Colossians 3:23-24
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The real power of this verse isn't just about working hard, but about who you're working for. It shifts your entire motivation from the fleeting approval of people to the eternal gaze of the Lord, transforming ordinary tasks into acts of worship. This means your effort isn't just about getting a job done, but about glorifying God in the process, even when no one else notices.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of Paul's practical instructions to early Christians on how to live out their faith within their households and social structures, specifically addressing wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters. It follows his teachings on spiritual unity in Christ and the need to put off the old self and put on the new self, emphasizing how this transformation should manifest in everyday relationships and duties. The verses immediately following this one will further elaborate on the concept of justice and impartiality in dealings, underscoring the idea that all actions are ultimately done before God.
Ever feel like you're just going through the motions in your daily tasks? This verse calls us to something deeper.
The call to 'work heartily' isn't just about working hard. It's about bringing your whole self—your 'soul'—to whatever you do. Think about it:
Who are you really working for? This verse shifts our focus from human eyes to an eternal One.
The core of this instruction is the shift in perspective: 'as for the Lord and not for men.'
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Understand the original words
ek psychēs · Greek Adverbial Phrase
To labor with vigor, spirit, and from the soul (ek psychēs); working with complete engagement and commitment as an act of worship.
klēronomian · Greek Noun
The portion or estate allotted to one; in theology, it refers to the spiritual blessings and eternal life promised to believers as God's children.
antapodosin · Greek Noun
Payment, wages, or recompense for services rendered or actions taken; in a theological context, it is the reward given by God for faithful service.
Paul's instruction to 'work heartily, as for the Lord' was radical in a world where labor, especially for slaves, was often seen as mere drudgery for a human master, lacking dignity or inherent value.
c. AD 57-59— this verse
Paul writes from Rome
The Apostle Paul writes the Epistle to the Colossians while under house arrest in Rome, likely during his first Roman imprisonment.
c. AD 50-60
Paul's Ministry and Epistles
This period saw Paul actively ministering, establishing churches, and writing foundational epistles that shaped early Christian theology and practice.
1st Century AD
Roman Empire and Slavery
Slavery was a pervasive institution throughout the Roman Empire, impacting the social and economic fabric of societies where early Christians lived.
1st Century AD
Household Codes in the Ancient World
Ancient societies had established 'household codes' that dictated the duties and relationships within families, including those of slaves and masters.
This passage highlights the impossibility of serving two masters, directly paralleling Colossians 3:23's emphasis on serving the Lord and not men as the ultimate motivation.
1 Corinthians 10:31This verse echoes the sentiment of doing all things for God's glory, aligning with the idea that work performed 'heartily, as for the Lord' ultimately brings honor to Him.
Ephesians 6:6This passage is a very close parallel, instructing servants to 'not just when they are seen, but, like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,' reinforcing the motive and manner of work described in Colossians.
1 Samuel 12:24This verse provides an Old Testament parallel, urging Samuel's people to 'serve the Lord with all your heart' and consider the great things He has done, emphasizing the importance of wholehearted devotion.
Proverbs 3:5-6These verses speak to trusting in the Lord in all our ways, which resonates with the Colossians passage's call to conduct our work with an eternal perspective, relying on His guidance rather than solely on human approval.
henryColossians 3:18-25: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord."
3:18-25 The epistles most taken up in displaying the glory of the Divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular in pressing the duties of the Christian life. We must never separate the privileges and duties of the gospel. Submission is the duty of wives. But it is submission, not to a severe lord or stern tyrant, but to her own husband, who is engaged to affectionate duty. And…
meyerColossians 3:23: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;"
Colossians 3:23 f. More precise explanation of the ἐν ἁπλότ . καρδ ., φοβούμ . τ . κύρ . just required. ποιῆτε ] in your service. ἐκ ψυχῆς ] μετὰ εὐνοίας , μὴ μετὰ δουλικῆς ἀνάγκης , ἀλλὰ μετὰ ἐλευθερίας καὶ προαιρέσεως , Chrysostom. Comp. on Ephesians 6:6 . ἐργάζεσθε ] execute, carry out , not equivalent to ποιεῖτε , but correlative with it, hence also not in the narrower sense: labour (as e.g . in Xen.…
The real power of this verse isn't just about working hard, but about who you're working for. It shifts your entire motivation from the fleeting approval of people to the eternal gaze of the Lord, transforming ordinary tasks into acts of worship. This means your effort isn't just about getting a job done, but about glorifying God in the process, even when no one else notices.
This passage is part of Paul's practical instructions to early Christians on how to live out their faith within their households and social structures, specifically addressing wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters. It follows his teachings on spiritual unity in Christ and the need to put off the old self and put on the new self, emphasizing how this transformation should manifest in everyday relationships and duties. The verses immediately following this one will further elaborate on the concept of justice and impartiality in dealings, underscoring the idea that all actions are ultimately done before God.
This passage is part of Paul's practical instructions to early Christians on how to live out their faith within their households and social structures, specifically addressing wives, husbands, children, parents, slaves, and masters. It follows his teachings on spiritual unity in Christ and the need to put off the old self and put on the new self, emphasizing how this transformation should manifest in everyday relationships and duties. The verses immediately following this one will further elaborate on the concept of justice and impartiality in dealings, underscoring the idea that all actions are ultimately done before God.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." — The real power of this verse isn't just about working hard, but about who you're working for. It shifts your entire motivation from the fleeting approval of people to the eternal gaze of the Lord,…
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Last reviewed October 2026
