Colossians 4:1 Cross References - AUV

¹ You masters should treat your slaves in a just and fair way, knowing that you also have a Master [who] is in heaven.

⁸ But you should not assume the title ‘Rabbi,’ for [only] one is your teacher [i.e., Jesus Himself] and all of you are [simply] brothers. ⁹ And do not call any man on earth ‘father,’ [i.e., in a religious sense], for the [only] one who is your Father is in heaven.

⁴⁸ But if that slave, with evil intent, should think to himself, ‘My master will not be back very soon,’ ⁴⁹ and then becomes physically abusive to his fellow-slaves, and eats and drinks [at parties] with drunkards, ⁵⁰ that slave’s master will return on a day that he least expects, and at an unknown hour. ⁵¹ And [that master] will whip him to shreds and will turn him over to suffer the same fate as hypocrites do. That fate will involve crying and excruciating pain.”

¹ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “There was a certain rich man who had a property manager who was reported to be squandering his possessions. ² So, he called his property manager in and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in a [full] report of [all] your financial transactions, for you are not working for me anymore.’ ³ Then the property manager said to himself, What am I going to do since my master is taking away my job? I am not strong enough to dig [i.e., as a farm laborer], and I am too ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I will do, so when I am fired they [i.e., his master’s customers] will welcome me into their homes. ⁵ So, he called on each one of his master’s customers and said to the first one, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ⁶ And he replied, ‘Eight hundred gallons of [olive] oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your contract and quickly sit down and write in four hundred [gallons].’ ⁷ Then he said to another [customer], ‘And how much do you owe [him]?’ And he answered, ‘One thousand bushels of wheat.’ The property manager said to him, ‘Take your contract and write eight hundred [bushels].’ ⁸ So, his master commended the dishonest property manager for his shrewdness. For worldly people are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light [i.e., God’s people]. ⁹ Therefore, I tell you, make friends for yourselves by using worldly wealth, so that when it fails [i.e., when you run out of money] they [i.e., the friends you made with its wise and benevolent use] may welcome you into the eternal [i.e., heavenly] dwelling places. [Note: The idea here seems to be that by your shrewd use of material possessions for the benefit of others, you are actually storing up treasures for yourself in heaven]. ¹⁰ “The person who is trustworthy in regard to very small matters, [such as material possessions] is also [likely to be] trustworthy in regard to large matters, [such as spiritual values], and the person who does not do what is right in very small matters is also not [likely] to do what is right in large ones. ¹¹ If therefore you have not been trustworthy in worldly wealth, who will put you in charge of the true [spiritual] riches? ¹² And if you have not been trustworthy with what belongs to someone else, who will give you something of your own? ¹³ No person can serve two masters, for he will either hate the one and love the other, or else he will cling to the one [i.e., as a close friend] and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and material things [at the same time].’”

¹⁵ And it happened when the gentleman returned, having received his appointment as king, that he ordered the slaves to whom he had given the [sums of] money, to report to him. He wanted to find out how much [money] they had made on their investments.

⁸ knowing that whatever good deed a person does, he will be rewarded for it from the Lord, whether he is a slave or a free person. ⁹ And you masters should treat your slaves the same way; do not threaten them, knowing that God, who is both their Master and yours, is in heaven and He does not respect any particular person [over another]. ¹⁰ Finally, be [spiritually] strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. ¹¹ You people should put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to withstand the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not [actually] against human beings, but against rulers and authorities and leaders of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [Note: “Heavenly realms” here refers to the struggle against Satanic powers which permeates life around us]. ¹³ Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that you can withstand [the devil, See verse 11] when the evil day comes. And, after you have done everything you can, still remain standing firm [in the faith]. ¹⁴ So, you people should stand firm [in the faith], with the belt of truth firmly buckled around you, and with the “flack jacket” of righteousness on your chest. ¹⁵ And put on your shoes, ready to [go and] spread the Gospel of peace. ¹⁶ And along with everything else, take up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fire-tipped arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Holy Spirit, which is God’s word. ¹⁸ [Then] offer all kinds of prayers and requests in [harmony with] the Holy Spirit at all times, and be alert constantly in making requests for all the saints [i.e., God’s holy people]. ¹⁹ And [also pray] for me to be given boldness of speech in opening my mouth to make known the secret plan of the Gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in prison. [And pray] that I may be able to proclaim the Gospel boldly, as I ought to.

¹³ For the person who has shown no mercy will be judged without mercy. [For] mercy wins out over condemnation.

⁴ Look, the wages you have fraudulently refused to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out [against you]. And the cries of these harvest hands have reached the ears of the Lord of [heavenly] armies [i.e., Almighty God].

¹⁴ These kings and the beast will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. And those who are called and chosen [by God], and who are faithful [to Him will share the victory] with the Lamb.”

¹⁶ And on His robe and His thigh was written the name, “King of kings, and Lord of lords.”