18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
아내들아 남편에게 복종하라 이는 주 안에서 마땅하니라
These ‘practical instructions’ flow from what has been said in vv.12-17, giving thanks to God for having me in himself just as much as he himself is in himself. If you think of these ‘instructions’ as what you are and how you are once you are in him, they are more of the state that you are rather than actions you should take. If they were actions you should take, it would be more suited to be a condition that would have prepared you to get into God and be in him. But we know fully well that the only action that prepared and qualified us to come into God was that of Christ. Therefore these are the state that has been already installed for us to be in. Even submission is not such a dreaded word for wives or anybody after all. We are pasted to Christ’s submission to the Father and we are to remain in it. If you happened to be a wife of someone, your dealing with your husbands as someone who is pasted to Christ should look something similar to submitting to your husband.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
남편들아 아내를 사랑하며 괴롭게 하지 말라
The same goes for someone who is a husband and has been pasted to Christ’s love for his believers.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
자녀들아 모든 일에 부모에게 순종하라 이는 주 안에서 기쁘게 하는 것이니라
Not to mention those who are children of parents and are stuck to Christ in his obedience. This is ‘pleasing’ – again, the Holy Spirit language. We are enjoying God’s Spirit. So watch out that you do not become disappointed even if the outlook does not exactly match your own (sorry, but worldly) expectation of obeying. It could look much freer and non-authoritative, but should be in essence more genuine and trust-forming, just as the obedience of Christ.
21 Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
아비들아 너희 자녀를 격노케 말찌니 낙심할까 함이라
Just as God did not shame me but clothed my nakedness with his own characters (vv.12,13).
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
종들아 모든 일에 육신의 상전들에게 순종하되 사람을 기쁘게 하는 자와 같이 눈가림만 하지 말고 오직 주를 두려워하여 성실한 마음으로 하라
Christ did not go on the cross to extract some favour out of God the Father. Can you imagine anything more cunning and deceiving if he did that? Rather it was Father’s own Spirit in Jesus that carried out the work of the cross. They were truly one. In fear and owe to God’s attitude toward each other and thus toward us, we remain in his character and attitude he clothed us. This would come out as something that resemble what we define as sincerity and conscientiousness.
23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
무슨 일을 하든지 마음을 다하여 주께 하듯하고 사람에게 하듯하지 말라
We are driven by where we are, that is in God. Being in the triune God is our state, status, and identity. From it flows all things that we do, be them excellent in humans eyes and evaluation or not.
24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
이는 유업의 상을 주께 받을줄 앎이니 너희는 주 그리스도를 섬기느니라
Thus our reward is not the monthly salary or even good grades, though Lord does not tend to manipulate situations to embitter or ridicule us (v.21). What we look forward to is bigger, better, fuller, more perfect reward – which is God himself (whom we actually already have – so maybe only a matter of discovering the full magnitude).
25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.
불의를 행하는 자는 불의의 보응을 받으리니 주는 외모로 사람을 취하심이 없느니라
This verse goes in pair with v.11 that God has no favouritism in selecting God’s people but only through Christ. These qualities and attitudes are what we get repaid through Christ’s work – the only good and righteous work there is.
Lord, on this Ascension Day, I praise and give thanks to you that by your ascension all these qualities and attitude have already been secured for me. They are not do’s and don’ts for me anymore but you yourself in whom I am. Let me live today and beyond to explore the extent of you my God. And in joyful fear and reverence let me share these God-ness with others, especially those who are near me. We are the word of God displayed before them. We are you whom they can see. Let me remain in you and wear your mind as I go through whatever that comes before me today.