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19. A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
Discipline must be carried, not only into the family (Verses 15, 17), but throughout the whole household, in order to preserve God's authority and order. An important hint is here given relative to the management of servants. Though it does not apply to all,† it shews a very common temptation to self-will. There is a proud as well as an humble silence; as plain a proof of an unsubdued spirit, as a pert and flippant answer. The patience of Job was sorely exercised by this trial; and that under circumstances, that made the treatment more aggravated. (Job 19:16.) We must guard against harshness in our spirit.† But with servants, as with children, authority must be maintained at any cost. And therefore, if a servant understand the command, and will not answer; if he will not be corrected by words, it were better to dismiss him, than to lower our authority, and countenance evil by yielding to his waywardness.
The Scripture fully sets out the duties of servants — “Not answering again. With good-will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to man.”† Sullen resistance to reproof is most inconsistent with the profession of a Christian; and, if the offender escapes the correction of an earthly master, he will be visited with the rod of his angry Lord, as a self-deceiver, or backslider from his high obligation.†
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