Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Colossians 3:24
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.
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.
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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. the reward of theinheritance“Knowing that it is from the Lord (theultimate source of reward), ye shall receive the compensation (orrecompense, which will make ample amends for your having no earthlypossession as slaves now) consisting of the inheritance” (a termexcluding the notion of meriting it by works: it is all ofgrace, Rom 4:14; Gal 3:18).
for ye serveThe oldestmanuscripts omit “for,” then translate as Vulgate,“Serve ye the Lord Christ;” compare Col3:23, “To the Lord and not unto men” (1Co 7:22;1Co 7:23).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Ye shall receive (). Future middle indicative of , old verb, to get back (), to recover.
The recompense (). “The full recompense,” old word, in LXX, but only here in N.T., but twice (Luke 14:12; Rom 11:9). Given back () in return ().
Ye serve the Lord Christ ( ). As his slaves and gladly so. Perhaps better as imperatives, keep on serving.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Of the inheritance. Which consists or is in the inheritance. Compare the similar construction, ch Col 1:12. See Mt 21:35 – 38, where the doulov bond – servant and the klhronomov heir are contrasted; and Rom 8:15 – 17; Gal 4:1 – 7.
For ye serve [ ] . Omit for. Some take the verb as imperative, serve ye; but the indicative is better as explaining from the Lord.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Knowing that of the Lord” (eidotes hoti apo kuriou) ‘ Perceiving that from the Lord;” knowing that as a certainty of the Gospel’s call to salvation and obedient service, Pro 11:18; Rom 2:6-7.
2) “Ye shall receive the reward” (apolempsesthe ten antapodosin) “ye receive the reward;” the reward or pay for obedient service in whatever family position of service you may obey God and his servants to whom you owe respectful obedience, 1Co 3:8; 1Th 2:19.
3) “Of the inheritance” (tes kleronomias) “of the heirsetting, or heritage; this refers to an hour of our Lord’s rewarding every obedient servant with heir-setting positions of honor in the blessed millennial age, Col 2:18; 2Ti 2:12; Rev 5:10; Luk 19:16-19; Luk 19:26.
4) “For ye serve the Lord Christ” (to kurio Christo douleuete) “for the anointed Lord of all ye serve;” he is more to be honored and obeyed than earthly persons, lords or masters of any and all ranks, Jos 24:15-16; Mat 4:10; Rev 22:3.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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.
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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
24 .] = Eph 6:8 , but more specific as to the Christian reward. , knowing as ye do The is emphatically prefixed ‘that it is from the Lord that you shall ’ , as Winer, 47. b, is distinguished from , as indicating not immediate bestowal, but that the Lord is the ultimate source and conferrer of the inheritance from the Lord not ‘ at the hands of the Lord .’ You must look to Him, not to men, as the source of all Christian reward. (Eadie, p. 265, has represented Winer as saying the contrary of that which he does say.) occurs in Thuc. iv. 81, in the sense of a mutual exchange of places taken in war: in Polyb. vi. 5. 3, in that of a compensation, , and xx. 7. 2, : and hence in that of ‘an opposite turn,’ xxvii. 2. 4, , iv. 43. 5, , &c. Here the sense would appear to be, with a marked reference to their present state of slavery, the compensation .
. , genitive of apposition (reff). The very word should have kept the Roman Catholic expositors from introducing the merit of good works here. The last clause, without the , is best taken imperatively, as a general comprehension of the course of action prescribed in the former part of the verse: serve ye the Lord Christ . So Vulg. ‘ domino Christo servite ,’
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Col 3:24 . However their earthly master may reward their service, there is a Master who will give them a just recompense; although they cannot receive an earthly, He will give them a heavenly inheritance. : in Eph 6:8 . The absence of the article is noteworthy. It emphasises the position rather than identifies the Person of Him who gives the reward ( cf. the anarthrous , Heb 1:1 ). Haupt thinks that there is no significance to be attached to its omission; but, as Lightfoot says, “it is studiously inserted in the context”. : the “just recompense consisting in the inheritance”. . is a genitive of apposition. . This may be taken as an indicative (Lightf., Findl., Moule, Haupt) or as an imperative (Mey., Ell., Alf., Abb.). The indicative is defended on the ground that it is needed to explain who is meant by (but this was surely obvious), and that the imperative seems to require . But Lightfoot himself quotes Rom 12:11 , where is absent. On the other hand the indicative gives a somewhat flat sense, and the imperative seems to yield a better connexion with Col 3:25 . It is best then to take it as an imperative.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Knowing. App-132.
of. App-104.
reward = recompense. Greek. anta podosia, Only here.
inheritance. See Eph 1:14.
serve, App-190.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
24.] = Eph 6:8, but more specific as to the Christian reward. , knowing as ye do The is emphatically prefixed-that it is from the Lord that you shall , as Winer, 47. b, is distinguished from , as indicating not immediate bestowal, but that the Lord is the ultimate source and conferrer of the inheritance-from the Lord-not at the hands of the Lord. You must look to Him, not to men, as the source of all Christian reward. (Eadie, p. 265, has represented Winer as saying the contrary of that which he does say.) occurs in Thuc. iv. 81, in the sense of a mutual exchange of places taken in war: in Polyb. vi. 5. 3, in that of a compensation, ,-and xx. 7. 2, : and hence in that of an opposite turn, xxvii. 2. 4, ,-iv. 43. 5, , &c. Here the sense would appear to be, with a marked reference to their present state of slavery, the compensation.
