What does the Bible say about masters?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that those in authority must be served with sincere obedience, while all masters and servants alike remain accountable to God, the true Lord of every household. Colossians 3:22 and 1 Peter 2:18 call servants to faithful, God-fearing conduct even under difficult masters, not as approval of injustice but as a witness to Christ. Scripture also shows households ordered for worship: Joshua 24:15 calls families to serve the Lord, and Genesis 35:2 urges the removal of idols. Sabbath commands in Exodus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 5:12-14 require masters to grant rest to servants, remembering God’s mercy. Christian authority must therefore be exercised humbly, justly, and under God’s sovereign rule.
Study outline
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- Authority of, established Colossians 3:22; 1 Peter 2:18
- Should, with their households
- Worship God Genesis 35:3
- Fear God Acts 10:2
- Serve God Joshua 24:15
- Observe the Sabbath Exodus 20:10; Deuteronomy 5:12-14
- Put away idols Genesis 35:2
- Should select faithful servants Genesis 24:2; Psalms 101:6; Psalms 101:7
- Should receive faithful advice from servants 2 Kings 5:13; 2 Kings 5:14
- Duty of, toward servants
- To act justly Job 31:13; Job 31:15; Colossians 4:1
- To deal with them in the fear of God Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1
- To esteem them highly, if saints Philemon 1:16
- To take care of them in sickness Luke 7:3
- To forbear threatening them Ephesians 6:9
- Not to defraud them Genesis 31:7
- Not to keep back their wages Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15
- Not to rule over them with rigour Leviticus 25:43; Deuteronomy 24:14
- Benevolent, blessed Deuteronomy 15:18
- Unjust, denounced Jeremiah 22:13; James 5:4
- Good - Exemplified
- Abraham Genesis 18:19
- Jacob Genesis 35:2
- Joshua Joshua 24:15
- Centurion Luke 7:2; Luke 7:3
- Cornelius Acts 10:2
- Bad - Exemplified
- Egyptians Exodus 1:13; Exodus 1:14
- Nabal 1 Samuel 25:17
- Amalekite 1 Samuel 30:13
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