The Grace Commentary – Your free verse-by-verse Bible commentary Colossians 3

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Colossians 3:1

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

(a) Therefore. If you are a new creation, act like it. If you are a citizen of a heavenly kingdom, set your mind on things above (see next verse).

(b) Raised up; see entry for Col. 2:12.

(c) With Christ. The believer has been crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:8, Gal. 2:20, Col. 2:20, 3:3), and raised with Christ (Rom. 6:8, Eph. 2:5).

“With Christ” is another union phrase to go with “with him”, “in him”, and “in Christ” (Col. 1:28, 2:6, 12). We died with Christ (Rom. 6:8), we have been raised and made alive with Christ (Eph. 2:5, Col. 3:1), we have been clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27), and our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). The believer’s life cannot be understood in isolation from Christ.

See entry for Union.

(d) Keep seeking. Fix your mind on Christ above and live from his eternal reality (see next verse).

(e) Things above; see next verse.

(f) Seated at the right hand of God. When Jesus ascended to heaven, he was seated at the right hand of God and given a Name above all names (Eph. 1:20, Php. 2:9). This right-hand seat is not merely a place of high honor or the second seat. It is the place of power (Matt. 26:64) and intimacy (Acts 2:25). The Son shares his Father’s throne. Since we are in Christ, so do we (Eph. 2:6). See also the entry for Matt. 22:44.

Colossians 3:2

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

(a) Set your mind. The original verb phroneō means “to think” or “exercise the mind.” Don’t be an unthinking person but incline your mind towards the ways of the Lord. Jesus rebuked Peter by saying, “You are not setting your mind (phroneō) on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).

(b) Set your mind on the things above. Walk by faith in the unseen realities of God’s kingdom.

For the believer, the way to life is not through self-discipline, self-denial, or self-improvement. It’s living from the reality of Christ in us. To set your mind on things above is to be mindful of the things of God (Matt. 16:23). It is being concerned with what God has said and is now saying, what God has done and is now doing. It is trusting him to lead and guide you through the trials and challenges of life.

(c) Things above. The superior and eternal realities of the heavenly kingdom as opposed to the transient and doomed realities of this world (2 Cor. 4:18).

(d) Not on the things that are on earth. A mind focused on earthly concerns – what do I want, how will I get it, and how will it make me look? – is headed for disconnection, destruction, and death (see entry for Rom. 8:13).

Colossians 3:3

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

(a) You have died. Every man-made religion preaches self-denial and dying to self, but the Bible simply declares, “You died” (Rom. 6:8, Gal. 2:20, Col. 2:20). Since your old self died with Christ, you are no longer captive to sin. “He who has died is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:7). This changes everything for the believer.

Further reading: “What happened to me at the cross?

(b) Your life. Two kinds of life are described in the Bible; the psuche– or soul life we inherited from Adam and the zoe– or spirit life that comes from God (John 5:26). It’s the second kind of life that is described here. Your true life in Christ is eternal and secure, but it is also hidden. It will be fully revealed in all its glory when Christ returns (see next verse).

See entry for New Life.

(c) Your life is hidden with Christ. We are concealed or enveloped in Christ. “You are in me, and I am in you” (see John 14:20).

What a wonderful picture of the new life we have in Christ. We were in Adam, now we are in Christ. We were part of an enslaved and condemned race. Now we are part of the family of God. Some may worry that God will cast them out of his family, but how can this happen when you are hidden in Christ? We are not merely standing on the Rock; we are in the Rock, safe and secure.

(d) With Christ. Again, Paul affirms our union with the Lord; see entry for Col. 3:1.

Colossians 3:4

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

(a) Christ, who is our life. The indwelling Spirit of Christ imparts his divine life to us (John 14:17, 1 John 4:13).

Christianity is not a religion of rules and rituals. Christianity is Christ living in you (Col. 1:27). This is the beating heart of Paul’s message. Because the Author of life lives in you, you can live fully and without fear of death. Apart from him, we can do nothing, but in him we live, and move, and have our being (Acts 17:28).

(b) When Christ… is revealed. When Christ returns to earth as the conquering king in radiant glory (Luke 17:30, 2 Th. 1:7).

(c) You also will be revealed. Who we are has not been fully disclosed. But when Jesus returns, the real, glorious you will be revealed (Col. 3:4, 1 Pet. 5:1). We will be changed and clothed in immortal splendor (1 Cor. 15:53–54).

