John Gill emphasizes the Apostle Peter's instruction to servants to be submissive to their masters, regardless of whether they are good or harsh. He addresses the misconception among believers that their faith exempts them from serving others, reminding them of the importance of respect, diligence, and faithfulness in their duties. Gill highlights that submission should be given not only to kind masters but also to those who are difficult and demanding, underscoring the call to maintain integrity and honor in all circumstances.

Ver. 18. Servants, be subject to your masters,.... This was another notion of the Jews, that because they were the seed of Abraham, they ought not to be the servants of any; and particularly such as were believers in Christ thought they ought not to serve unbelieving masters, nor indeed believing ones, because they were equally brethren in Christ with them; hence the Apostle Peter, here, as the Apostle Paul frequently elsewhere, inculcates this duty of servants to their masters; see 1Co 7:20 2Ti 2:9 the manner in which they are to be subject to them is, with all fear; with reverence to their persons, strict regard to their commands, faithfulness in any trust reposed in them, diligence in the discharge of their duty, and carefulness of offending them: and all this, not only to the good and gentle; those that are good natured, kind, beneficent, and merciful; that do not use them with rigour and severity; are moderate in their demands of service; require no more to be done than what is reasonable; allow them sufficient diet, give them good wages, and pay them duly: but also to the froward; the ill natured, morose, and rigorous; who exact more labour than is requisite; give hard words, and harder blows; withhold sufficiency of food from them, and keep back the hire of their labours.