Colossians 3:22 — Not as Manpleasers

22 Slaves, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-slavery, as manpleasers, but with singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.

After wives, husbands, children, and fathers, Paul now addresses the slaves. This relationship is of a different order from the preceding ones. Marriage and family belong to the order of creation; the relationship between master and slave is a social reality. Paul does not take a position here on slavery itself. He addresses believers who find themselves in that position and shows how they, too, can serve the Lord.

Paul calls upon slaves to obey their masters “according to the flesh.” Their master is merely an earthly master. Therefore, their obedience must not be driven by the desire to make a good impression. Not “with eye-slavery,” when the master is watching, and not as manpleasers. In contrast, Paul sets singleness of heart: a sincere disposition determined not by people, but by fear of the Lord.

Whoever fears the Lord works no differently when someone is watching than when no one is. He does not need to please people, because he knows to Whom he ultimately belongs. His earthly master is merely a master “according to the flesh”; Christ is his true Lord (cf. 3:24).

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