I Thessalonians 4
Believers taught to walk pleasing to Godverses 1-2
Furthermore then we beseech you – brethren
and exhort you by the Lord Jesus
that as you have received of us how ye ought to walk
and to please God so you would abound
more and more
For you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus
Believers are called to holinessverses 3-8
For this is the will of God – even your SANCTIFICATION
that you should abstain from fornication
that every one of you should know how to possess
his vessel in SANCTIFICATION and honor
Not in the lust of concupiscence
even as the Gentiles which know not God
that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter
BECAUSE that the Lord is the avenger of all such
as we also have forewarned you and testified
For God has not called us to uncleanness – BUT to holiness
he therefore that despises – despises not man – BUT God
WHO has also given to us HIS Holy Spirit
Believers are called to love one anotherverses 9-10
But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write to you
for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another
AND indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia
but we beseech you – brethren – that you increase more and more
Believers are called to witness through their lifestyleverses 11-12
And that you study to be quiet – and to do your own business
and to work with your own hands – as we commanded you
that you may walk honestly toward them that are without
and that you may have lack of nothing
Believers concerned of dead saintsverses 13-14
BUT I would not have you to be ignorant – brethren
concerning them which are asleep – that you sorrow not
even as others which have no hope
FOR if we believe that Jesus died and rose again
even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with HIM
Believers who are alive at Christ’s comingverses 15-18
FOR this we say to you by the word of the Lord
that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep
FOR the Lord HIMSELF shall descend from heaven with a shout
with the voice of the archangel – and with the trump of God
and the dead in Christ shall rise first
then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air
and so shall we ever be with the Lord
WHEREFORE comfort one another with these words
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more. (3870 “exhort” [parakaleo] means urge, implore, to encourage, to console, ask for earnestly, call together to, call to one’s side, or speak words of encouragement)
DEVOTION: In spite of what is going on around the believers in this church they were commanded of God to do things that are pleasing to the LORD. They are not to let discouragement stop them from serving the LORD. HE wants all of HIS people to do things that please HIM daily.
The believers were taught this principle by Paul when he instructed them. He gave them an example to follow regarding showing the world the Christian life in actions. He lived it, so that, they knew what they were to do while they lived on this earth.
At present they were being discouraged by the fact that false teacher were trying to take away their hope of a future by saying the future had already happened and they were left behind.
Yet they were still trying to live according the commands Paul shared with them. They were also to encourage their fellow believers to know the truth of the future coming of Christ.
CHALLENGE: We need to be the same type of encouragers today.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication. (38 “sanctification” [hagiasmos] means holiness, the act of becoming more personally dedicated to God, to consecrate, or purification)
DEVOTION: We live at a time when everything we see and hear seems to deal with the sexual aspect of life. This is not a new thing. There is nothing new under the sun according to Solomon. The same temptations have been around since the beginning of time.
Remember there are two types of people in this world. There are those who are followers of Christ and those who are not. There needs to be a difference between the two but sometimes it doesn’t seem to show because we continue to sin after we become believers.
Sexual sin is one that can lead individuals far from the LORD. God wants us to live holy lives while we are here on this earth. It is not an easy assignment but one that HE gives us the power to accomplish.
How does HE give us this power? It is done through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth. HE is the one who helps us understand the Bible and what is expected of us.
Remember I have said in the past that we carry two characteristics with us into our new life: selfishness and laziness. It is because of these two sins that we fail to serve the LORD faithfully.
We are to be a separated people unto God. We are to live as if Jesus Christ is right by our side every minute of every day. Our goal is to please HIM by our actions. This can’t be done if we fall into temptation of the world or the flesh or the devil. This verse concentrates on the flesh.
We are to abstain from any sexual sin that takes us away from the principles of loving one another. The only sexual relationship that the Bible condones is that between one man and one woman in marriage. This marriage is supposed to last from the first day they commit to vows regarding each other until the day that one dies. That was God’s plan from the beginning and HE has never changed HIS plan.
False teachers say that the Bible is old fashioned and that what was written was for the past and not for the present. That is a lie. Marriage is supposed to symbolize the relationship between Christ and the church. There is to be one bride which is the church and one bridegroom which is Jesus Christ. No divorce!!
Holiness is to be our goal. We are not going to be perfectly holy until we meet Jesus but it can still be our goal.
CHALLENGE: If we have failed in the past we can start today again. HE never gives up on us. HE chastens us to get us to come back to the right path of holiness.
:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more. (4052 “increase” [perisseuo] means 1 to exceed a fixed number of measure, to be left over and above a certain number or measure. 1a to be over, to remain. 1b to exist or be at hand in abundance. 1b1 to be great (abundant). 1b2 a thing which comes in abundance, or overflows unto one, something falls to the lot of one in large measure. 1b3 to redound unto, turn out abundantly for, a thing. 1c to abound, overflow. 1c1 to be abundantly furnished with, to have in abundance, abound in (a thing), to be in affluence. 1c2 to be pre-eminent, to excel. 1c3 to excel more than, exceed. 2 to make to abound. 2a to furnish one richly so that he has abundance. 2b to make abundant or excellent. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship].)
DEVOTION: God gives us many commands for our instruction in the Bible. Here we are told that we are to increase in our love for one another. I once had a brother in the Lord tell me that there were no commands in the Bible, only exhortations! I told him that while I wasn’t a Greek scholar, I knew that there was an imperative form in the Greek, and that there were quite a few imperatives in the New Testament.
God never intended for people to stop growing when they became believers in Jesus Christ, any more than we expect babies to stop growing into children and adults after they are born physically. This is called “progressive sanctification” in theology, and means that while we have a special status before God because we are saved, we still wrestle with the old nature (and will do so until we die), and so need to discipline ourselves to become more like Christ.
Paul emphasizes in this passage that these believers are to grow in love (repeated from 3:12-13). Love is to be the marker of our walk with the Lord. There is to be a supernatural love which characterizes our individual lives and that of our churches. Is that what people experience when they come to your church? Too often our churches are arranged around cliques, with us wanting to love those who can give something back to us. It is difficult to love the unlovely, but we need to grow in our ability to do so.
CHALLENGE: Are you growing in your Christian life? God means for us to feed on His word throughout the day (not only on Sundays) so that we will grow in maturity. What first step do you need to take to start growing again? Is it finding another more mature believer in your church and asking them for help? (MW)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (50 “ignorant” [agnoeo] means not to know, not understand, unknown, or to be wrong)
DEVOTION: The Christians in Thessalonia were concerned over their brothers and sisters that had died. There seemed to be a false teaching going around them that only those who were alive at the return of Christ would reign with HIM during the Millennium.
So at the funerals of these fellow believers there was more crying and sorrow than was necessary. Grief is necessary, even for Christians but excess grief is not necessary.
Paul was dealing with this problem teaching as part of his training of the disciples at the church. He didn’t want them to be without knowledge in this area of Biblical training. He could only teach so much on his visits and through his letters. It is thought that he had trained them in end times but that they might have been listening to others.
So he retrains them regarding the return of Christ. The fellow believers who had died were not going to be left in their graves. Remember that he had previously taught that those who die are going into the presence of the LORD immediately. That is, there soul and spirit go to be with the LORD. Their body is put in the grave. That is the only part of believers that will be asleep until the LORD sounds the trump. Then the dead in Christ will rise first and we which are alive will join them in the air.
So Paul gave them and us good teaching. The final reason for this teaching was that the Christians were acting like the pagans. They were overreacting to death. They were acting as if they had no hope of a resurrection. They were acting as if their fellow believers had no hope. Paul was teaching them that this was wrong.
Paul is concerned for the members of the church of Thessalonica. They were having trouble understanding the future plans of God. God knows the future. God has a plan from now until the end of the world. Included in HIS plan are those who have died in Christ. The members were confused concerning their fellow believers who died before the return of Christ. God doesn’t want us to be wrong about the future hope. HE wants Paul to tell the Christians that those who have died are not going to be left behind at Christ’s coming. They are going to be the first ones to have a resurrected body. Then those who are still alive at HIS coming will receive their resurrected bodies.
Isn’t it great to know that God is working HIS plan!!! This plan was established before the foundation of the world. Every detail of the past, present and future was known to God before the world was created by HIM. We are a people of hope. We are a people of the future. We are going to reign with HIM alongside all those who were believers in Christ before us. God wants us to understand HIS plan and our future.
CHALLENGE: Study “end times” or “last things” or Eschatology in the Word of God and understand the hope we have in Christ.
: 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (3870 “comfort” [parakaleo] means encourage, ask for earnestly, invite, desire, exhort, console, strengthen, or instruct)
DEVOTION: One of the main emphasizes of this book was to console the believers in the church of Thessalonica. They had been overrun with false teachers who taught that the LORD had returned for HIS followers and they were left behind. They needed encouragement.
