John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers , &c.] Doing nothing but when under the master's eye, and then pretending a great deal of diligence and industry, in order to ingratiate themselves into his affections, and neglecting his business when he is absent; whereas they ought to attend his service in his absence, as well as in his presence, and so seek to please him, which is commendable. But as the servants of Christ ; acting in like manner as the servants of Christ, who are not menpleasers; or as if they themselves were serving Christ, as indeed they are, when they are doing that which is the will of Christ: doing the will of God from the heart ; meaning not the will of God in a religious, but in a civil sense, yielding a cheerful and hearty obedience to their own masters.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-9 - The duty of servants is summed up in one word, obedience. The servant of old were generally slaves. The apostles were to teach servants an masters their duties, in doing which evils would be lessened, til slavery should be rooted out by the influence of Christianity. Servant are to reverence those over them. They are to be sincere; no pretending obedience when they mean to disobey, but serving faithfully And they must serve their masters not only when their master's eye is upon them; but must be strict in the discharge of their duty, when he is absent and out of the way. Steady regard to the Lord Jesus Chris will make men faithful and sincere in every station, not grudgingly of by constraint, but from a principle of love to the masters and their concerns. This makes service easy to them, pleasing to their masters and acceptable to the Lord Christ. God will reward even the meanes drudgery done from a sense of duty, and with a view to glorify him Here is the duty of masters. Act after the same manner. Be just to servants, as you expect they should be to you; show the like good-wil and concern for them, and be careful herein to approve yourselves to God. Be not tyrannical and overbearing. You have a Master to obey, an you and they are but fellow-servants in respect to Christ Jesus. I masters and servants would consider their duties to God, and the account they must shortly give to him, they would be more mindful of their duty to each other, and thus families would be more orderly an happy.
Greek Textus Receptus
μη 3361 PRT-N κατ 2596 PREP οφθαλμοδουλειαν 3787 N-ASF ως 5613 ADV ανθρωπαρεσκοι 441 A-NPM αλλ 235 CONJ ως 5613 ADV δουλοι 1401 N-NPM του 3588 T-GSM χριστου 5547 N-GSM ποιουντες 4160 5723 V-PAP-NPM το 3588 T-ASN θελημα 2307 N-ASN του 3588 T-GSM θεου 2316 N-GSM εκ 1537 PREP ψυχης 5590 N-GSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
6. Eye service - men-pleasers. See on Col. iii. 22.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:6 {But as servants of Christ} (all' hws douloi cristou). Better "slaves of Christ" as Paul rejoiced to call himself (#Php 1:1). {Doing the will of God} (poiountes to qelema tou qeou). Even while slaves of men.
