knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
Parallel Translations
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knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
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for as moche as ye knowe that of the lorde ye shall receave the rewarde of inheritaunce for ye serve the lorde Christ.
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Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receiue the reward of the inheritance: for ye serue the Lord Christ.
Cross-references (29)
Passages linked to Colossians 3:24 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Ephesians 6:8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same good again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
- Acts 20:32 Now, brothers, I entrust you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
- Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.
- Luke 14:14 and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.
- Hebrews 10:35 Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
- Matthew 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
- Ephesians 6:6 not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,
- Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
- Proverbs 11:18 Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
- Matthew 5:46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
- 1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he who plants and he who waters are the same, but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
- Jude 1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:
- Ruth 2:12 May Yahweh repay your work, and a full reward be given to you from Yahweh, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
- Matthew 6:16 “Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing back; and your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.
- Romans 4:4-5 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. But to him who doesn’t work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.
- Colossians 2:18 Let no one rob you of your prize by self-abasement and worshiping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
- 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
- Genesis 15:1 After these things Yahweh’s word came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
- Matthew 6:1-2 “Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.
- Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
- 1 Corinthians 9:17-18 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
- Matthew 10:41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward. He who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward.
- John 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there my servant will also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,
- Romans 2:6-7 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
- Romans 14:18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
- Hebrews 9:15 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (9 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain For that that you shall have duly obeyed your…
For that that you shall have duly obeyed your masters, the time shall come, that you shall be made sons of servants, and then shall you know this of a surety, which shall be when you are made partakers of the heavenly inheritance.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive…
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Ver. 24. The reward of inheritance] And so be made of servants sons, whose it is to inherit.
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For ye serve the Lord Christ] While godliness runneth through your whole lives as the woof doth through the web, and you seek to approve yourselves to Christ in all your actions and employments.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Knowing, being fully persuaded of this undoubted truth,
Knowing, being fully persuaded of this undoubted truth,
that of the Lord, who superintends all your services, (not for any merit of yours), Eph 6:8, the recompence which your Master in heaven hath purchased, Eph 1:14,18, shall be freely settled upon you whom he hath adopted into his family, Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7; Eph 1:5; for in those duties you Christianly perform to masters of the same mould with yourselves, he really looks upon you as his own servants, {see Eph 6:6} yea, and free-men, 1Co 7:22; so that, as Onesimus, Phm 1:10, ye may more cheerfully submit to your masters’ yoke, according to the command and for the sake of Christ, who reckons what you do upon that account as done to himself, Mat 25:40, and will instate you in that eternal inheritance, to which neither you nor any mortal man had naturally any right at all.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the…
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.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 24. The reward of the inheritance] Here, ye…
Verse 24. The reward of the inheritance] Here, ye have neither lands nor property; ye are servants or slaves; be not discouraged, ye have an inheritance in store; be faithful unto God and to your employers, and Christ will give you a heavenly inheritance.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain the reward of the inheritance--"Knowing that it is from…
the reward of the inheritance--"Knowing that it is from the Lord (the ultimate source of reward), ye shall receive the compensation (or recompense, which will make ample amends for your having no earthly possession as slaves now) consisting of the inheritance" (a term excluding the notion of meriting it by works: it is all of grace, Rom 4:14; Gal 3:18).
for ye serve--The oldest manuscripts omit "for," then translate as Vulgate, "Serve ye the Lord Christ;" compare Col 3:23, "To the Lord and not unto men" (Co1 7:22-23).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 24. knowing] as a certainty of the Gospel. So…
24. knowing] as a certainty of the Gospel. So Eph_6:8. For the Christian’s prospect of “reward” cp. Mat_5:12; Mat_6:1; Mat_6:4; Mat_16:27; Luk_6:35; Luk_14:14; Rom_2:6-10; 2Co_5:10; Heb_10:35; Rev_22:12; &c. The obedience of love is infallibly remembered by Him to whom it is rendered. “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mat_25:21; Mat_25:23), is His certain ultimate response to every true act of the will given up to Him. This, as presented in Scripture, is entirely harmonious with the sure doctrine of our justification for Christ’s Merit only, embraced by faith only (Art. xi). It is the recognition of love by love, of grace by the Giver.
receive] The Greek may be rendered, receive as your due. The reward, from one point of view mere grace and gift, is from another, because God has promised it, a debt.
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the reward] The Greek implies an exact requital. See Lightfoot’s note. Even “the cup of cold water” (Mat_10:42) has its remembrance and loving recompense.
of the inheritance] That is, the reward consists in the inheritance; is involved in the bright prospect of it.—For a somewhat similar phrase cp. Col_1:12 (and notes). But the reference here is, surely, to the eternal future. So 1Pe_1:4, and Eph_1:14. That future is but the issue of the present, in which “Christ is in us, the hope of glory” (Col_1:27). But the issue is so “far better” (Php_1:21) than its prelude and embryo that it is relatively a new thing in prospect.—Lightfoot remarks that, by a beautiful paradox, the slave is here also an heir, which by human law he could not be. He is God’s heir (Gal_4:7) by Divine law. Elsewhere, in other connexions, “slave” and “heir” are contrasted: e.g. Gal_4:1.
for] Probably the word is to be omitted. It is a good note to the sentence, so to speak, pointing the meaning: “ye shall receive your reward from the Master; for Christ is the Master, and He never fails in requital.”