Colossians 3:5

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

(a) Therefore. Because you are a new person, don’t act like the old person you used to be. Don’t be sin-conscious, be Son-conscious. Since you died with Christ, have nothing to do with your old master Sin. Since you have been given a new nature, don’t act in accordance with your old one.

In verses 5–9 Paul paints a picture of our old selfish life, and then in verses 12–17, he paints a picture of the new life that is ours in Christ. The scriptures should not be read as lists of behaviors you should or should not do. They are pictures contrasting the ugly and destructive ways of the old life with the beautiful and edifying ways of the new.

(b) Members. The members of your body (your eyes, hands, ears, etc.) connect you to the physical world. You see with your eyes, feel with your hands, taste with your mouth, hear with your ears, and smell with your nose. Our members are not sinful, but they can be used for sinful purposes. “If your hand or eye causes you to sin.” (Matt 5:29). When we gaze with lust-filled eyes or curse with our tongues, we yield our members to sin.

Christians do many things in response to sin and immorality; we confess our sins, hold ourselves accountable for our sins, discuss our sins, pray against sin, preach against sin, and warn against sin. But when it comes to sin, there is one thing we must do, and that is consider ourselves dead to it.

If you say, “I struggle with sin,” you are setting yourself up for failure. Sin has a power greater than your flesh. Sin will beat you in a fight. Don’t even try to overcome sin. Instead, reckon yourself dead to sin. When sin comes knocking, don’t open the door. When sin calls, don’t answer. A dead person cannot react and cannot be tempted by sin. Instead of saying “no” to sin, say “yes” to Jesus and live free.

Further reading: “If we’re holy, why does God call us to be holy?”

(d) Immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed are dehumanizing behaviors. They are parodies of the real life that God offers.

As in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul’s theme is sex (Eph. 5:3–4). (The original noun for immorality is porneia, a word typically referring to sexual immorality and related to the word “pornography.”) Sex that is contrary to God’s design leads to all kinds of death. Fornication, adultery, pornography, and other forms of immorality offer a brief thrill followed by a long crash, damage, and scars. Sexual immorality is degrading. It diminishes us and destroys our marriages, families, reputations, careers, and ministries. Sexual immorality is the driving force behind the evils of trafficking and sexual slavery, and as children of God, we are to have nothing to do with it. Like Joseph in Potiphar’s house, we are to “flee immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18).

We can lose our freedom through legalism or licentiousness. The former puts price tags on grace, while the latter removes the price tags from sin. Licentiousness says do what you will, for we are under grace not law. It’s a partial truth (all things are permissible) that leads to captivity and death (not all things are beneficial). Your sinning will never affect God’s love for you, but it will hurt you and those you love. It is not God’s will for you to destroy yourself through sinful living, and this is why he gives us his grace—so that we may be empowered to say no to temptation and live whole and godly lives (Tit. 2:11–12).

(e) Greed or covetousness is the insatiable desire for more. Greed is the opposite of contentment.

(f) Amounts to idolatry. Greed is idolatry because it expresses dissatisfaction with God and his gifts. Greed says, “God is holding out on me. I must have more.” It was greed that drove Adam and Eve to take what was forbidden. Their idolatry was in believing they could supply what they thought was lacking.

Colossians 3:6

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,

(a) Because of these things. Light and dark cannot coexist. On the Day of Judgment, those who deny God and reject his ways will reap the destructive consequences of their actions (Rom. 1:18, 2 Pet. 3:7).

(b) The wrath of God describes the erosion of our humanity that occurs when we act contrary to the Creator’s original design. When we reject the Author of Life and go our own way, there are destructive consequences. “The soul who sins will die” (Eze. 18:4).

The wrath of God is not a divine foot from heaven stomping on sinners. Jesus loves sinners; he doesn’t smite them. But unbelief sows the seeds of its own demise. To live untethered from God is to lose touch with reality and your own humanity. This self-destruction is framed here as divine displeasure, but any anger from God is at the futility of a wasted life.

See entry for “Wrath of God.”

(d) The sons of disobedience are those who stubbornly refuse to believe or be persuaded about the goodness of God. They are “the ungodly” who have nothing but contempt for the things of God. They harden their hearts to the Holy Spirit and deny the reality of their lostness. They thrust away the word of truth and refuse to believe that God longs to be good to them. Instead of opening their hearts to the One who knocks, they barricade themselves in fortresses of unbelief.

