Question 1

In verses 5–7, how many times does the passage use “as” language, and what does it connect the servant’s work to?

Accepted Answer

The passage repeatedly uses “as” to connect a servant’s work to a higher reference point than the immediate master. Servants obey earthly masters “as to Christ” (v.5). They are to work not as people-pleasers but “as servants of Christ” while doing God’s will from the heart (v.6). They are to serve with goodwill “as to the Lord, and not to men” (v.7). The repetition ties ordinary labor to Christ’s authority and evaluation, emphasizing motive and sincerity rather than merely external compliance.

Question 2

What contrasts does verse 6 make about the kind of service being rejected and the kind being commended?

Accepted Answer

Verse 6 rejects two related patterns: service performed only when watched (“eye-service”) and service aimed at pleasing people (“men-pleasers”). Both describe work shaped by external visibility and the desire for human approval. In contrast, the verse commends work done “as servants of Christ,” described as “doing the will of God from the heart.” The contrast is between appearance-driven performance and inner, sincere purpose. The text is not mainly about skill or productivity; it focuses on the intention and audience that shapes the work.

Question 3

How does the phrase “masters according to the flesh” function in verse 5 within the flow of the paragraph?

Accepted Answer

“Masters according to the flesh” identifies the masters as masters in ordinary, present-world terms—within the social order of daily life. In the paragraph, this phrase sits next to language that directs the servant’s deeper loyalty “as to Christ” (v.5) and “as to the Lord” (v.7). That combination highlights two levels at once: there is a real human authority in the household, and there is a higher Lord whose evaluation matters most. The text does not explain the institution; it addresses conduct within it.

Question 4

What does “singleness of heart” add to the instruction in verse 5, especially alongside “fear and trembling”?

Accepted Answer

“Singleness of heart” adds the idea of undivided sincerity—an honest, whole intent rather than mixed motives. Put alongside “fear and trembling,” it suggests that obedience is not casual or manipulative. “Fear and trembling” signals serious respect or heightened carefulness, while “singleness of heart” rules out duplicity (doing one thing outwardly while intending another). Together, they describe a posture that is steady and genuine, not calculated for advantage. The phrase “as to Christ” then clarifies that this sincerity is ultimately oriented toward the Lord’s regard.

Question 5

How does verse 7 develop the “audience” of the servant’s work, and what tension does it create with serving human masters?

Accepted Answer

Verse 7 explicitly identifies the servant’s true audience: service is rendered “as to the Lord, and not to men.” This does not remove the earthly master from the picture (v.5 still addresses obedience to them), but it relocates the servant’s core motive and sense of accountability. The tension is that the same action—daily service—has two reference points: a human master in the household and the Lord above all. The verse resolves the tension by prioritizing the Lord as the final point of orientation, shaping goodwill rather than mere compliance.

Question 6

What does verse 8 claim about the Lord’s repayment, and what details limit or define that claim?

Accepted Answer

Verse 8 claims that the Lord will repay “whatever good thing each one does.” The scope is broad (“each one”) and the category is moral (“good”), not tied to social rank or legal standing. The verse then explicitly removes status as a limiting factor: repayment applies “whether bound or free.” What defines the claim is that it is the Lord who repays, and it is repayment for good actually done. The text does not specify timing or mechanism; it stresses that God’s evaluation is impartial across social divisions.

Question 7

Across verses 5–8, what inner qualities does the passage emphasize, and how are they related to outward obedience?

Accepted Answer

The passage emphasizes inner qualities such as sincerity (“singleness of heart”), heart-level intention (“from the heart”), and goodwill. It also warns against an outward-only posture—work that appears diligent only when observed. Outward obedience is still present (“be obedient”), but it is repeatedly re-described as service offered to Christ and the Lord. The relationship is that outward actions are to be consistent with inward reality: not mere compliance to avoid consequences or win praise, but a genuine, steady kind of service shaped by loyalty to Christ and confidence in the Lord’s just evaluation.

Ephesians 6:5-8

Scripture