²² Bondservants, obey ^(A)in everything those who are your earthly masters,^[a] not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.

¹⁰ For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying ^(A)to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a ^(B)servant^[a] of Christ.

^18 (A)Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, ^(B)mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

Bondservants and Masters

^5 (A)Bondservants,^[a] obey your earthly masters^[b] with fear and trembling, ^(B)with a sincere heart, ^(C)as you would Christ, ⁶ not by the way of eye-service, as ^(D)people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

6 ^(A)Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants^[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, ^(B)so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. ² Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are ^(C)brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

^(D)Teach and urge these things.

^9 (A)Bondservants^[a] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(B)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, ^(C)but showing all good faith, ^(D)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

⁴ but just as we have been approved by God ^(A)to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not ^(B)to please man, but to please God ^(C)who tests our hearts.

²⁰ Children, obey your parents ^(A)in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Build Your House on the Rock

^46 (A)“Why ^(B)do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?