Bible Study Colossians: 3: 18-25

 

A Commentary of the Book of Colossians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Colossians: 3: 18-25

Text: 

Family and Work

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 20 Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing [q]to the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters [r]according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with [s]integrity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, do your work [t]heartily, as for the Lord [u]rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward [v]of the inheritance. [w]Serve the Lord Christ. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and [x]that without partiality.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 18: “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.”

Some translations, e.g., use the word “submit.” However, the Greek verb means “to subject oneself,” which denotes willingly putting oneself under someone or something. In our culture this verse is mostly ignored. Ministers are afraid to tell wives that they are to submit to their husbands. First, note that the wife is to submit to her own husband, not someone else's husband. Second, the subjection is to be “fitting in the Lord.” Wives are not to submit themselves to the husbands directions if to do so would violate God’s law. Wives are never to be forced by their husbands to sin. Let me be clear, if a wife rejects submission to her husband, she is not born again. The born again wife would have the Holy Spirit and He would reveal this to her heart.

Verse 19: “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”

This is a command for the highest form of love which is rendered selflessly. Husbands are always to put their wives first, unless the wife has broken the marital covenant through unfaithfulness. The Greek verb translated “embittered” is better translated as “stop being bitter,” or “do not have the habit of being bitter.” Husbands must not be harsh or angrily resentful toward their wives. Further, husbands are never to encourage their wives to sin. A husband that does not love his faithful wife is not born again. This is not works-based salvation, but rather an understanding that the born again husband who is filled with the Holy Spirit will love his wife and cherish her. 

Verse 20: “Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is pleasing [a]to the Lord.”

This is a command. Obedience is required unless that obedience to a parent’s command would result in sin. In other words, the only limit on a child’s obedience is when the parents command something contrary to God’s Word. Consider that some children will act contrary to their parents’ wishes in coming to Christ. Obedience to the Word of God always comes first. 

Verse 21: “Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.”

“Do not exasperate,” has the connotation of not stirring up or irritating. The role of both parents are important in the home. However, the father is the spiritual head in the home. He represents Christ in the home. As such, a father should never intentionally try to irritate the children. Christ seeks not to irritate His church so fathers should follow His example.

Verse 22: “Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but with integrity of heart, fearing the Lord.”

Most Bible versions translate “doulos” as servant or bond servant. However, the better translation is “slave.” A servant can have several masters, like someone holding multiple part time jobs, but a slave is a slave to only one person. Notice the Bible never condemns slavery, but instead sets guidelines for how the master and slaves are to act. A slave obeys his master genuinely, not with a false “man-pleaser” approach (working only when you are being watched), but from a heart dedicated to his master. In Bible times, a master took care of his slaves. He provided food, shelter, and all he needed to live. In the same way, we are to be slaves to the Lord Jesus Christ and have no other masters.

Verse 23: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,”

The word “heartily” means literally “from the soul.” Our work should come from our heart and not just external actions. Paul is urging them to honor Christ in their hearts, work, and behavior. We are to please the Lord in our secular work. We do so by doing the work unto Him.

Verse 24: “knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ.”

The Lord ensures the believer that he will receive a just, eternal compensation for his efforts, even if his earthly boss or master does not compensate fairly. This is part of a general theme that the God of all creation will do right by His people. While we may suffer injustice and persecution on earth, it will be worth it all to hear those words, “Well done, good and faithful servant" (actually the correct translation is “slave”). 

Verse 25: “For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.”

“Receive the consequences” may refer in part to secular authorities that God has appointed to maintain social order and justice. It could also suggest the fatherly and sometimes painful discipline God uses to educate and instruct His people. But it seems Paul may have primarily meant that there will be eternal consequences to be paid by evildoers who refuse to turn to Christ. There is a judgment day coming when wrongs will be righted.

Bible Study Colossians: 3: 1-17

 

A Commentary of the Book of Colossians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Colossians: 3: 1-17

Text: 

Put On the New Man

3 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 [a]Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.