(e) Disobedience. The original word apeitheia means “disbelief.” (The word is translated as “unbelief” in some Bibles.) It is refusing to be convinced, won over, or persuaded. Disobedience in the new covenant has nothing to do with rule-keeping and everything to do with refusing to trust Jesus. God’s wrath is not coming on the children of disobedience because they do bad things. It’s coming because they refuse to come to him for life (John 3:16, 2 Th. 1:8–9).

Colossians 3:7

and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

(a) Once walked. As unbelievers, we lived for ourselves and gave no thought to the things of God.

(b) Living in them. We were worldly, living in unspiritual ways. Like everyone else, we lived from our natural senses and did what seemed right in our own eyes. We thought we were free, but we were just going with the flow. We followed the crowd, ignorant of the malevolent powers that framed our so-called choices.

Colossians 3:8

But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

(a) Now you also. Now that you have died with Christ, it’s time to shove off that old way of life.

(b) Put them all aside. This is not a law-to-be-obeyed, but an invitation to lay aside the old self and live the new life that is yours in Christ (see verse 10).

To put aside or put off is to consider the members of your body as dead to immorality (Col. 3:5). Paul is not saying, “Thou shalt not do anger, immorality, greed, slander, etcetera.” He’s saying, “Those behaviors are inconsistent with who you are in Christ.” Don’t settle for that old, inferior way of life. New life beckons. Since you’re a butterfly, don’t crawl like a grub.

Colossians 3:9

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,

(a) Do not lie. Speak truthfully to each other (Eph. 4:25). Don’t give voice to the falsehoods of a fallen society, and don’t repeat fictions that come from the father of lies. People lie to protect or promote themselves. But those who are secure in their Father’s love have no need to twist the truth.

(b) Laid aside the old self. Stop trying to fix your old self. Your old self died with Christ (Rom. 6:6), so lay it aside and put on the new self (see next verse).

(c) The old self refers to your former manner of life with its old attitudes and mindsets. It’s the person you used to be when you muddled your way through life without God by relying on yourself and your limited understanding.

The old self is mentioned in two other places in scripture; in Romans, the old self has been crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6), and in Ephesians, we are to lay it aside (Eph. 4:22).

(d) Evil practices. The deeds of the flesh including those just listed: anger, abusive speech, lying, etc. Note that the word “evil” is in italics to show it is not in the original text but has been added by translators.

Colossians 3:10

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

(a) Put on the new self. Be who you are in Christ. Learn to see yourself as Christ sees you – as holy and beloved (Col. 3:12). Be the person you truly are.

(b) The new self is who we are in Christ. We are spiritual creatures, joined to the Lord in spiritual fellowship.

The old self describes the life we had in Adam, while the new self is the life we have in Christ. Your old self was a child of Adam and a slave of sin (Rom. 6:6), but your new self is a child of God and a “slave” of righteousness (Rom. 6:18). Your old self had no choice but to walk after the deceitful desires of the flesh, but your new self can walk in new way the spirit (Rom. 6:4, 8:4, Gal. 5:24). Your old self was terminally ill and doomed to die, but your new self has eternal life (Rom. 8:6, Gal. 6:8).

Many Christians have no idea how good they’ve got it. They have enough faith to believe or hope that they are saved but that’s about it. They don’t know that in Christ they are part of a new creation and citizens of an everlasting kingdom. There’s a new language to learn, a new culture to embrace, and a new song to sing. This is why the New Testament is bursting with exhortations to put off the old and put on the new. We were in darkness; now we’re children of the light. We were slaves; now we’re sons. We were prisoners; now we’re kings.

(c) Being renewed. Change your thinking. Learn to walk in the new way of the spirit instead of the old ways of the flesh (Gal. 5:16, 25).

(d) True knowledge. The new you is learning to think like Christ. Indeed, we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

(e) Image of the One who created him. By the grace of God and through the work of the Spirit we are becoming more Christlike in the way we think.

Colossians 3:11

a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

(a) A renewal. The word is italicized to show it is not in the original text but has been added for clarity. Paul is saying, “In the new creation…”

(b) No distinction. In the new creation, your race, nationality, or status do not matter (Rom. 10:12, Gal. 3:28).

