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Colossians 3:23 KJV
Colossians · chapter 3 · verse 23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;Colossians 3:23 · King James Version
What Colossians 3:23 means
Paul wrote this to slaves, which is worth sitting with before applying it to a job you chose. Whatsoever ye do takes in the work nobody notices and nobody thanks you for. Doing it heartily, as to the Lord changes who you're working for without changing the work.
Study note provided by TheWay Bible App, separate from the KJV text. Read the full chapter in context and compare interpretations. Report a correction.
Colossians 3:23 in context
21Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
22Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
25But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Commentary
Cross references
- Colossians 3:17
- Ephesians 6:6-7
- Romans 14:8
- 2 Chronicles 31:21
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
- 1 Peter 2:15
- 1 Peter 2:13
- Psalms 119:10
Key words (Strong's)
- whatsoeverpasindividually, each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything…G3956 →
- whatsoeverhostiswhoever, whatever, whoG3748 →
- whatsoevereanif, in caseG1437 →
- heartilyekout of, from, by, away fromG1537 →
- heartilypsychēbreath, the breath of life, the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in…G5590 →
- Lordkyrioshe to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding master, lord…G2962 →
Topics
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The apostle concludes the chapter with exhortations to relative duties, as before in the epistle to the Ephesians. The epistles which are most taken up in displaying the glory of divine grace, and magnifying the Lord Jesus, are the most particular and distinct in pressing the duties of the several relations.
— Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on verses 18-25