon negligent, lazy, disobedient, and chiefly upon profane servants, providing they do it moderatly, and keep off excesse: for, the Apostle doth not simply forbid all manner of threatning, but only prescribeth a moderation thereof; Forbearing, or moderating threatning. 4. The Servants of Christ in the reproof of sin, ought mainly to guard against such evils, as those to whom they speak, through custom, perverse inclination, or a deluded mind, are most ready to fall into; and so ought people set mainly against such sins in themselves, and thereby defend the wall where it is weakest, and the enemies greatest force doth lie: for, because masters are most prone to break out against their servants in threatning, railing and reviling words, as thinking words are but wind, and their tongues are their own, Psal. 12. 4. therefore he forbiddeth that evil mainly and expresly: Forbearing threatning, saith he. 5. As it is very usuall for powers on earth, sinfully to oversee, and not to punish the cruell and unjust dealing of masters towards servants; So those sins which are most connived at by men, are most severely taken notice of by God: for, the Apostle mindeth them, that God would call masters to an accompt how they carried towards their servants, though men did not take notice of them: Knowing that your master also is in heaven. 6. It is too too ordinary for men in place and authority above others, to carry themselves as if they had none above them to be countable unto; or, at least, to dream that the Lord will not take such strict account of them, as of their underlings and servants; for, the Apostle obviateth such thoughts, and so doth indirectly imply, that masters did so think, while he saith, your master also is in heaven, and there is no respect of persons with him. 7. Ministers are bound to inculcate, even those truths upon the Lords people, which they in charity do judge to be throughly known already by them; because truths are better known than made use of by the most part; yea, the calling to mind of known truths by the publick Ministery, doth through Gods blessing put a new lustre and efficacy upon them for inciting unto duty: for therefore, though the Apostle supponeth they knew this truth, yet he putteth them in remembrance of it; Knowing that your master is in heaven. See what is observed further upon this description of God, from His royal palace, and impartiality in judging, upon Col. 3. ver. 25. doct. 4, 5. and Col. 4. ver. 1. doct. 4, 5, 6.