The world of Biblical times was highly segregated. The Jews were prejudiced towards women, Gentiles, and sinners; the Greeks were prejudiced towards barbarians, and the Romans were prejudiced towards slaves and non-citizens. In contrast, Jesus received everyone without regard for their race, gender, or status. He said his kingdom was like a dragnet cast into the sea gathering fish of every kind (Matt. 13:47), and he commissioned his disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). In contrast with the fallen kingdoms of this world, the kingdom of God welcomes people from every tribe and nation (Acts 2:5, 10:35, Rom. 10:12, Eph. 2:13, Col. 3:11, Rev. 7:9, 14:6).

(d) Barbarian, Scythian. A barbarian was a non-Greek-speaking foreigner (1 Cor. 14:11), while a Scythian was an extreme form of barbarian. In the Roman world, the Scythians of central Asia were considered savages, the worst kind of barbarian. Paul is saying, “Yes, even Scythians are welcome in the family of God.”

(e) Christ is all, and in all. The Spirit of Christ dwells within all believers, regardless of any external factors. Discrimination based on race, gender, or status has no place in the new creation.

(f) In all. The context shows Paul is speaking of all believers, not all people. The Spirit of Christ does not dwell within the sons of disobedience (Col. 3:6) or those who are alienated from him (Col. 1:21) and disconnected from the head (Col. 2:19).

Colossians 3:12

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

(a) Chosen. The chosen of God are the elect or the church. God’s call to turn to him and be saved goes out to all but not all respond. “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14). Those who do are called the elect or the chosen. “For you are a chosen race” (1 Pet. 2:9).

(b) Holy. Christians are holy because Jesus makes us so (Heb. 10:10, 14). Collectively Christians are known as a holy priesthood and a holy nation (1 Pet. 2:5, 9). The church is both God’s holy temple (1 Cor. 3:16-17, Eph. 2:21) and the Lord’s radiant and holy bride (Eph. 5:27).

(c) Beloved. The original word agapētos means “dearly loved, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love.” It is closely related to the verb agapaō, which means “to be well pleased” or “fond of” or “contented.” This word captures God’s heart for you. Your heavenly Father is fond of you. You are his esteemed favorite and he is well pleased with you. He looks at you with a feeling of deep contentment knowing that you are his dearly loved child.

All the epistle writers referred to believers as the beloved or dearly loved children of God (see entry for Rom. 1:7).

(d) Put on. Although we are already clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27), we still need to put on the new self (Eph. 4:24, Col. 3:10), put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11), and put on love (Col. 3:14). Paul is exhorting us to be who we are in Christ and to walk in newness of life.

(e) Put on a heart of compassion, etc. Paul lists several traits of the new self. The wrong way to read this list is to think that we must manufacture these virtues or perform these actions to prove ourselves holy and beloved. We are already holy and beloved. We cannot make ourselves more holy and beloved. Paul is describing Christ’s character. He is saying, “Since you are clothed with Christ, see yourself as wrapped in his compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” These Christlike qualities are sometimes referred to as the fruit of the spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).

(f) Compassion. The original noun oiktirmos means “to exercise pity” and is sometimes translated as “mercies.” God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3). Having come to his throne of grace to receive mercy (Heb. 4:16), we are able to show mercy and compassion to others.

(g) Kindness is the fruit of receiving the lovingkindness of God. Having tasted the sweet kindness of the Lord (1 Pet. 2:3), we are able to show kindness to others.

(h) Humility. The antidote to selfishness is to put others first and think highly of them. Jesus shows us the way (Php. 2:5–6). As we rest in Christ, his attitude towards others becomes our attitude towards others. Instead of being irritated by petty differences, we can have the same mind towards them that Christ has.

In the previous chapter, Paul spoke of false humility and self-abasement (Col. 2:18, 23). Putting yourself down is unhealthy and an insult to your Maker. Christlike humility is preferring one another in love (Rom. 12:10, Eph. 4:2).

(i) Gentleness or tenderness. Because the Good Shepherd deals gently with us (Heb. 5:2), we can be gentle with others (Gal. 5:23).

(j) Patience or longsuffering. Because Christ has shown perfect patience to us (1 Tim. 1:16), we can show patience to others.

Colossians 3:13

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

(a) Bearing with one another means showing tolerance for one another in love (Eph. 4:2). It’s putting up with others and showing restraint, as Jesus did with the faithless disciples (Matt. 17:17). It is regarding one another as more important than yourselves (Php. 2:3).

