John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 9. And ye masters do the same things unto them , &c.] This does not refer to service and obedience, but to singleness of heart, benevolence, humanity, and a regard to Christ, and the will of God, and to the doing of good things, and to the performance of their duty, as they would have their servants do theirs; whose duty, if religious masters, is, with respect to their souls, to instruct them in, and use them to religious exercises, to pray with them, and for them, to set them good examples, to prevent them falling into, bad company, and to allow them proper time for religious duties; and with respect to their bodies, and outward concerns, to provide sufficient food and proper raiment for them, or to give them their due wages, to take care of them when sick or lame, and show compassion and humanity to them, to encourage those that are prudent, faithful, and laborious, and to correct the disobedient, and expel the incorrigible: forbearing threatening ; not that they may not in any sense threaten, but not always, nor too often, nor too much, and with great things on light occasions; nor should they be too forward to execute their threatenings, especially when their servants repent and amend; they should then forbear them and forgive; and so the Syriac version renders it, forgive their offences: this is opposed to all hard rigour, and ill usage, either by words or blows. And this is a rule given by the Jews f74 , that a master should not multiply clamour and anger, but should speak him (his servant) quietly, and in a still manner, and he will hear his objections, or arguments and reasons: knowing that your master also is in heaven ; meaning Christ, who employs, provides for, and uses well all his servants, and to whom masters must be accountable for their usage of servants; for he is the common master of masters and servants; and so the Alexandrian copy, and Vulgate Latin version, read, their and your master: and the place of his habitation is mentioned, to distinguish him from earthly masters; and the more to move and excite masters to their duty, since he being in heaven overlooks and takes notice of all their actions, as the omniscient God; and being omnipotent, has it in his power to plead and avenge the cause of the injured: neither is there respect of persons with him ; as whether they are of this, or the other nation, Jew or Gentile; whether in this, or that state and condition, or in such and such circumstances of life; whether masters or servants, bond or free, or whether Canaanitish or Hebrew servants; between which the Jews made a difference, and allowed of rigour to be used to the one, but required mercy and kindness to be showed to the other; and so were respecters of persons.
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
και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM κυριοι 2962 N-NPM τα 3588 T-APN αυτα 846 P-APN ποιειτε 4160 5720 V-PAM-2P προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM ανιεντες 447 5723 V-PAP-NPM την 3588 T-ASF απειλην 547 N-ASF ειδοτες 1492 5761 V-RAP-NPM οτι 3754 CONJ και 2532 CONJ υμων 5216 P-2GP αυτων 846 P-GPM ο 3588 T-NSM κυριος 2962 N-NSM εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S εν 1722 PREP ουρανοις 3772 N-DPM και 2532 CONJ προσωποληψια 4382 N-NSF ουκ 3756 PRT-N εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S παρ 3844 PREP αυτω 846 P-DSM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Forbearing (anientev). See on the kindred noun anesiv, A.V., liberty, Acts xxiv. 23.Threatening (thn apeilhn). Note the article, the threatening customary from the master to the slave
.
Knowing. since ye know.
Your master also (umwn autwn o kuriov). The correct reading is kai aujtwn kai uJmwn oJ kuriov both their master and yours. So Rev.
Respect of persons. See on Jas. ii. 1; Col. iii. 25.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:9 {And forbear threatening} (anientes ten apeilen). Present active participle of aniemi, old verb, to loosen up, to relax. "Letting up on threatening." apeile is old word for threat, in N.T. only here and #Ac 4:29; 9:1. {Both their Master and yours} (kai autwn kai humwn ho kurios). He says to "the lords" (hoi kurioi) of the slaves. Paul is not afraid of capital nor of labor. {With him} (par' autwi). "By the side of him (God)."