This is presentation of the fact that Paul wanted to encourage them to encourage one another. The only way they could be encouraged was for them to understand the fact that Christ had not yet come for believers.
Paul gave the order of the future event of HIS return. Christ was going to call those who had died to be with HIM in the air. Then HE was going to call those who were still alive to join HIM in the air. The trumpet would sound that only those who were believers would hear and respond too.
We are to be students of the Word of God. We are to know the plan of God for the future. The only way we can know it is to study it. Many believers don’t care to know more than the fact that they are saved. That is not enough for them to have the encouragement that they have a bright future in heaven.
Too often people are counting on all the blessings in this life and think little of the next life. The believers in this church were not that way. They were going through some persecution and needed assurances that their future was going to be better. Paul gave them that hope.
We are not a people that had no hope. If we feel that way then we have not understood the promises of God. We are a people with not only a promise of the LORD’S presence with us while we are going through persecution here on this earth now that HE will be giving us blessings throughout eternity for our service to HIM now.
If someone is discouraged it is our responsibility to remind them of the promises of God for both now and for eternity. The enemy wants the people of God to be discouraged. The LORD wants us to be encouraged and encouragers of others. Each day we can have opportunities to encourage the discouraged.
CHALLENGE: Paul is writing this book to encourage the discouraged. We are to teach and preach to encourage the discouraged. Everyone has a responsibility in this area. Each Sunday look for someone who looks discouraged and encourage them in the LORD!!!
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Writeverse 9
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandmentsverses 2, 11
Writeverse 9
Taught of God (Isaiah 54:13)verse 9
Word of the LORDverse 15
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 3, 5, 7-9, 14, 16
Will of Godverse 3
Given the Holy Spiritverse 8
Taught of Godverse 9
Will bring believers to Jesusverse 14
Trump of Godverse 16
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Lordverses 1, 2, 6, 15-17
Jesusverses 1, 2, 14
Lord Jesusverses 1, 2
Avengerverse 6
Diedverse 14
Rose againverse 14
Word of the Lordverse 15
Coming of the Lordverse 15
Descend from heavenverse 16
Shoutverse 16
Voice of the archangelverse 16
Trump of Godverse 16
Christverse 16
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Holy Spiritverse 8
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Archangelverse 16
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Gentilesverse 5
Macedoniaverse 16
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Abstain from fornicationverse 3
Lust of concupiscenceverse 5
Know not Godverse 5
Defraudverse 6
Uncleannessverse 7
Despisesverse 8
Withoutverse 12
Ignorantverse 13
No hopeverse 13
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Ought to walkverse 1
Aboundverse 1
Please Godverse 2
Will of Godverse 3
Sanctificationverses 3, 4
Possess his vesselverse 4
Honorverse 4
Know Godverse 5
Calledverse 7
Holinessverse 7
Brotherly loveverse 9
Taught of Godverse 9
Love one anotherverse 9
Increase more and moreverse 10
Study to be quietverse 11
Do your own businessverse 11
Work with your own handsverse 11
Walk honestlyverse 12
Lack nothingverse 12
Hopeverse 13
Sorrow notverse 13
Believe death and resurrectionverse 14
Comfort one anotherverse 18
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Beseechverses 1, 10
Brethrenverses 1, 10, 13
Exhortverse 1
Brotherverse 6
Last Things (Future Events)
Asleepverses 13-15
Sleep in Jesusverse 14
Alive and remain at comingverse 15
Coming of the LORDverse 15
LORD descend from heavenverse 16
Dead in Christ shall rise firstverse 16
Alive – caught up in the cloudsverse 17
Meet the Lord in the airverse 17
So shall we ever be with the Lordverse 17
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QUOTES regarding passage
11 That restlessness may have been a problem for the Thessalonians is implied by Paul’s exhortation—“make it your ambition to lead a quiet life.” Another exhortation, “mind your own business,” implies that a meddlesome spirit that often goes with restlessness was troubling them. Busybodies were active (2 Thess 3:11) and needed a reprimand. But the exhortation goes beyond telling them to stay out of other people’s affairs; it also implies the necessity of keeping one’s own affairs in order. Still another exhortation, “work with your hands,” implies that idleness was a problem among the Thessalonians. In a Greek culture that degraded manual labor, Christianity joined with Judaism in viewing it as an honorable pursuit. Most of the Thessalonian believers earned their living with their hands. Paul tells them to continue supporting themselves and thus avoid the pitfalls of idleness (Ellicott, p. 59; Frame, p. 162). (Thomas, R. L. (1981). 1 Thessalonians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 274). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
11. Study (φιλοτιμεῖσθαι). Po. Make it your aim. Comp. Rom. 15:20 (see note); 2 Cor. 5:9. Often in Class. Lit. to be fond of honour: hence to strive for honour, to be ambitious.
