Eph 6:5-6 | JFB | STEP | 5. Servants-- literally, "slaves." masters according to the flesh-- in contrast to your true and heavenly Master ( ). A consolatory him that the mastership to which they were subject, was but for a time [Chrysostom]; and that their real liberty was still their own ( ). fear and trembling-- not slavish terror, but (See on ; ) an anxious eagerness to do your duty, and a fear of displeasing, as great as is produced in the ordinary slave by "threatenings" ( ). singleness-- without double-mindedness, or "eye service" ( ), which seeks to please outwardly, without the sincere desire to make the master's interest at all times the first consideration ( ; , ; ). "Simplicity."

‏ Ephesians 6:5-6

5. Servants--literally, "slaves."

masters according to the flesh--in contrast to your true and heavenly Master (Ep 6:4). A consolatory him that the mastership to which they were subject, was but for a time [Chrysostom]; and that their real liberty was still their own (1Co 7:22).

fear and trembling--not slavish terror, but (See on 1Co 2:3; 2Co 7:15) an anxious eagerness to do your duty, and a fear of displeasing, as great as is produced in the ordinary slave by "threatenings" (Ep 6:9).

singleness--without double-mindedness, or "eye service" (Ep 6:6), which seeks to please outwardly, without the sincere desire to make the master's interest at all times the first consideration (1Ch 29:17; Mt 6:22, 23; Lu 11:34). "Simplicity."

6. (Col 3:22). Seeking to please their masters only so long as these have their eyes on them: as Gehazi was a very different man in his master's presence from what he was in his absence (2Ki 5:1-18).

men-pleasers--not Christ-pleasers (compare Ga 1:10; 1Th 2:4).

doing the will of God--the unseen but ever present Master: the best guarantee for your serving faithfully your earthly master alike when present and when absent.

from the heart--literally, soul (Psa 111:1; Ro 13:5).