Ephesians 5:21

21. (Philippians 2:3; 1 Peter 5:5.) Here he passes from our relations to God, to those which concern our fellow men.

in the fear of God—All the oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "in the fear of CHRIST." The believer passes from under the bondage of the law as a letter, to be "the servant of Christ" (1 Peter 5:5- :), which, through the instinct of love to Him, is really to be "the Lord's freeman"; for he is "under the law to Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:21; compare John 8:36). Christ, not the Father (John 5:22), is to be our judge. Thus reverential fear of displeasing Him is the motive for discharging our relative duties as Christians (1 Corinthians 10:22; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Peter 2:13).