To be quiet (ἡσυχάζειν). Note the paradox, strive to be quiet. For similar instances see Rom. 1:20, unseen things clearly seen: Rom. 1:22, wise, be fooled (comp. Horace, Od. 1, 34, 2, insaniens sapientia): 2 Cor. 8:2, poverty abounded unto riches: 2 Cor. 7:10, repentance, not to be repented of. The disturbances rebuked in the second Epistle may have begun to show themselves, so that there is a possible allusion to the idle busybodies of 2 Th. 3:11. (Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 4, p. 38). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.)
That ye study to be quiet (φιλοτιμεισθαι ἡσυχαζειν [philotimeisthai hēsuchazein]). First infinitive dependent on παρακαλουμεν [parakaloumen] (verse 10, we exhort you), the second on φιλοτιμεισθαι [philotimeisthai] (old verb from φιλοτιμος [philotimos], fond of honour, φιλος, τιμη [philos, timē]). The notion of ambition appears in each of the three N. T. examples (1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Cor. 5:9; Rom. 5:20), but it is ambition to do good, not evil. The word ambition is Latin (ambitio from ambo, ire), to go on both sides to accomplish one’s aims and often evil). A preacher devoid of ambition lacks power. There was a restless spirit in Thessalonica because of the misapprehension of the second coming. So Paul urges an ambition to be quiet or calm, to lead a quiet life, including silence (Acts 11:18). To do your own business (πρασσειν τα ἰδια [prassein ta idia]). Present infinitive like the others, to have the habit of attending to their own affairs (τα ἰδια [ta idia]). This restless meddlesomeness here condemned Paul alludes to again in 2 Thess. 3:11 in plainer terms. It is amazing how much wisdom people have about other people’s affairs and so little interest in their own. To work with your own hands (ἐργαζεσθαι ταις χερσιν ὑμων [ergazesthai tais chersin humōn]). Instrumental case (χερσιν [chersin]). Paul gave a new dignity to manual labour by precept and example. There were “pious” idlers in the church in Thessalonica who were promoting trouble. He had commanded them when with them. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Th 4:11). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
4:11. Everyday habits of living manifest love of the brethren as do more special demonstrations of affection. It is these habits that Paul suggested the Thessalonians ponder in the light of brotherly love. He suggested these goals as worthy objectives for their maturing love. His words may reflect less than ideal conditions in their church.
First, his readers should lead a restful life. The word translated quiet (hēsychazein) means quiet in the sense of restfulness (cf. Acts 22:2; 2 Thes. 3:12; 1 Tim. 2:2, 11), rather than quiet as opposed to talkativeness (sigaō; cf. Acts 21:40; 1 Cor. 14:34). The former means “undisturbed, settled, not noisy,” while the latter means “silent.” Paul was telling the Thessalonians to be less frantic, not less exuberant. A person who is constantly on the move is frequently a bother to other people as well as somewhat distracted from his own walk with God. The latter can lead to the former. But a Christian who strives to be at peace with himself and God will be a source of peace to his brethren. Such quietude constitutes a practical demonstration of love for others.
Second, Paul recommended minding one’s own business. The connection with love for the brethren is obvious (cf. Prov. 25:17).
Third, working with one’s own hands demonstrates love for the brethren because a self-supporting person is not a burden to others. Paul himself set the example by working with his hands when he was in Thessalonica (1 Thes. 2:9). Too restful a life can be a problem also, and Paul guarded against that with this instruction. This verse dignifies manual labor. The reference also suggests that many, perhaps most, in the church came out of the working class. The Greeks deplored manual labor and relegated it to slaves as much as possible. But the Jews held it in esteem; every Jewish boy was taught a trade regardless of his family’s wealth. Work itself is a blessing, and working with one’s hands should never be despised by Christians. A man who is willing to work with his hands demonstrates his love for his brethren by being willing to humble himself to provide for his own needs so that he does not depend on others but provides for himself. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, pp. 702–703). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The word in 1 Thessalonians 4:12 that is translated “honestly” in our Authorized Version, carries the meaning of “becomingly, in a seemly way.” It is translated “decently” in 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” The emphasis is on the believer’s witness to those who are outside the Christian fellowship. “Them that are without” is a familiar description of unbelievers.
