Ver. 24. “Knowing,” he saith, “that from the Lord ye shall receive the recompense of your877 inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” For from Him also it is evident that ye shall receive the reward. And that ye serve the Lord is plain from this. Ver. 25. “For he that doeth wrong,” he saith, “shall receive again for the wrong that he hath done.” Here he confirmeth his former statements. For that his words may not appear to be those of flattery, “he shall receive,” he saith, “the wrong he hath done,” that is, he shall suffer punishment also, “for there is no respect of persons.”878 For what if thou art a servant? it is no shame to thee. And truly he might have said this to the masters, as he did in the Epistle to the Ephesians. (Eph. vi. 9.) But here he seems to me to be alluding to the Grecian masters. For, what if he is a Greek and thou a Christian? Not the persons but the actions are examined, so that even in this case thou oughtest to serve with good will, and heartily. Chap. iv. 1. “Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal.” What is “just”? What is “equal”? To place them in plenty of everything, and not allow them to stand in need of others, but to recompense them for their labors. For, because I have said that they have their reward from God, do not thou therefore deprive them of it. And in another place he saith, “forbearing threatening” (Eph. vi. 9.), wishing to make them more gentle; for those were perfect men; that is, “with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured unto you.” (Matt. vii. 2.) And the words, “there is no respect of persons,” are spoken with a view to these,879 but they are assigned to the others, in order that these may receive them. For when we have said to one person what is applicable to another, we have not corrected him so much, as the one who is in fault. “Ye also,” along with them, he saith. He has here made the service common, for he saith, “knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Ver. 2. “Continue in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving.” For, since continuing in prayers frequently makes persons listless, therefore he saith, “watching,” that is, sober, not wandering. For the devil knoweth, he knoweth, how great a good prayer is; therefore he presseth heavily. And Paul also knoweth how careless880 many are when they pray, wherefore he saith, “continue”881 in prayer, as of somewhat laborious, 877 [Some documents for N.T. also give “your,” but the correct N.T. text has simply “the,” and omits “for.”—J.A.B.] 878 [Some documents for Chrys., and some for N.T., add “with God.”—J.A.B.] 879 The masters. 880 ἀκηδιῶσι, generally used of giving up caring for anything in despair. But the name “acedia” amongst the seven deadly sins is of this origin. 881 προσκαρτερεῖτε, “persevere.” 540 Colossians 3:18-25