“But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
My Notes
What Does Colossians 3:25 Mean?
"He that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons." Paul establishes a universal principle of accountability: wrongdoing receives proportional consequences, and no one's status protects them. The phrase "no respect of persons" (prosopolempsia — face-receiving, partiality) means God doesn't favor based on status, position, wealth, or identity.
The context is slave-master relationships (verses 22-25): Paul has just told slaves to serve wholeheartedly as unto the Lord. Now he addresses masters (4:1) and establishes the principle that applies to both: if you do wrong, you receive for it. Slaves who cheat receive consequences. Masters who oppress receive consequences. The same standard applies to both sides of the power dynamic.
The word "receive" (komizo — to get back, to recover what's due) means the consequences are a return — a payback proportional to the wrong committed. The wrong you do circles back to you. The system doesn't leak. What you put out returns.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How does 'no respect of persons' change the way you view accountability for the powerful?
- 2.What wrongdoing are you expecting to avoid consequences for because of your status?
- 3.How does proportional return ('receive for the wrong done') differ from random punishment?
- 4.What comfort does divine impartiality provide when you're wronged by someone with more power?
Devotional
Do wrong, receive wrong. No exceptions. No status exemptions. No VIP pass that lets the powerful skip the consequences the powerless face. God doesn't respect persons — which means the master who wrongs the slave faces the same God as the slave who wrongs the master.
The 'no respect of persons' is the most radical equalizer in Paul's social ethics. In a world where status determined everything — where masters were literally above the law in their treatment of slaves — Paul declares a justice system that ignores status entirely. The wrongdoing master receives for the wrong just like the wrongdoing slave. The field is level before God.
The proportionality — 'receive for the wrong which he hath done' — means the consequences match the action. Not random punishment. Not disproportionate wrath. Proportional return. What you did is what you get back. The system is fair because it's proportional and impartial simultaneously.
This should comfort the powerless and terrify the powerful. If you're on the receiving end of injustice from someone with more status, power, or authority — God sees and God doesn't play favorites. The wrong they did will return to them. And if you're the one with power — abusing your position, exploiting those below you — the same impartiality applies. Your status doesn't protect you from the consequences your behavior produces.
God doesn't read nametags before rendering judgment.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
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Cross References
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