Christians not only have the obligation to love one another but also to be good testimonies to the people of the world. Paul’s great concern was that the Thessalonican believers earn their own wages and not become freeloaders depending on the support of unbelievers. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (1 Thes. 4:11, niv) seems like a paradox; if you are ambitious, your life will probably not be quiet. But the emphasis is on quietness of mind and heart, the inner peace that enables a man to be sufficient through faith in Christ. Paul did not want the saints running around creating problems as they earned their daily bread.
For the most part, the Greeks despised manual labor. Most of the work was done by slaves. Paul, of course, was a tentmaker; and he was careful in Thessalonica to set the example of hard work (see 1 Thes. 2:6; 2 Thes. 3:6ff). Unfortunately, some of the new believers in the church misunderstood the doctrine of Christ’s return and gave up their jobs in order to wait for His coming. This meant that they were supported by other Christians, some of whom may not have had sufficient funds for their own families. It also meant that these fanatical people could not pay their bills, and therefore they lost their testimony with the unsaved merchants.
“My wife is going to have plastic surgery,” a man said to his friend. “I’m taking away all of her credit cards!” How easy it is to purchase things we do not need with money we do not have, and then lose not only our credit, but also our good Christian witness. “If therefore you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous mammon [money] who will entrust the true riches to you?” (Luke 16:11, nasb) Churches and Christians who defend their orthodoxy but do not pay their bills have no orthodoxy to defend.
“Mind your own business and work with your hands” (1 Thes. 4:11, niv) was what Paul commanded them. Idle people spend their time interfering with the affairs of others and getting themselves and others into trouble. “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies” (2 Thes. 3:11, niv). “But let none of you suffer … as a busybody in other men’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15).
Believers who are about the Father’s business (Luke 2:49) do not have the time—or desire—to meddle in the affairs of others. Unfortunately, even a Bible class could become an opportunity for gossip (“so that you might pray more intelligently”) and a substitute for true Christian service.
As believers, we must be careful in our relationships with “those that are without.” It requires spiritual grace and wisdom to have contact without contamination and to be different without being judgmental and proud. “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without” (Col. 4:5). If we lack this spiritual wisdom, we will do more harm than good.
There are several good reasons why Christians should work, not the least of which is to provide for their own families (1 Tim. 5:8). If unsaved people have to work to pay their bills, why should Christians be exempt? We also work in order to be able to give to those who have need (Eph. 4:28); but “if any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thes. 3:10). Work is not a curse; it is a blessing. God gave Adam work to do in Paradise. It is the toil and sweat of work that belongs to the curse, and not the work itself (Gen. 2:15 and 3:17ff).
As we review this section, we see how practical the Christian walk really is. The obedient Christian will have a holy life by abstaining from sexual sin; a harmonious life by loving the brethren; and an honest life by working with his hands and not meddling in the affairs of others. When unsaved people see Christ magnified in this kind of a life, they will either oppose it with envy or desire to have it for themselves. Either way, God is glorified. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 177–178). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 11. And that ye study to be quiet, &c.] To live peaceably in their own families, and to give no disturbance to other families, by tale-bearing, whispering, and backbiting; to behave with quietness in the neighbourhood, town, or city, they dwell in, and to seek the peace thereof; and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, in the commonwealth, and under the government to which they belong; and not to create and encourage factions, divisions, animosities, and contentious, in their own church, or in any of the churches or Christ; and it becomes saints to make this their study, to be very solicitous for it, to strive for it, and pursue after it: the word used signifies to be ambitious of it, as what is a man’s glory and honour, to emulate and strive to outdo each other, as who shall have the honour of being the quietest person, and the most peaceable member in the community: and to do your own business: or private business, or what is proper and peculiar to a man’s self; to abide every man in his own calling wherein he is called, and attend the business of it, and not thrust himself into other families, and officiously take upon him, under a pretence of zeal, affection, and friendship, to inspect, direct, or manage the business of others: in short, he should not meddle with other people’s business, but mind his own: and this is what the Jews call דרך ארץ, the way of the earth, or the business of life: “there are four things, (they say) in which a man should employ himself continually, with all his might, and these are they, the law, and good works, and prayer, and the business of life;” upon which the gloss has this note by way of explanation, “if a man is an artificer (let him attend) to his art; if a merchant to his merchandise, and if he is a soldier to war;” and which may serve to illustrate the apostle’s sense: and to work with your own hands; the reason of this is, because there were some among them, who would not work at all; see 2 Thess. 