IN the fifth verse, “therefore” is connected with what goes before; because risen with Christ, because we are dead with Him, and our life hid with Christ in God, and because we shall appear with Him in glory when He appears, therefore mortify your members. In verses 12, 13, the very infirmities of our brethren are the means of bringing out our patience and longsuffering―we should not be irritated by them, but act as the elect of God; neither should we irritate our brethren, but be patient. In verse 18, it is needful that the wife should be subject, otherwise the family will not go on well; and it is equally needful that the husband should walk in that love toward the wife, that the subjection be one of love, like that of the heavenly Bridegroom, who is never bitter toward the Church, His Bride; and so in proper order the children are addressed. Supposing the husband and wife to be walking in the fear of the Lord they are to bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. In this case the will of the parent is supreme, for it would be God’s will. The child is to be obedient: the parent should seek this from the very first; not yielding to the self-will of the child―indulging it at one time, and then being severe―and so provoking it to wrath; but at all times making obedience the rule.
And in verse 22, the servant may not get the affection of the wife, or the kiss of the parent; but he is taught to look for reward from the Lord. There is much which servants do which is not noticed; let them look for reward from the Lord, and let them learn the privilege of having communion with the Lord in their service, for He was a servant in this world.