(b) Forgiving… forgave. When we receive the unconditional forgiveness of God (Col. 2:13–14), we are empowered to forgive others.

Before you bring an accusation or charge against someone, remember that the charges that stood against you were nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14). Remember the grace and forgiveness God showed to you.

(d) Just as the Lord forgave you. You need to be fully persuaded that you are completely and eternally forgiven. You were not forgiven because you said or did the right things. You were forgiven on account of God’s great love and grace (Eph. 1:7, 1 John 2:12). See also the entry for Col. 2:13.

Colossians 3:14

Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

(a) Beyond all these things. The most important thing. You may forget to clothe yourself with the compassion and kindness of the Lord, but as long as you put on love all will be well.

(b) Put on; see entry for Col. 3:12.

(c) Put on love. Wear the love of God like a garment. Wrap yourself in his love from head to toe. Be clothed in his love in your coming and going. Knowing and putting on the love of God is the most important thing we can do.

(d) Perfect bond of unity. It is the unfailing love of God that knits us together as a family. Without his love, we cannot be truly kind, compassionate, or forgiving. Without his love, we cannot fully love and accept others. But as we receive the love of God, we are able to share his love with others. “Love others as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

(a) The peace of Christ is heaven’s remedy for your fears and anxieties. “My peace I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful” (John 14:27).

The peace of Christ comes from knowing who your Father is and how much he cares for you. No matter what you are going through or what trial you are facing, your Father, the God of peace (Rom. 15:33), holds you securely in his hands (John 10:29).

(b) Rule. The original verb brabeuō means “umpire.” In the sporting arena, it is the umpire who decides and settles disputes. In the same way, it is the peace of Christ which helps us to settle matters and make decisions.

We are not to be governed by anger, strife, fear, or worry. We are to be ruled by the peace of Christ. When making an important decision, your heart should be filled with his peace. His peace protects you from heartbreak and disaster (Php. 4:7). If you lack his peace, do not act. Re-center your heart. Cast your cares and anxieties upon the Lord and receive his peace (1 Pet. 5:7).

(d) Called in one body. We have all been called to live under the peace of Christ. “God has called us to peace” (1 Cor. 7:15).

(e) One body. The body of Christ is the church of which Christ is the head (Col. 2:19). Although there are many different denominations and expressions of the church, there is only one body. “We who are many are one body in Christ” (Rom. 12:5). See entry for Col. 1:18.

(f) Be thankful. Gratitude is a sign that Christ’s peace rules in our hearts.

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

(a) The word of Christ is the good news of Jesus. It is the revelation of Jesus Christ the Living Word (John 1:14, 1 Pet. 1:23).

The word of Christ (Rom. 10:17) is synonymous with the word of truth (Col. 1:5), the word of the Lord (Acts 19:10), the word of God (Acts 6:7, Heb. 13:7), and the word of his grace (Acts 14:3, 20:32). These are all different labels for the gospel of grace; see entry for Acts 20:24.

(b) Richly dwell within you. Fill your heart and mind with the good news of Jesus. Don’t fill your mind with the bad news of self-made religion (Col. 2:23) and legalism (Col. 2:20–21). Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by empty philosophy (Col. 2:8) and mysticism (Col. 2:18).

(c) Teaching. Instruct one another in the good news of Jesus. We are not to teach law or impart guilt and condemnation. We are called to reveal the love of Christ to one another.

(d) Admonishing. Call attention to the good news of Jesus; see entry for Col. 1:28.

(e) Spiritual songs are songs with spiritual themes as opposed to worldly themes. Spiritual songs include psalms, hymns, and poetry. Spiritual songs are for your edification. They strengthen your faith, give you comfort, and feed your hope.

(f) Singing with thankfulness is a way of shifting your focus off your circumstances and onto Christ. When Paul and Silas sat in a dark Philippian prison, unjustly arrested and flogged, they sang hymns to God (Acts 16:25). It’s hard to be overcome with fear when you are thanking and praising God for his goodness and grace. God’s grace is a license to sing.

Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

(a) Whatever you do. There is no circumstance or trial that cannot be improved by bringing it into the orbit of God’s grace, and for this we give thanks. When times are good, we thank God for his blessings. When times are bad, we thank him for his promises. And in every occasion, we thank him for his love and fellowship. “In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th. 5:18).