5 Therefore, [b]consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming [c]upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living [d]in them. 8 But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 [e]Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new man who is being [f]renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— 11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [g]barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman, but Christ is all and in all.

12 So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and [h]patience; 13 bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you. 14 Above all these things put on love, which is [i]the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ [j]rule in your hearts, to which [k]indeed you were called in one body, and [l]be thankful. 16 Let the word of [m]Christ dwell in you richly, [n]with all wisdom teaching and admonishing [o]one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing [p]with gratefulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

Note the parallel statements: believers have died with Christ, and they have been raised with Him; believers are with Christ in heaven; believers will be with Him at His return; they have “put off the old self”, and “put on the new self”. Paul provides a prescription for living in this world after we have been born again. Notice the words translated “keep seeking.” This is the Greek present tense and requires continuing action. This is much more that saying a prayer, making a decision, or “accepting” Jesus. You don’t accept Jesus, the question is, is He going to accept you!

Verse 2: “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Your mind is controlling your actions. Sin starts in the mind with a thought. That thought, if dwelt on, will become a deciding factor in what you do. Paul is telling the reader to focus on things above, e.g., the Lord Jesus Christ and His holiness, and not on the way the world thinks and operates. The world says, you are number 1. The Lord Jesus Christ says, you are a slave and you have died to your old sinful ways. The only value we have as human beings is that we are sinners, and Christ came to save sinners.

Verse 3: “For you died and your life has been hidden with Christ in God.”

This is great news! All the sins you committed in the past, your current sins and the sins you will commit in the future are hidden in Christ. When the Holy Trinity looks upon you, He only sees Christ’s righteousness. However, this only is true if you have died to yourself, repented of your sins and have placed your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have not, you are not in Christ and your sins will be revealed for all to see on the Judgment Day.

Verse 4: “When Christ, who is our life, is manifested, then you also will be manifested with Him in glory.”

Those that are in Christ have a hope of His returning soon. This hope is essential to understanding this section of Scripture. There is a major historical event that is on God’s calendar: the Second Coming of Christ. When He returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, and those of us alive will meet Him in the air and be with Him forever. The Lord Jesus Christ will reign for all eternity, and we will be with Him. We will be manifested with Him in glory forever.

Verse 5: “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.”

All sexual sin is idolatry. The reason is that if you commit sexual sin contrary to God’s Word, you are setting yourself up as “god.” You are following your desires, not God’s desires. Paul is giving a list of requirements to live holy. This is not legalism. We don’t earn our salvation by our works, but we work to demonstrate our salvation. It is because He first loved us that we can love Him back. Dead people don’t sin. In that way, we are to be as we are dead to all sexual sin, impurities, wrongful passions, desires and greed (which is a form of selfishness). 

Verse 6: “On account of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,”

God has a constant, invariable reaction against sin. Preachers need to call sin, sin! God hates sin. Paul is stressing the need to live pure lives fighting against our flesh, temptation and worldly thinking. Know for a certainty that God’s wrath is coming and will be poured out on all that do not have a substitute. If you don’t have a substitute to pay for your sin, you will pay yourself for all eternity.

Verse 7: “and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.”

Paul is making a distinction between their past way of living and their new lives. You are not saved by your turning from sin. Rather, you are saved and therefore you turn from sin. Regeneration (being born again) precedes your repentance. Without receiving a new heart (regeneration), you would have no desire to repent and seek God. The Colossians’ lives manifested their spiritual rebirth. May ours be the same.

Verse 8: “But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”

Paul is describing two separate types of things to lay aside. First, there are the heart issues of anger and wrath. Second, there are the spoken actions of slander and abusive speech that flow from the depraved heart. To “lay them aside” is like taking off a heavy winter coat and leaving it on the floor. While the believer may have moments of anger and bad speech, he is not characterized by them. They are isolated incidences not habits practiced continually.

