(Col. 3:18-4:1.)* *As noted before, Scripture references throughout are to the New Translation, J. N. D.*

(Continued from p. 266.)

This section of the epistle refers to conduct in present relationships, viewed in direct relation to the Lord. We are to walk worthily of Him unto all well-pleasing (Col. 1:10). The Spirit leads to the acknowledgment of the Lordship of Jesus, a distinctive feature of Christianity. It involves the truth of His deity, and the pre-eminent place which He now fills as the exalted and glorified Man of God's counsel and purpose-the One once so deeply humbled in His own creation, and so shamefully treated at the hands of His own dependent but sinful creatures. Yet through it all He accomplished what was suited to God in view of the presence of sin and its required judgment so that He has been glorified, and the way righteously opened to eternally bless all who will submit to God's revealed will. This One is our Lord and Master. In these verses He is referred to as Lord six times, once as Master.

We may note three couplets in the structure of this portion:

Wives ……………. Husbands
Children……………. Fathers
Bondmen …………… Masters

The subject of godly conduct in these relationships is approached from that side which is to be characterized by subjection or obedience. Those who rule or have authority are not exhorted to exercise it or demand recognition, but warned to so act that no resentment, ill-will, or spirit of antagonism shall be aroused in those who are in the place of subjection. That the Lord is mentioned in relation to those who are called to manifest a subject attitude-wives, children, bondmen-gives tone, character, and also limitation, to the subjection to be rendered in these several relationships.

It may prove helpful to display the text in the couplet or group structure already mentioned.

"Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the lord.

"Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.

"Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the LORD.

"Fathers, do not vex your children, to the end that they be not disheartened.

"Bondmen, obey in all things your masters according to flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart fearing the Lord.

1. "Whatsoever ye do,
2. Labor at it heartily,
3. As doing it to the lord.

4. And not to men;
5. Knowing that of the lord ye shall receive the recompense of the inheritance;
6. Ye serve the lord Christ.
7. For he that does wrong shall receive the wrong he has done, and there is no respect of persons. "Masters, give to bondmen what is just and fair, knowing that ye also have a master in the heavens."

Vers. 23-25 appear as a parenthesis, which we may consider of wider application than simply to bondmen. The sevenfold instruction may well be applicable to all who are the Lord's. What can be rightly excluded from the force of these exhortations? Are they not to rule all the activities of life? For now each of us is a servant of God, whatever our sphere or station. Thus viewed, the first statement fitly comprehends all our activity, and yet calls attention to each single act. It is all and yet each of our doings-a comprehensive yet intensely individual statement.

In the second place we get the manner of performance. We are to work heartily-a word apparently having an intensive force, which implies that we are to put all our affection, energy and purpose to completely carry out the doing. Our working at the task in hand is to proceed out of, be marked by, intense whole-souled interest- the whole man put into the doing. Could it be otherwise if the glorious Object mentioned in the third phrase is before the vision of our souls? It is a sanctuary-lesson indeed, as its place suggests. It is practically a bringing of all our doing into the light and glory of the holiest, into relation to His love, grace, and power-our Lord- with whom we stand identified in resurrection and its victory. The knowledge of His exaltation and preeminent glory is our unfailing source of present strength to endure.

"And not to men," for such a false object would bring in weakness and failure in our doing. Has it ever been otherwise when men, and not Christ, have been before us? Let the eye be single and all will be light.

Men cannot justly appreciate such doing; it may at times bring quite the opposite from them, so that we are privileged to bear His reproach-that of Him unto whom we perform our doing. What a comfort then in what we now get under the number of government and recompense, and in another way of grace, for it is the Almighty and the frail creature found together-five. The Lord 'will remember all, and in due season give the recompense of the inheritance. What a blessed, glorious Person from whom to receive recompense! What a hand is His which will then be stretched out to welcome and lead into the joy of our Lord! It is a marked hand, it was once stretched out upon the Cross!

"Thy cross, Thy work, Thy Word;
Oh, who can fathom all Thy love,
Thou living, blessed Lord?"

It is not exactly some special or individual reward- doubtless, there will be such-but rather our being, as brought by Him, in the appointed inheritance of which we are heirs with Him. Our recompense for now doing all to the Lord and not to men will be found in the inheritance itself-that will be so received from Him to be shared forever with Him, our recompense. Marvelous grace!
"Oh, Jesus, Lord, who loved me like to Thee?
Fruit of Thy work, with Thee, too, there to see
Thy glory, Lord, while endless ages roll,
Myself the prize and travail of Thy soul.

"Yet it must be:Thy love had not its rest
Were Thy redeemed not with Thee fully blest-
That love that gives not as the world, but shares
All it possesses with its loved co-heirs."

So then not some present advantage, reward, or recompense, is to be in view; but that which the Lord Himself who is thus served will bestow when the time arrives for our inheritance of all things with Him. As God's Servant and His appointed Heir of all, He is Himself waiting for that time to receive His own full recompense. This is the period of the patience of the Christ. Into this patience the apostle desires that the Lord would direct our hearts (2 Thess. 3:5). We see not yet all things put under Him, but we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, waiting until His enemies are made the footstool of His feet. He "is at the right hand of God, gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being subjected to Him" (1 Pet. 3:22). His power is sufficient "to subdue all things to Himself" (Phil. 3:21). The time is coming "when He shall have annulled all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He put all enemies under His feet" (1 Cor. 15:24, 25). He is "the Lord of glory," set at God's "right hand in the heavenlies, above every principality, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name named, not only in this age, but also in that to come; and has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the assembly, which is His Body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1:20-23). The Man of the Cross is set forth in glory as both Lord and Christ.

Are we to do all as to the Lord? Are we to thus serve and wait in patience for the due time of recompense? Men may silently scorn, or reproach and revile, the world hate and persecute; but we "serve the Lord Christ," He whose glory, power, and coming victory we have just spoken of. Well does this fit in the sixth place;- the number of service rendered, to subjugate according to God's claims and for His glory, so that mastery over evil is realized and the eternal state ushered in by our Lord Christ (compare Gen. 1:28; Ps. 8; Heb. 2; 1 Cor. 15:24-28). Even our service now partakes of the character of that coming glory and its service when we shall actually have the inheritance with Him, since even now we serve Him who is the Head of it all. In the contemplation of these things we find ourselves "strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory unto all' endurance and longsuffering with joy" (Col. 1:11). Thus we are overcomers as serving Him who is the great and glorious Overcomer.

Finally, in the seventh place, we have the perfect justness of His rule and power. We have been already assured that the service to which He calls us will receive recompense, but He will also not pass over the wrong that may be done. Just and fair will He be in relation to all, for with Him there is no respect of persons.

The recompense of the inheritance will be entered upon when He comes. He says, "Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every one as his work shall be" (Rev:22:12). The Lord whom we serve loves righteousness and hates lawlessness, a sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of His kingdom (Heb. 1:8, 9). This is said of the Son, and we are in His kingdom (Col. 1:13).

We have thus simply considered a parenthetical part of our section because it gives what is applicable to all the relationships here mentioned. Let us give them consideration in the light it affords. -J. Bloore

(To be continued, D. V.)