Choosing my Master

A despot is a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way. Our world is full of them. They are often called tyrants, dictators, totalitarians, autocrats and oppressors. This title comes from a Greek word used in the Bible.

The word is despotēs, similar in meaning to kyrios (“lord”) though it occurs far less often. It is also a classic example of the importance of recognizing that words can change meaning over time. The negative and harsh connotations of the English “despot” are not found in the Greek despotēs, nor should they be read back into the NT usage.

In those days, this word emphasized the right and power to command, without the negative connotations we have today. In several cases despotēs even refers to God or Jesus. God is addressed in prayer as “Lord” using this word, and Jesus is mentioned several times as Lord using the same word.

However kyrios is used far more often and translated as “MASTER, lord, or sir” as well as “Lord.” MASTER has negative connotations in today’s world because of the history of slavery. Again, this is not the way to see this word in the Bible. It refers to an authority figure, but not necessarily a tyrant, with perhaps this exception.

Matthew 6:24. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

In this example a comparison is made between masters in which one of them can be a tyrant! Jesus calls me to choose where my loyalty and service is directed. Will I make money my goal? Or will serving Him be more important? Jesus is clear that both cannot sit on the throne of my heart.

Many other uses of this word refer to human masters. However, those that refer to God tell me what He is like. For example, in John 15:20 He says, “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”

This shows that as the Lord of my life, He will not make me exempt from being treated as He was treated. People resent and misunderstand godliness and will attack those who live it out. I cannot assume that God will shield me from this even though He could.

Ephesians 6:9. “Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.”

This verse uses the same word for both earthly slave owners and the Lord. It tells me that He is not partial to anyone, particularly concerning justice. He will do what is right regardless of the parties involved. Being an earthly ‘master’ gives no one the right to lord it over others.

2 Peter 2:1. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

This verse tells me that Christ, my Master, also died for those who deny Him and turned to false teaching and dangerous heresies. It reminds me how He said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” as He was being crucified. I need to remember how sin blinds hearts and minds to the glory of God and keeps all people from giving their lives to Him. Unless He illuminates minds and changes hearts, everyone would be on that path to destruction. This is not to excuse error and false teaching, but encourages in me an attitude of wanting them to know Jesus and be saved. I could be in their shoes.

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. The following verses use that other word for master, despotēs meaning the right and power to command, to rule:

Jude 3–4. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

These are humbling words. God ‘delivered’ my faith to me in contrast to those false teachers who were ‘designated for condemnation’ and who ‘pervert’ the grace of God. I do not fully understand how this plays out, but do realize that I’ve no merit that put me under the mastery of Jesus Christ in a positive way rather than being condemned for my sinful heart and life. Living for the Lord Jesus is not always easy, but considering the alternative encourages a deeper desire to do as my Master desires.