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Leviticus 19:13
Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither robhim: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Leviticus 25:39-46
And if thy brotherthat dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: …

Deuteronomy 15:11-16
For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land…

the same.

Ephesians 6:5-7
Servants, be obedient to them that areyour masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; …

Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Luke 6:31
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

forbearing.

Leviticus 25:43
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.

1 Samuel 15:17
And Samuel said, When thouwast little in thine own sight,wast thou notmade the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

Daniel 3:6,15
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace…

knowing.

Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,and the right of the poor.

Ecclesiastes 5:8
If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: forhe that is higher than the highest regardeth; andthere be higher than they.

Matthew 22:8,10
Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy…

your Master.

1 Corinthians 1:2
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, calledto be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

Philippians 2:10,11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, ofthings in heaven, andthings in earth, andthings under the earth; …

neither.

Give up your use of threats,
Paul instructs masters to abandon the use of threats, which were a common method of control in the Roman world. This command challenges the cultural norms of the time, promoting a new way of leadership based on love and respect rather than fear and intimidation. This aligns with Jesus' teachings on servant leadership, as seen inMark 10:42-45, where greatness is defined by serving others.

because you know that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven,
This phrase underscores the Christian belief in the ultimate authority of God over all people, regardless of earthly status. It reminds masters that they, too, are under the authority of Christ, who is the true Master. This heavenly perspective encourages humility and accountability, as seen inColossians 4:1, where masters are reminded to provide what is right and fair because they have a Master in heaven.

and there is no favoritism with Him.
God's impartiality is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing that all people are equal before Him. This is echoed in passages likeRomans 2:11 andActs 10:34, which affirm that God does not show favoritism. This principle challenges societal hierarchies and calls believers to reflect God's justice and equality in their relationships, promoting a community where love and fairness prevail.

Paul turns from servants to the household heads, showing that God’s word speaks to every station in life.Colossians 4:1 echoes the call: “Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven”. The authority a master holds is not autonomous; it is delegated by the Lord. Authority, therefore, must mirror God’s character—righteous, compassionate, and accountable.

“Do the same” reaches back to verses 5-8, where servants were told to serve “with sincerity of heart, as to Christ”. Masters must adopt the same mindset:

• Treat workers with dignity and sincerity, not merely as tools (Matthew 7:12).

• Serve Christ by how you handle people under your care (Ephesians 6:7).

• Work for their good, just as they labor for yours (Luke 6:31).

Christian leadership is, at its core, discipleship expressed through everyday relationships.

Intimidation contradicts Christ-like authority. Jesus said, “The rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them … It shall not be so among you” (Matthew 20:25-26). Instead:

• Lead by example (1 Peter 5:3).

• Correct with gentleness (2 Timothy 2:24-25).

• Rely on fair wages and clear expectations rather than fear.

Abandoning threats is an act of faith that God will uphold order and accountability.

Every earthly relationship sits beneath the ultimate Lordship of Christ (Romans 14:10-12). Both master and servant answer to the same Judge, whose throne is above every social or economic structure. This truth levels the ground:

• It replaces pride with reverence (James 4:6-10).

• It frees the servant from despair, knowing Christ sees all (1 Peter 2:19).

• It urges the master to kindness, knowing Christ will evaluate him (2 Corinthians 5:10).

God’s impartiality shatters all claims to superiority (Acts 10:34-35;James 2:1-4). He rewards faithfulness, not social rank. Therefore:

• Mutual respect becomes non-negotiable (Galatians 3:28).

• Injustice invites divine discipline (Psalm 82:1-4).

• Humility and equity reflect God’s own heart (Micah 6:8).

Ephesians 6:9 calls every employer, leader, or authority figure to mirror Christ: treat those under your care with the same sincerity and goodwill you desire, abandon intimidation, remember that both of you serve the same heavenly Master, and walk in humble impartiality. In doing so, earthly relationships become a living testimony to the just and gracious reign of God.

Your Master also.--The stronger marginal reading is perhaps better,their Master and yours.

Respect of persons.--In this phrase the word "person" is used in its original sense (still lingering in our modern use of "person" and "personal," for "body" and "bodily,") of thepersona, i.e.,"the mask" of outward condition, circumstance, and privilege. In this general sense our Lord (Matthew 22:16) is said "to regard not," and (Luke 20:21) "to accept not" the person of man, because "He teaches the way of Godin truth." This sense is illustrated in different forms by the other uses of the word "respect of persons," and the corresponding verb in the New Testament. Thus inActs 10:34,Romans 2:11, it is used of the distinction of privilege between Jew and Gentile, circumcision and uncircumcision; inGalatians 2:6, of apostolic dignity in the eyes of men; inJames 2:1;James 2:9, of distinction of social rank; here and inColossians 3:25, of the difference between the slave and the freeman. In the modern sense of "person," as signifying the real man, there is, and must be, "respect of persons" in all righteous judgment, whether of God or man. . . .