Colossians 3:20-23 - Children obey your parents

3:20,21

Children are to obey their parents “in everything”. In our society there is a lot of nonsense about giving children equal rights and so on. This is all misguided and is destructive to society. Responsibilities are the focus of the Bible, rights are the focus of the world. Fathers are not to embitter their children. So we are to treat them well, seeking to build up their understanding. This is a good thing. The Bible has a far more balanced approach to these matters than the world, and a far more sensible approach.

3:22,23

Finally, we move on to slaves and masters. Slaves are encouraged to obey their earthly masters, and to do so with sincerity. So they were to do so not just when they were being watched, but at all times. They were to do this as if they were working for the Lord. There are some who find the New Testament and slavery to be a problem. Why didn’t they go all out for the abolition of slavery, it being such an evil? The answer to this is complex, but I will give a few pointers. First, the early church was in no position to fight for the abolition of slavery. They did not live in a democracy as we do, and they were a very small and weak (humanly speaking) band of people. Secondly, slavery was an integral part of the economy, and it was not all like the slave trade we tend to think of. Some high-up people even wanted to become slaves (this is not to say it was a bed of roses, just that the situation was somewhat more complex than the picture in most of our minds). Perhaps the most important point is that the gospel did seek to change slavery, not by changing the law, but by changing the heart. Slaves and masters are encouraged to value each other, and masters are encouraged to treat their slaves well and with respect. Changing the heart is actually far more important than changing the law.