11 Even as you saw how, like a father with his children, we were teaching and comforting you all, and giving witness,
I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right. For even if you had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.
I give you orders, before God and Christ Jesus, who will be the judge of the living and the dead, and by his revelation and his kingdom; Be preaching the word at all times, in every place; make protests, say sharp words, give comfort, with long waiting and teaching;
And last of all, the prayer which we make to you from our heart and in the name of the Lord Jesus, is this: that as we made clear to you what sort of behaviour is pleasing to God, as in fact you are doing now, so you will go on in these ways, but more and more.
But we were gentle among you, like a woman caring for her little ones:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother. What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths? Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink? For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble. Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter: Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone. Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death. Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
This I say, then, and give witness in the Lord, that you are to go no longer in the way of the Gentiles whose minds are turned to that which has no profit,
Now to such we give orders and make request in the Lord Jesus, that, working quietly, they get their living.
Give orders to this effect, so that no evil may be said of anyone.
I give you orders before God, the giver of life, and Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate gave witness to the faith,
Give orders to those who have money and goods in this life, not to be lifted up in their minds, or to put their hope in the uncertain chances of wealth, but in God who gives us in full measure all things for our use;
Servants are to be under the authority of their masters, pleasing them in all things, without argument;
On all these points give teaching and help, and make clear what is right with all authority. Let all men give you honour.
My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their ways:
And take him before Eleazar the priest and all the meeting of the people, and give him his orders before their eyes.
At that time the Lord said to Moses, The day of your death is near: send for Joshua, and come to the Tent of meeting so that I may give him his orders. So Moses and Joshua went to the Tent of meeting.
Now, my son, may the Lord be with you; and may you do well, and put up the house of the Lord your God, as he has said of you. Only may the Lord give you wisdom, and knowledge of his orders for Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. And all will go well for you, if you take care to keep the laws and the rules which the Lord gave to Moses for Israel: be strong and take heart; have no fear and do not be troubled.
And you, Solomon my son, get knowledge of the God of your father, and be his servant with a true heart and with a strong desire, for the Lord is the searcher of all hearts, and has knowledge of all the designs of men's thoughts; if you make search for him, he will be near you; but if you are turned away from him, he will give you up for ever.
And David said to his son Solomon, Be strong and of a good heart and do your work; have no fear and do not be troubled, for the Lord God, my God, is with you; he will not give you up, and his face will not be turned away from you, till all the work necessary for the house of the Lord is complete.
Come, children, give attention to me; I will be your teacher in the fear of the Lord.
So they sent word to Joseph, saying, Your father, before his death, gave us orders, saying, You are to say to Joseph, Let the wrongdoing of your brothers be overlooked, and the evil they did to you: now, if it is your pleasure, let the sin of the servants of your father's God have forgiveness. And at these words, Joseph was overcome with weeping.
My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing up my laws in your mind;
Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge: For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me. For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother. And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life: Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth. Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe. The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge. Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love. She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory. Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours. I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way. When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching: So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
In this chapter the apostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of the manner of his preaching among them (v. 1-6). Then of the manner of his conversation among them (v. 7-12). Afterwards of the success of his ministry, with the effects both on himself and on them (v. 13-16), and then apologizes for his absence (v. 17-20).
1Th 2:1-6
Here we have an account of Paul's manner of preaching, and his comfortable reflection upon his entrance in among the Thessalonians. As he had the testimony of his own conscience witnessing to his integrity, so he could appeal to the Thessalonians how faithful he, and Silas, and Timotheus, his helpers in the work of the Lord, had discharged their office: You yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you. Note, It is a great comfort to a minister to have his own conscience and the consciences of others witnessing for him that he set out well, with good designs and from good principles; and that his preaching was not in vain, or, as some read it, was not fain. The apostle here comforts himself either in the success of his ministry, that it was not fruitless or in vain (according to our translation), or as others think, reflecting upon the sincerity of his preaching, that it was not vain and empty, or deceitful and treacherous. The subject-matter of the apostle's preaching was not vain and idle speculations about useless niceties and foolish questions, but sound and solid truth, such as was most likely to profit his hearers. A good example this is, to be imitated by all the ministers of the gospel. Much less was the apostle's preaching vain or deceitful. He could say to these Thessalonians what he told the Corinthians (2 Co. 4:2): We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. He had no sinister or worldly design in his preaching, which he puts them in mind to have been,
1Th 2:7-12
In these words the apostle reminds the Thessalonians of the manner of his conversation among them. And,
1Th 2:13-16
Here observe,
1Th 2:17-20
In these words the apostle apologizes for his absence. Here observe,
The apostle here puts the Thessalonians in mind that though he could not come to them as yet, and though he should never be able to come to them, yet our Lord Jesus Christ will come, nothing shall hinder this. And further, when he shall come, all must appear in his presence, or before him. Ministers and people must all appear before him, and faithful people will be the glory and joy of faithful ministers in that great and glorious day.