3:11 and by this instruction it appears, that the members of this church, in common, were such as were brought up to handicraft trades and businesses, and were poor and mean; and this was the general case of the primitive churches: it pleased God to choose and call the poor of this world, to whom the Gospel was preached, and they received it; few of the rulers among the Jews believed in Christ, and not many mighty, rich, or noble among the Gentiles were called; some there were, and in this church there were some of the chief women of the city, Acts 17:4 and though these and others of the better sort, as well as ministers of the Gospel among them, who laboured in the word and doctrine, were not obliged by this to perform manual work and labour, yet were not exempted from all concern in the exhortation; it being proper and necessary, that all sorts of persons be employed in one sort of business or another, and to use diligence and application in it; the apostle’s view being chiefly to inveigh against sloth and idleness, and to exhort to labour and industry as the most effectual method to preserve peace and quietness, and to keep persons from being troublesome and hurtful, in families, churches, and commonwealths: the reasons enforcing this follow in this and the next verse, as we commanded you; and the command of an apostle carries weight and authority with it, and ought to be obeyed; yea, they not only strictly enjoined a diligent application to business, but set them an example themselves, see 1 Thess. 2:9; 2 Thess. 3:7, 8. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 234–235). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
Paul’s exhortation on a proper and productive life was likely a response to some concerns raised by Timothy’s report (cf 3:6). Perhaps some had so embraced the promise of the Lord’s return that they had stopped working and had begun to interfere with the everyday life of the other church members. Paul’s antidote to such a lackadaisical outlook and disruptive behavior was fourfold; they were to (1) lead a quiet life – avoid unnecessary conflict; (2)attend to their own business (cf. 2Th 3:11); (3) work with their own hands (v.11c) – be self-supporting not eating another’s bread (cf. 2 Th 3:8) so as to not be in any need (v. 12b); and (4) behave properly (v.12a) – maintain a good testimony with unbelievers (outsiders). (p. 1885, The MOODY Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik and Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Jesus performs two astounding miracles in His hometown of Nazareth.
INSIGHT
Jesus’ miracles are often more than acts of kindness; they are also profound object lessons given to train His contemporary and future followers.
After feeding the 5,000, Jesus again sends the Twelve out onto the Sea of Galilee, knowing a storm will come. Then He walks out on the water to reveal to them more deeply the reality of who He is. By their reaction, the disciples show that their idea of Christ is too small. He is more — much more — than they think He is. (Quiet Walk)
THE PRIMARY MEANING OF“SANCTIFY”
But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11
You will find that the primary meaning of the word sanctify is often applied to Christian people. Read, for instance, 1 Corinthians 6:11, where Paul tells the Corinthians that there was a time when some of them were guilty of terrible sin—drinking, adultery, etc. “But,” he says, “ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” You notice he says they are “sanctified” before he says they are “justified.” Now with our superficial and glib ideas about sanctification, we always say, “Justification first and sanctification afterward.” But Paul puts sanctification first, which means that they have been set apart by God and taken out of the world. That is the primary meaning of sanctification, and in that sense it comes before justification.
Or take 1 Peter 1:2: “…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Sanctification comes before believing and sprinkling with the blood and justification. So in its primary meaning this word is a description of our position. It means that as Christians we are separated from the world. Our Lord has already said that in John 17:16: “They are not of the world.” Now He says, “Sanctify them through thy truth” (John17:17). “They have been set apart,” He says in effect; “set them still more apart.” It means separation from the world. In 1 Peter2:9 this is applied to the Christian church: “Ye are . . . a peculiar people, ”a special possession for the Lord. The same is true of all Christian people. We are a holy people, set apart for God and for His service and for His purpose. That is the primary meaning.
A Thought to Ponder: Notice that Paul says they are sanctified before he says they are justified. (From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 9-10, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
A church will never experience God’s blessing if it compromises spiritual integrity for personal expediency. (p. 39)
As followers of Christ, it should be out constant desire to use our gifts, abilities, time and energy to influence others in their relationship with Christ (Heb. 10:24-25). (p. 40)
Our willingness to be on the board should come not form a desire to be in control, but from the intense passion to serve others. (p.40)
Mature leaders are not only ones who manifest the spiritual qualities described in the next chapter, they are also those who recongnize that ultimately the church belongs to God and we are merely following HIS leadership (Eph. 5:23; I Peter52). The ultimate task of the board is not to set the agenda for the church but to discern and follow God’s will and direction. (p. 41) (Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C/ Daman)
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