Kolosser 3:14-24

14 ber alles aber ziehet an die Liebe, die da ist das Band der Vollkommenheit.

15 Und der Friede Gottes regiere in euren Herzen, zu welchem ihr auch berufen seid in einem Leibe; und seid dankbar!

16 Lasset das Wort Christi unter euch reichlich wohnen in aller Weisheit; lehret und vermahnet euch selbst mit Psalmen und Lobgesängen und geistlichen lieblichen Liedern und singt dem HERRN in eurem Herzen.

17 Und alles, was ihr tut mit Worten oder mit Werken, das tut alles in dem Namen des HERRN Jesu, und danket Gott und dem Vater durch ihn.

18 Ihr Weiber, seid untertan euren Männern in dem HERRN, wie sich's gebührt.

19 Ihr Männer, liebet eure Weiber und seid nicht bitter gegen sie.

20 Ihr Kinder, seid gehorsam euren Eltern in allen Dingen; denn das ist dem HERRN gefällig.

21 Ihr Väter, erbittert eure Kinder nicht, auf daß sie nicht scheu werden.

22 Ihr Knechte, seid gehorsam in allen Dingen euren leiblichen Herren, nicht mit Dienst vor Augen, als den Menschen zu gefallen, sondern mit Einfalt des Herzens und mit Gottesfurcht.

23 Alles, was ihr tut, das tut von Herzen als dem HERRN und nicht den Menschen,

24 und wisset, daß ihr von dem HERRN empfangen werdet die Vergeltung des Erbes; denn ihr dienet dem HERRN Christus.

Kolosser 3:14-24 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.