Ephesians 6:6

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Ephesians 6:6 in Other Translations

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,

6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.

6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do.

6 Don't [work only] while being watched, in order to please men, but as slaves of Christ, do God's will from your heart.

Ephesians 6:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ephesians 6:6

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers
Doing nothing but when under the master's eye, and then pretending a great deal of diligence and industry, in order to ingratiate themselves into his affections, and neglecting his business when he is absent; whereas they ought to attend his service in his absence, as well as in his presence, and so seek to please him, which is commendable.

But as the servants of Christ;
acting in like manner as the servants of Christ, who are not menpleasers; or as if they themselves were serving Christ, as indeed they are, when they are doing that which is the will of Christ:

doing the will of God from the heart;
meaning not the will of God in a religious, but in a civil sense, yielding a cheerful and hearty obedience to their own masters.

Ephesians 6:6 In-Context

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,

8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.

Cross References

• 1. S Romans 6:22