Colossians 3:16-25

16 Christ's message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. ¹

17 Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.

18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what you should do as Christians. ²

19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. ³

20 Children, it is your Christian duty to obey your parents always, for that is what pleases God. ⁴

21 Parents, do not irritate your children, or they will become discouraged. ⁵

22 Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord. ⁶

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.

24 Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.

25 And all wrongdoers will be repaid for the wrong things they do, because God judges everyone by the same standard. ⁷

Colossians 3:16-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO COLOSSIANS 3

This chapter contains exhortations to several duties, some more general, which relate to all Christians, and others more particular, which belong to saints in such and such a state of life. The apostle begins with an exhortation to seek things heavenly, and not earthly, and to set the affections on the one, and not on the other: the arguments used to enforce it are taken from the saints being risen with Christ; from Christ being in heaven at the Father's right hand; from their being dead to sin, the law, and the world; from their having life in Christ safe and secure; yea, from Christ being their life, and their appearance with him in glory, Col 3:1-4. And next he proceeds to an exhortation to the mortification of sin, and the deeds of it, which he urges from the wrath of God coming upon men for these things, and from the consideration of their former state and condition, expressed by walking and living in them, Col 3:5-7, and by a metaphor taken from the putting off and on of garments, he exhorts to the putting off of the old man, with his deeds, several of which are mentioned, Col 3:8,9, and to the putting on of the new man, and to the exercise of various graces, as mercy, meekness, forbearance, forgiveness, charity, and peace, Col 3:10-15. And then he proceeds to exhort to such duties as relate to the word and worship of God; as that the word of Christ should have an abiding place in them, and that they should teach and instruct one another by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and do all they did in a religious way, in the name of Christ, with thankfulness to God by him, Col 3:16,17. And closes the chapter with the duties of wives to their husbands, and of husbands to their wives, and of children to their parents, and of parents to their children, and of servants to their masters, Col 3:18-25.

Cross References

• 1. 3.16, 17Ephesians 5.19, 20.
• 2. 3.18Ephesians 5.22; 1 P 3.1.
• 3. 3.19Ephesians 5.25; 1 P 3.7.
• 4. 3.20Ephesians 6.1.
• 5. 3.21Ephesians 6.4.
• 6. 3.22-25Ephesians 6.5-8.
• 7. 3.25Deuteronomy 10.17;Ephesians 6.9.