Colossians 3:18-4:1

Colossians 3:18-4:1

We have a tendency to take this passage about domestic life by itself, and that is a mistake. These directions about life at home are in the context of how we live out God's love described in verses 12-17 and the greater context of Christ’s supremacy. We tend to use the commands in verses 18-21 as a battering ram to have our way at home, forgetting what it says about compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience in verse 12. If we don't get the prior virtues right, we will have a hard time getting home life right, and these verses will become another occasion for legalism. With the legalism and manipulation of the false teachers, there would inevitably been a nitpicking about every little thing and every little rule, which always makes domestic life miserable. These commands are, or should be, practical ways of living out our love and freedom in Christ. We should also notice that in this passage about domestic life, over half of this passage, 6 out of 11 verses, deals with the treatment of slaves.

For the wife, the key word is “fitting.” This is a compound word from “in the midst of” and “come up to.” It carries the implications of intimacy. The wife knows her husband at the core of his heart and soul and supports his life as it comes from his inner being. The husband's keyword is “embittered.” It means to have a bad taste or feeling in the stomach, which might seem odd, but if you nitpick your wife, that is what you will have. Every word or thought of complaint about your wife makes another and larger complaint likely. Often we look for an escape clause for verse 20; we can't find it here. In the context, we may presume that the parents are believers. Notice it is the ‘fathers’ who are admonished about children. Not because mothers are always perfect, but a Biblical life presumes and begins with the fathers’ being primary in care, discipleship, and engagement with their children. But fathers must be careful not to push so hard as to break the spirits of their children. Legalism is poison to parenting. Space given to slavery is no doubt because of Philemon and Onesimus within this congregation. For employees, the teaching of this passage will produce the very best workers in the market. Christians ought to be highly desired as workers. 

“Lord, shape my life by the virtues that will reflect Christ. AMEN”