Theophylact of Ohrid, on Col 3:22

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not serving to the eye, as pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God.”

“He immediately brings forward the legal basis of obedience, namely the name of slave. But, so as not to grieve them, he adds: "your masters according to the flesh." For your better part, he says, the soul, is free; slavery is only temporary. Therefore it is better to submit your soul as well, so that the slavery may be voluntary. Make it, he says, so that slavery by the requirement of the law becomes slavery out of fear of Christ. For when you faithfully fulfill your duties without the oversight of your master, it is clear that you fulfill them before the eyes of God. But if you fulfill them only in the presence of your master, then you are a people-pleaser. And being such, you will harm yourself: "for God shall scatter the bones of those who please men" (Ps. 52:6). To fear God means to do nothing evil even when no one sees us. Simplicity of heart consists precisely in not looking to people. Consequently, the people-pleaser does not act in simplicity of heart.”

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.