Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of
the
inheritance
This is said for the encouragement of Christian servants, who,
though they may receive little or nothing from their earthly and
carnal masters; yet they shall be used and treated as children by
the Lord, and by whom they will be possessed of an eternal
inheritance, after their work and labour is over: by "the reward
of the inheritance" is meant the heavenly glory, called a reward,
because the apostle is speaking to servants and therefore uses
language agreeable to them; and who, though they may have no
reward in this world, yet as there is a God that judgeth in the
earth, there is verily one for them in the world to come: and
though it is not given for working, yet it is given to those that
do good, and continue in well doing; whose works follow, though
they do not go before them; and is enjoyed after their work is
over, as the servant receives his wages at evening and when he
has done his work; though this will not be received as a reward
of debt, but of grace; it cannot be of merit, as is clear from
the nature of good works themselves, which are all due, to God,
prior to the performance of them; and when done in the best
manner, are no more than a man's duty, and are done not in his
own strength, but by the grace of God; and in many things, yea in
everything, he comes short of performing what is incumbent on
him; and besides, there is no manner of proportion between: the
best services of the saints, and eternal glory: to which may be
added, that eternal life is the free gift of their heavenly
Father to them, and is here called an inheritance, which never
becomes the property of servants in a way of merit, but is the
portion of children, from their Father's good pleasure. Wherefore
the heavenly glory is such a reward as that it is an
"inheritance"; or, as the Syriac version renders it, "in an
inheritance"; it lies in an inheritance, an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled, that fades not away, reserved in the
heavens; and which is not got by industry, or obtained by the
works of the law, nor bought with a price, but is a free bequest
of God as a Father to his children; for an inheritance is
peculiar to children, and this to the children of God, as these
believing servants were; and which comes to them by and through
the death of the testator; and it may be called an inheritance,
because the heavenly glory is substantial, it is substance, a
better and a more enduring substance than any inheritance in this
world; and is a very plentiful possession and estate, it consists
of all things, yea, God himself is the portion of his people, and
they that are his children are heirs of God; there is not only a
glory, but riches of glory, a plenty, a fulness of it in this
inheritance; the way in which they come by it, is receiving it
from Christ; "of the Lord ye shall receive it". It is in a way of
receiving, and so by gift, as a man can receive nothing but what
is given him; and as all grace is in a way of receiving, and
therefore boasting in it is excluded, so glory is enjoyed in the
same way, and from the same hands, even from Christ, the
righteous Judge, that will give it; it is in him they obtain this
inheritance, and are in him chosen and predestinated unto it; it
is by his resurrection from the dead, and in consequence of it,
that they through the power of his Spirit and grace are begotten
unto it; it is his grace that makes them meet for it; and he has
it in his hands for them; he is a feoffee in trust on their
behalf, and is able to give it to them; and will at the last day
introduce them into the full possession of it. Now these
Christian servants "knowing" all this, having a lively hope of
this inheritance, a full persuasion, and a firm faith of right
unto it, and meetness for it, and having the Spirit of God as an
earnest and pledge of it; the consideration of it must greatly
tend to make them quiet and easy in their present servitude, and
to encourage them, to the discharge of their duty with diligence,
faithfulness, and cheerfulness: since they might assure
themselves of the inheritance hereafter, how small soever their
reward was now:
for ye serve the Lord Christ;
who is a good master, and faithful to all his engagements and
promises, all whose servants are respected by him, and honoured
by his Father, and shall be for ever where he is.