What does Ephesians 6:6 mean by "not only when their eye is on you"? Immediate Literary Context Verses 5-8 address Christian slaves (household servants) living in Greco-Roman households. Paul pairs a negative (“not merely eye-service, people-pleasing”) with a positive (“but as servants of Christ”). In both halves he stresses motivation: superficial compliance versus wholehearted obedience to the Lord. Broader Canonical Parallels 1. Colossians 3:22 : “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything, not only to please them while they are watching, but with sincerity of heart and fear of the Lord.” 2. Proverbs 15:3: “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.” 3. Psalm 139:1-12; Hebrews 4:13; 1 Samuel 16:7. These passages reinforce God’s omnipresence and omniscience, the ultimate “Supervisor” whose gaze cannot be evaded. Historical-Cultural Setting • In first-century Ephesus roughly one-third of residents were slaves. Household codes (Aristotle, Philo, Roman jurists) emphasized external compliance to preserve order. • Paul goes beyond Roman moralists; he relocates authority from human masters to the risen Christ (Ephesians 1:20-23). The slave’s true allegiance is to the cosmic kurios, not merely to a household lord. Exegetical Flow 1. “Slaves, obey … with respect and fear and sincerity of heart” (v 5) – internal integrity. 2. “Not only while their eye is on you” – rejection of auditor-centered morality. 3. “But as servants of Christ” – new identity. 4. “Doing the will of God from your heart” – transformed motivation. Theological Themes • Lordship of Christ: One Master (v 9). • Integrity: inner reality matching outward action (cf. Matthew 6:1-6). • Imago Dei & Service: Every vocation becomes worship when done for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). • Judgment & Reward: “Knowing that the Lord will reward each one” (v 8). Moral-Philosophical Analysis Behavioral science distinguishes extrinsic from intrinsic motivation. Studies (e.g., Deci & Ryan, Self-Determination Theory) confirm that performance driven solely by external surveillance is shallow and unstable. Scripture anticipates this: authentic obedience flows from a renewed heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 12:1-2) indwelt by the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Practical Contemporary Application Workplace: Employees honor Christ by diligent, honest labor whether or not cameras, metrics, or supervisors are present. Ministry: Volunteers serve for God’s approval, not platform visibility. Family: Children obey parents sincerely, not for reward alone. Pastoral Exhortation 1. Examine motives in prayer (Psalm 139:23-24). 2. Cultivate God-consciousness through Scripture memorization (e.g., Colossians 3:23). 3. Seek Spirit-empowered integrity; the Spirit internalizes God’s law (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Summary “Not only when their eye is on you” forbids performance limited to external observation. Paul commands believers to render every task as service to the ever-present, resurrected Christ, who sees the heart and will reward accordingly. True discipleship transforms labor from eye-service to heart-service, glorifying God in all things. |
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