March 22, 2026 “Guided By Love”

Colossians 3:18-4:2
English Standard Version
Rules for Christian Households
18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey 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. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 Masters, treat your bondservants[b] justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

Further Instructions
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Footnotes
Colossians 3:22 Or your masters according to the flesh
Colossians 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for servant in verse 12