Masters Under the Master

Ephesians 6:9 – “Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”

The Word of God levels every playing field. In a world built on hierarchies and power structures, the gospel comes as a great equalizer. It does not erase distinctions of authority, but it radically transforms them. In this closing verse of Paul’s instruction to bondservants and masters, the apostle shifts his attention upward, not to elevate, but to humble. Those in positions of power are not beyond God’s commands. They too are bondservants under a far greater Master.

Paul begins with a striking phrase: “do the same to them.” The reciprocity here is surprising. He has just called slaves to obey their earthly masters with sincerity and reverence, as to Christ. Now he turns to those masters and calls them to live under the very same ethic. They are to act toward their servants in the same spirit: honestly, respectfully, with reverence for the Lord and with integrity of heart. This was revolutionary in a culture where masters exercised unchecked authority, where threats and violence were common tools of discipline. Paul offers a radically different vision of leadership, one shaped not by dominance but by Christlike humility.

He continues, “stop your threatening.” This is not a suggestion. It is a rebuke. Threats are a misuse of authority. They reveal insecurity, pride, or a reliance on fear rather than trust. Paul is not speaking of firm discipline, but of coercion, manipulation, or intimidation. Leadership by fear is not leadership at all. It is tyranny. And it has no place in the life of a believer, no matter the title on their door.

The reason Paul gives is both sobering and comforting: “knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven.” In other words, Christian masters are not the highest authority in the room. They too have a Lord, and that Lord is watching. Earthly authority is temporary. It is a stewardship, not a throne. And one day, all who hold it will give account, not to shareholders or clients, but to Christ Himself. This truth demands humility. There is no room for arrogance when you are only managing what belongs to another. The Lordship of Christ relativizes all human power. Whether CEO or supervisor, manager or team lead, every master is still a servant. No one leads independently. No one leads unaccountably. All stand under the same Master.

This accountability also reframes our leadership. We no longer lead to be seen, to be honored, or to preserve control. We lead to glorify Christ. This means treating those under us not as tools to be used, but as people made in God’s image. It means building others up, not tearing them down. It means seeking the welfare of those we manage, not merely their productivity.

Paul ends with a phrase that cuts through every system of partiality: “there is no partiality with him.” The Greek phrase literally means “He does not receive the face.” God is not swayed by titles, wealth, rank, or reputation. He does not treat the powerful with more leniency, nor the poor with less value. His judgments are just. His gaze is unflinching. His standard is righteousness, not resume. This truth should comfort the oppressed and caution the powerful. Earthly injustice will not have the final word. There is no favoritism in heaven’s court. And for the believer in authority, this is not a threat, but a grace. It reminds us that we are not masters, but stewards. We are not kings, but ambassadors. The way we lead must reflect the heart of Christ, who used His authority not to dominate, but to serve.

Boaz in the book of Ruth offers a beautiful example. He greeted his workers with a blessing: “The Lord be with you,” and they replied, “The Lord bless you.” Mutual respect, kindness, and spiritual concern marked his leadership. He was generous to Ruth, protective of her dignity, and attuned to the needs of his people. His leadership was not self-serving, but redemptive.

This is what the gospel produces in the workplace. It sanctifies not only labor, but leadership. It calls every Christian in authority to use their position as a platform for Christ. Not to enrich self, but to serve others. Not to inflate power, but to reflect the justice, mercy, and kindness of the true Master in heaven. And it reminds every leader, your title may grant influence on earth, but it does not elevate you in the eyes of God. Your true identity is the same as the lowest servant: a bondservant of Christ. That is the great equalizer of the gospel. Whether slave or free, employee or employer, janitor or executive, we are all under one Lord.

Let those in leadership lead as those who will be judged by a higher standard. Let them lead with love, without threats, with justice, and without favoritism. Let every office, every meeting, every contract and command reflect not the power of man, but the grace of Christ. For the Lord sees. And He shows no partiality.