(b) Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Everything we do is to flow from our relationship with the Lord. When we work, play, cook, speak, travel, rest – we are doing it in union with the Lord (1 Cor. 10:31). Jesus is always with us, and we become conscious of his presence by giving him thanks in whatever we are doing. For the believer who is one with the Lord, there is no division between the sacred and secular. To the pure, all things are pure (Tit. 1:15).

(c) Giving thanks. For the third time in three verses, Paul encourages us to be a grateful people. Thanksgiving is the native language of those who have received the abundant grace of God.

(d) Through him. Alternatively, “Give thanks to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(e) God the Father; see entry for Col. 1:2.

Colossians 3:18

Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

(a) Wives, submit to your husbands in love.

“Be subject” may not be the best translation as it leads to thinking in terms of the strong dominating the weak or kings ruling over subjects. The original verb hypotassō means “to place under.” It is submitting to rather than being subject to. To submit to one another is to prefer one another and value others more highly than yourself (Php. 2:3).

This verse should not be read as an invitation for the husband to dominate the wife like he’s lord of the manor. It’s an invitation for the wife to submit out of love, as is fitting in the Lord. In other words, if you want to know what submission is like, look to the One who has a gentle and humble heart. Jesus humbled himself so that we might be lifted up (Matt. 11:29, Php. 2:8). For similar reasons, a wife puts her husband first to elevate her marriage above the ordinary. But this is only half of the instruction. Paul has a similar message for husbands (see next verse).

See entry for Submission

(b) Fitting. Submitting to your husband in love honors the One who gave himself for us.

Submission, as Christ models it, is loving others and giving yourself up for them (Eph. 5:2, 25). It’s God the Son submitting in all things to God the Father, and God the Father giving the Son a Name above all names. It’s the Son bragging about the Spirit, and the Spirit testifying of the Son. Submission is the essence of other-focused love and a vital ingredient in any healthy relationship.

Colossians 3:19

Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.

(a) Husbands. If love is a two-way street, why doesn’t Paul tell husbands to submit to wives? He does. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (see Eph. 5:21). Husbands are to love their wives in the manner in which Christ loves the church – sacrificially (Eph. 5:25).

In the same way that Christ gave himself up for the church, the husband gives himself up for his wife. He crawls through traffic, fights grizzly bears, and catches bullets for her. He puts her needs, desires, and interests ahead of his own because he values her more highly than his own life. God’s original plan was for men and women to rule together, but they will never rule unless one of them takes the lead in laying down their life for the other. That someone is the husband.

(b) Love. The original verb agapaō is associated with God’s unconditional agape-love. In other words, if you want to know what real love is, look to Jesus who laid down his life for you, then do the same for your wife.

(c) Embittered. Don’t become bitter, resentful, or ill-tempered towards your wife. Deal gently with her. Nurture and cherish her, as Christ does the church (Eph. 5:29).

Colossians 3:20

Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.

(a) Be obedient. Listen to your parents.

In the New Testament, several words are translated as obey, obeyed, or obedience. One is the obedience (peitharcheo) we give to God and those in authority (Acts 5:29, Tit. 3:1). Another is the obedience (peitho) that means to be persuaded by the truth (Rom. 2:8, Gal. 5:7). The word used here, however, is hupakouo, which means “to listen and attend to.”

Children who are taught to blindly obey their parents are essentially forced to live under law and are denied the opportunity to grow in grace. Young children need the law to protect them (e.g., don’t run onto the road), but as they mature they need to learn how to walk in grace (Eph. 6:4). Older children should not be told to obey simply because “God said” so or because “It’s in the Ten Commandments.” They need to know their parents love them unconditionally and have their best interests at heart. Loving parents who nurture their children are easy to obey because they are good and trustworthy.

(b) Well-pleasing to the Lord. Obeying your parents honors the Father from whom every family derives its name (Eph. 3:15). It also honors the Son who submits to the Father in all things (John 5:19, 30).

Colossians 3:21

Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.

(a) Do not exasperate your children. Don’t be so harsh or unrealistic with your children that they get frustrated and are tempted to rebel. Don’t bind them with heavy loads. Don’t expect them to live out your unfulfilled dreams. Don’t provoke them to anger, but nurture them and train them in the ways of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

(b) Exasperate. All children need age-appropriate boundaries to guide them, but the last thing we want to do is break their spirits. When we exasperate or embitter our children, we present them with a distorted image of our heavenly Father. God is always gentle and patient with us, even when we are stubborn and slow to learn.

