11 And our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you,
and may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and our God and Father, who did love us, and did give comfort age-during, and good hope in grace,
to the establishing your hearts blameless in sanctification before our God and Father, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
that thou mayest not appear to men fasting, but to thy Father who `is' in secret, and thy Father, who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.
See ye what love the Father hath given to us, that children of God we may be called; because of this the world doth not know us, because it did not know Him;
who did give himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of the present evil age, according to the will of God even our Father,
concerning His Son, (who is come of the seed of David according to the flesh,
for all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father hath known that ye have need of these things;
`A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye his paths,' --
`For, if ye may forgive men their trespasses He also will forgive you -- your Father who `is' in the heavens;
`But thou, when thou mayest pray, go into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who `is' in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.
A son honoureth a father, and a servant his master. And if I `am' a father, where `is' Mine honour? And if I `am' a master, where `is' My fear? Said Jehovah of Hosts to you, O priests, despising My name! And ye have said: `In what have we despised Thy name?'
For Thou `art' our Father, For Abraham hath not known us, And Israel doth not acknowledge us, Thou, O Jehovah, `art' our Father, Our redeemer from the age, `is' Thy name.
And I proclaim there a fast, by the river Ahava, to afflict ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a right way for us, and for our infants, and for all our substance, for I was ashamed to ask from the king a force and horsemen to help us because of the enemy in the way, for we spake to the king, saying, `The hand of our God `is' upon all seeking Him for good, and His strength and His wrath `is' upon all forsaking Him.' And we fast, and seek from our God for this, and He is entreated of us.
to the saints in Colossae, and to the faithful brethren in Christ: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ!
and I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'
for all these do the nations seek for, for your heavenly Father doth know that ye have need of all these;
be ye not therefore like to them, for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him; thus therefore pray ye: `Our Father who `art' in the heavens! hallowed be Thy name.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 3
In this chapter the apostle gives further evidence of his love to the Thessalonians, reminding them of his sending Timothy to them, with the mention of his design therein and his inducements so to do (v. 1-5). He acquaints them also with his great satisfaction at the return of Timothy, with good tidings concerning them (v. 6-10). And concludes with fervent prayer for them (v. 11-13).
1Th 3:1-5
In these words the apostle gives an account of his sending Timothy to the Thessalonians. Though he was hindered from going to them himself, yet his love was such that he could not forbear sending Timothy to them. Though Timothy was very useful to him, and he could not well spare him, yet Paul was content, for their good, to be left alone at Athens. Note, Those ministers do not duly value the establishment and welfare of their people who cannot deny themselves in many things for that end. Observe,
1Th 3:6-10
Here we have Paul's great satisfaction upon the return of Timothy with good tidings from the Thessalonians, in which we may observe,
1Th 3:11-13
In these words we have the earnest prayer of the apostle. He desired to be instrumental in the further benefit of the Thessalonians; and the only way to be so while at a distance was by prayer for them, together with his writing or sending to them. He desired that their faith might be perfected, which he could not be the proper cause or author of; for he pretended not to dominion over their faith, nor to have the donation of it, and he therefore concludes with prayer for them. Observe,