., genitive of apposition (reff). The very word should have kept the Roman Catholic expositors from introducing the merit of good works here. The last clause, without the , is best taken imperatively, as a general comprehension of the course of action prescribed in the former part of the verse: serve ye the Lord Christ. So Vulg. domino Christo servite,
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Col 3:24. , of the inheritance) Although you have no inheritance in the world, but are part of an inheritance passing from your Master to His children.-, Christ) who rewards them that serve Him.-, ye serve) while you thus serve.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
ye shall: Col 2:18, Gen 15:1, Rth 2:12, Pro 11:18, Mat 5:12, Mat 5:46, Mat 6:1, Mat 6:2, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 10:41, Luk 6:35, Luk 14:14, Rom 2:6, Rom 2:7, Rom 4:4, Rom 4:5, 1Co 3:8, 1Co 9:17, 1Co 9:18, Eph 6:8, Heb 9:15, Heb 10:35, Heb 11:6
for: Joh 12:26, Rom 1:1, Rom 14:18, 1Co 7:22, Gal 1:10, Eph 6:6, 2Pe 1:1, Jud 1:1
Reciprocal: Rth 1:8 – the dead 2Ch 15:7 – your work Mar 13:34 – and to Act 20:19 – Serving Act 20:32 – and to give Rom 16:18 – serve 1Co 7:24 – abide 2Co 5:10 – receive Eph 1:11 – we Eph 6:1 – in Heb 10:36 – ye might 1Pe 2:16 – but
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
(Col 3:24.) -Knowing that from the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance. With this persuasion within them, they should be able to follow out the inspired admonition, and such knowledge would form a motive of sufficient energy and life. Serving the Lord in serving man, they would receive their reward from Him. Winer, 47, represents as denoting that the recompense comes immediately from Christ, its possessor. Their masters are in no sense to be the dispensers of that reward. Christ Himself shall bestow it. The compound noun, , is found only here in the New Testament. That remuneration is the inheritance. [Eph 1:11-14.] Also Col 1:12. The genitive is that of apposition, such as is found in Eph 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:25. See our Commentary on Ephesians, Eph 4:9. The inheritance is heavenly glory, 1Pe 1:4, and that is their prospective blessing. They had no inheritance on earth, nothing which they could call their own; they could not even realize property in themselves-but an inheritance rich and glorious awaited them. In the hope of it-and the enjoyment of it could not be very distant-they were to work, and suffer and wait, and in the possession of it they would find immediate and ample compensation. [Eph 6:8.] There is no room here for the Popish doctrine of merit. Nota hoc, says a-Lapide, pro meritis bonorum operum, contra Novantes; but Bhr adduces the terse reply of Calovius-filiis haereditas non confertur ex obedientiae merito, sed jure filiationis.
The of the next clause, as found in the Textus Receptus, cannot be received, as it is only an interpolated gloss- -which the Vulgate renders, Domino Christo servite, serve ye the Lord Christ. Perhaps, as Meyer says, the imperative is preferable, being spurious. It is thus a summation of the whole-the master, Christ, serve ye. The use of the indicative is foreign to the passage, which is injunctive. Since the Lord gives such a reward so rich and blessed, serve ye Him. Look above and beyond human service, and with such a bright prospect in view, serve the Lord Christ. Your masters on earth have no absolute right over you: the shekels they may have paid for you can only give them power over your bodies, your time and your labour; but the Lord has bought you with His blood, and has therefore an indefeasible claim to your homage and service.
Fuente: Commentary on the Greek Text of Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians and Phillipians
Col 3:24. Reward of the inheritance merely denotes the Lord will see that a faithful servant will receive his due reward. The last clause is the same as the preceding verse; Lord Christ means the anointed ruler.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Col 3:24. Knowing. Or, seeing that ye know. The motive which has been alluded to through-out is plainly stated.
That from the Lord, i.e., from Christ, the true Master of the Christian.
Ye shall receive the recompense. Not pay or reward, but that which is a compensation for the present privations.
Of the inheritance. This is the compensation, the heritage of heaven, full salvation. Because it is an inheritance, it is not purchased by the privations or the good service for which it becomes a compensation.
Ye serve. The word for is to be omitted; and the original may mean either ye serve, or serve ye. The latter is preferable, summing up in one phrase the contents of all the previous precepts.
The Lord Christ, i.e., the Master Christ.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
“Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
I know this verse is there, but until recent years I did not labor for the Lord due to its existence – still don’t for that matter. Christ died for my sin in my place, thus there is nothing in this life that He can ask me to do that would measure up to his work for me – why in the world would the thought of reward enter into the mix – yet, He in his grace has decided to reward me for doing what I ought to do anyway.
When working, our company had the very nice custom of taking all employees that had perfect attendance to a free lunch at a nice restaurant. As we were getting up to leave I turned to the manager and said thanks for the lunch and remarked that it was nice for the company to do something nice for us when we did what we ought to do.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the {p} reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
(p) Because you will have duly obeyed your masters, the time will come, that you will be changed from servants to sons, and you will know this for certain, which will be when you are made partakers of the heavenly inheritance.