(c) Your children. Don’t buy into that lie that says our children are born bad to the bone. Some have said, “Children are wired to rebel and destined for hell.” But this is not what the Bible says. Your children were known to God before they were born (Ps. 139:15–16, Jer. 1:5) and are known to God now (Matt. 18:10). They were shaped by God (Job 33:4, Ps. 100:3, Ecc. 11:5) and are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14). Children are gifts from God (Ps. 127:3, Jas. 1:17).

(d) Lose heart. A discouraged child is set up for failure. Discouragement can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, fear of failure, depression, and learning difficulties.

Colossians 3:22

Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

(a) Slaves. The original noun doulos describes a person bound in servitude and implies a slave, such as might be owned by a wealthy Colossian. (Philemon was a slave owner (Phm. 1:10–16).) Different types of slaves are mentioned in the Bible including household slaves, temple slaves, and palace slaves. The treatment of slaves varied greatly depending on the culture and context. In a modern context, we might substitute the word “employee” or “worker.”

Paul is not endorsing slavery. Like everyone else in the Roman world, he accepted it as normal. We should not be shocked that Paul mentions slavery. We should be amazed that he spoke up for the rights of slaves (e.g., Col. 4:1).

(b) Obey. Heed your boss.

Paul is not preaching a law to be obeyed in all circumstances. Nor is he not saying you must tolerate a toxic work environment or that you are forbidden from striking or joining a picket line. As in Colossians 3:20, the original verb hupakouo means “to listen” or “attend to.” As believers, we respect and serve our employers as though we were working for the Lord (see next verse).

(c) Masters on earth. Your boss, supervisor, manager, department head, team leader, commanding officer, employer, et cetera.

(d) Not with external service. Don’t be one of those who only work when someone is watching (Eph. 6:6).

(e) Those who merely please men. Don’t be a bootlicker and don’t get entangled in office politics.

(f) With sincerity of heart. Serve wholeheartedly (see next verse).

(g) Fearing the Lord. Serve as unto the Lord (Eph. 6:7).

Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

(a) Whatever you do; see entry for Col. 3:17.

(b) As for the Lord. Serve as though you were you were serving your real Master, the Lord of all (Eph. 6:5–6).

We have a choice. We can see ourselves as slaves or employees of whoever pays our wages, or we can live from a higher reality. We can worry about the boss who hires and fires, or we can see ourselves as servants of the One who freely gives us everything. God does not need servants, but we choose to serve in the name of Christ so that others might come to know the love of the Father. Like Christ, who took the form of a bond-servant (literally a slave; Php. 2:7) we are the sons who serve.

Colossians 3:24

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

(a) Reward may not be the best translation as it confuses rewards, which are earned (see 1 Cor. 3:8), with inheritances, which are not (see Eph. 1:11). There is no mention of rewards in this verse or any of the four prison letters. The original noun antapodosis means “recompense,” so a literal translation is “from the Lord you will receive the recompense of the inheritance.” Paul is saying, “Don’t get bound up with workplace worries. Keep your mind on things above and remember your inheritance in the Lord.”

(b) Inheritance. The Father has qualified us to share in the common inheritance of the saints (see entry for Col. 1:12). We don’t get this inheritance because we serve. We get it because we are co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17).

(c) It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Live for God, not bosses. Frame your life around your Father’s love rather than the expectations of others.

Some bosses are hard-to-please tyrants. Seeing yourself as serving the Lord, and remembering that you have a glorious inheritance in him, will help you maintain a positive attitude no matter your circumstances.

Colossians 3:25

For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.

(a) He who does wrong. Wrongdoing has consequences in this world.

Paul is contrasting different kingdoms. In the kingdom of God, we are blessed because our Father loves us. He forgives unconditionally and gives us an inheritance (Col. 1:12, 2:13). But the rulers of this world are unforgiving. Do wrong and you can expect consequences.

(b) Consequences. If you are a lazy worker, rude to your customers, or steal from your boss, you could get fired.

(c) Without partiality. Your earthly masters will not care that you are a child of God with a glorious inheritance in the saints. They will judge you solely on your performance.

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Colossians 3