ye serve the Lord Christ] We may render, Christ is the Master whose bondmen ye are. Cp. Eph_6:6.—The Greek may be rendered, “serve, &c.,” imperatively. But the context favours the indicative.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Knowing that from (the) Lord you will receive the…
Knowing that from (the) Lord you will receive the just recompense of the inheritance (Eph_6:8; Rom_2:6-11; 2Co_5:10; Rev_22:12; Psa_62:12) "Knowing" (eijdotev) that of which one is aware, not merely learning or "getting to know" (ginwskw): see both words in Eph_5:5 and Joh_14:7, Revised Text; also Rom_6:6, Rom_6:9; 1Jn_5:20. "The absence of the definite article" before Kuriou "is the more remarkable, because it is studiously inserted in the context" (Lightfoot). St. Paul virtually says, "There is a Master who will recompense you, if your earthly masters never do". (comp. Col_4:1) "Just" renders the ajnti in ajntapodosin (a word common in LXX), implying "equivalence" or "correspondence". (comp. ajntanaplhrw in Col_1:24; also Rom_11:35 Rom_12:19; 1Th_3:9; Luk_6:38 Luk_14:12, Luk_14:14) a reward in the case of each individual, and in each particular, answering to the service rendered to "the Lord". (Mat_25:14-30) The opposite truth is asserted in ver. 25; Eph_6:8 combines them both. The recompense of the faithful Christian slave is nothing less than "the inheritance" of God"s children (Col_1:12; Eph_1:5, Eph_1:11, 14 3:6 5:5; Gal_3:29; 1Co_6:9, 10 15:50; Tit_3:7; 1Pe_1:4) which the apostle has so often under other terms assured to his readers. (Col_1:5, Col_1:23, 27 2:18 3:4, 15) For a slave to be heir was "a paradox" (Lightfoot): see Gal_4:1, Gal_4:7; Rom_8:15-17. No form of praise could be more cheering and ennobling to the despised slave than this. "In Christ," Onesimus is "no longer as a slave, but a brother beloved", (Phm_1:16) and if a brother, then a joint heir with his master Philemon in the heavenly inheritance. (Col_3:11) Ye serve the Lord Christ (vers. 22, 25; Col_2:6; Eph_6:6; Rom_14:8, Rom_14:9; 1Co_6:19, 20 7:22; Joh_13:13) that is, Christ is the Lord whose bondmen ye are. "For" is probably a correct gloss, though a corrupt reading. Its insertion indicates that the sentence was read indicatively (Lightfoot, and R.V); not imperatively ("serve the Lord Christ"), as Meyer, Alford, Ellicott, with the Vulgate, construe it. The verse amounts to this: "Work as for the Lord: he will repay you; you are his servants.
Ver. 24 (last clause).
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The service of Christ.
St. Paul is giving directions to bondservants. But if they serve the Lord Christ, so also must all other Christians. (Col_4:1) The principles of conduct recommended to the slaves may be taken home to ourselves by all of us.
I CHRISTIANITY IS THE SERVICE OF THE LORD CHRIST, St. Paul, the greatest of the apostles, called himself the "bond servant of Jesus Christ." Christ spoke of his disciples as "servants", (Mat_10:24) though he generously raised them above the common limitations of service by admitting them into the confidences of friendship. (Joh_15:15) The gospel first offers free gifts grace, love, forgiveness, etc. But while accepting these gifts, and neither needing nor able to make any adequate return, we are not to be nothing but recipients. The blessings are given to fit us for service.
The Church is not an almshouse for the indolent; it is a hive of industry. Christ is Master as well as Saviour. The first act of faith is to receive the grace of Christ in order that the second may be to obey his commandments. (Joh_14:15)
II THE SERVICE OF CHRIST EXTENDS TO THE WHOLE OF LIFE. It is not simply a matter of what we call religious affairs, the devotions of the sanctuary, etc. It is not merely the doing of work that is called spiritual, such as preaching, teaching, etc. The bond servants are bidden to serve Christ in their daily work. They are exhorted to work heartily as unto the Lord, in whatsoever they do (ver. 23). We must serve Christ in our daily business.
III THE SERVICE OF CHRIST MUST BE SINCERE.
1. It must not degenerate into eye service. Our work is not to please men, but to serve Christ. His eye is ever on us. It matters little whether men admire or neglect our work.
2. It must be done in singleness of heart. Christ will take no divided devotion. We must not be covertly seeking our own interests as distinct from the interests of Christ, so as to have a double, distracting, and often conflicting series of ends to be pursued. We shall gain our own blessedness in the single-eyed service of Christ, and not as a side issue.
3. It must be done from the heart. It must be no mechanical work. We must think about it and put our heart and soul into it. There is a world of difference between the obedience that simply follows the word of command as the signal rises or falls when the lever is moved, and the obedience that considers, feels, and adopts the wishes of the master, and carries them out intelligently and voluntarily, as the signalman interprets and follows the code of directions.
IV SUCH SERVICE OF CHRIST ENNOBLES ALL WORK. Work is noble or mean, not so much because of the kind of things done, as on account of the motives that inspire it. A surgeon has to do things which would be disgusting in themselves, but which are refined by the humane motives that prompt them. No task undertaken for a pure purpose can be degrading. The most menial work done for Christ"s sake is elevated to the level of the devotion of the angels.
V CHRIST WILL RECOMPENSE HIS SERVANTS ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE. "We shall all appear before the judgment seat of Christ." This is the judgment of Christians. We are inclined to forget this while warning publicans and sinners of their coming judgment. Christians will have to give an account of the use of their talent.
1. Then deceitful eye service will be exposed and punished.
2. Then faithful, obscure devotion will be revealed and rewarded. W.F.A.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 24. Knowing that of the Lord. See notes on…
24. Knowing that of the Lord. See notes on Eph. 6:8.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.