Verse 9: “Do not lie to one another, since you put off the old man with its evil practices,”

The “old man” is the carnal mind that every human is born with. The carnal mind hates God. We are born in sin and the “old man” is evil. He will do all he can to keep you from Christ. He wants you dead in hell. Of course, we should not lie to each other. No Christian could think that is appropriate behavior. We are to crucify the old man until he is dead. We do that through prayer and seeking the power of the Holy Spirit to destroy him. Before we are saved, our heart is singular in purpose and that purpose is evil and hatred for God. When we are born again, our heart is divided, and the old man is defeated and no longer in control. As we surrender to Christ, the old man’s influence becomes less and less. We are to pursue holiness and that means destroying the old man. 

Verse 10: “and have put on the new man who is being renewed to a full knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—”

The word translated “being renewed” is a verb in the present tense, passive voice, and accusative case. This means that Paul is stating that when you have put on the new man, it is to be an ongoing action not singular action, and by being passive voice, it means that the believer is receiving the action. In plain speech, this means that as we continue to surrender to the Holy Spirit, He will craft us more and more into the image of Christ. Remember that whereas salvation is 100% the Lord’s work, this process known as sanctification is synergistic between you and the Holy Spirit. The One Who created us will continue to transform His creation into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Verse 11: “a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, and freeman, but Christ is all and in all.”

God’s plan always included both Jew and Gentile. When the elect hears God’s effectual call and respond with faith and repentance, they are placed into the body of Christ. In Christ’s body, there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. Don’t fall for the trap that believes that there is no distinction in the church between men and women. There are roles for men and roles for women in the church ministry. For example, elders are to be “husband of one wife.” No where in the Bible do you see the requirements for women to be elders because they are not to serve as elders. You have to leave the Word of God to ordain women as elders.

Verse 12: “So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience;”

Paul is speaking of believers taking on the character of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The “new man” is not something believers must create by their own power. Their new life in Christ takes form as they come to know Christ better, since He is the image of the invisible God and the One in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. As the “elect of God,” true believers are “holy and beloved.” Unbelievers are under the wrath of God. Without a substitute for their sins, they will pay for their sins throughout eternity. Those elects are so thankful for being among the chosen they want a heart like Christ’ heart full of “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Let us make sure to put on the characteristics of Christ and not the world.

Verse 13: “bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you.”

Christ sets the perfect example for forgiving others. He did it while being crucified. When you understand that forgiving others actually sets you free. Forgiveness is about extending grace and mercy. It is not about who deserves forgiveness. If that was God’s standard, we would all have no hope. Forgive as Christ did and your life will have less tension, strife, and sorrow. We are to bear with others. That implies it may be difficult, but it is well worth the effort.

Verse 14: “Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Paul’s foundation for Christian forbearance, forgiveness, and love is the example provided by the redemptive pattern of Christ’s work. The words “the perfect bond of unity” is literally the “uniting bonds of perfection.” While we are not perfect in fact, we are perfect in Christ. As we remain in Him, we will practice forbearance, forgiveness and love.

Verse 15: “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.”

This is not a verse to support the false belief that “peace” is your guide to making a decision. For example, if you had to make a choice between what house to buy, you might incorrectly ask: “Should I buy this house or another? I will act where I feel peace.” People like to use “peace” as a type of divining rod. This is a misappropriation of this verse. The words “rule in your hearts” literally means “act as an arbiter.” When you are dealing with others, the peace of Christ enables us to forgive, love and forbear with the shortcomings of others. The Greek word “peace” here refers to both the call of God to salvation and consequent peace with Him. Our “peace of Christ” gives us assurance of our salvation and promise of eternity.

Verse 16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.”

Since the believer is united with Christ, not only the “word of Christ,” but Christ Himself lives in the hearts of the true Christian. Regarding “teaching and admonishing one another,” in the ministry of the Colossians to one another, the word of Christ will be as effective as the presence of the apostle Paul himself.

Verse 17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 

This verse should be on the mind of every believer before he does something questionable. Can you say, “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I will now ____________ (you fill in the blank). This charge simply means to act consistently with who He is and what He wants. We are to live lives that reveal Who our Lord is.