Peter Barnes | Ephesians 6:5-9
SERMON NOTES
MASTERS AND SLAVES
(Ephesians 6:5-9)
– William Wilberforce: ‘Moderating the insolence of power, she [i.e. Christianity] renders the inequalities of the social state less galling to the lower orders.’
1. The work of Christian slaves.
(a) They are to respect and obey their masters. 6:5; 1 Cor.7:21; not like the Spartacus revolt of 71 B.C.
(b) They are to work wholeheartedly. 6:6-7; Phil.2:12; Eccles.9:10; Neh.4:6
(c) We are to work in the sight of Christ. 6:5-8; George Herbert:
A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room as for Thy laws
Makes that and the action fine.
2. The work of Christian masters.
– 6:9
(a) We are to treat those who are weak as we would wish to be treated ourselves. Matt.7:12; Deut.10:19; 15:12-15
(b) Remember that Christ judges impartially. Lev.19:15; James 2:1-4. The 1857 Dred Scott decision by the US Supreme Court identified slaves with property. Not so the Bible – read Philemon 12-16.