Ephesians 6:6 - Exposition

Not in the spirit of eye-service, as men-pleasers; but as the bond-servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. Exegetical of the last exhortation, with a negative and a positive clause, according to the apostle's frequent practice (comp. Ephesians 2:8 , Ephesians 2:19 ; Ephesians 3:5 ; Ephesians 4:14 , Ephesians 4:15 , Ephesians 4:25 , Ephesians 4:28 , Ephesians 4:29 ; Ephesians 5:18 , Ephesians 5:27 , Ephesians 5:29 ; Ephesians 6:4 ). Eye-service and men-pleasing have reference only to what will pass muster in the world; Christians must go deeper, as bound to Christ's service by the great claim of redemption ( 1 Corinthians 6:20 ), and remembering that "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" ( 1 Samuel 16:7 ). The will of God is our great standard, and our daily prayer is, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." In heaven it is done "from the heart."