15 see no one evil for evil may render to any one, but always that which is good pursue ye, both to one another and to all;
not giving back evil for evil, or railing for railing, and on the contrary, blessing, having known that to this ye were called, that a blessing ye may inherit;
therefore, then, as we have opportunity, may we work the good to all, and especially unto those of the household of the faith.
for your walking worthily of God, who is calling you to His own reign and glory.
but I -- I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those cursing you, do good to those hating you, and pray for those accusing you falsely, and persecuting you, that ye may be sons of your Father in the heavens, because His sun He doth cause to rise on evil and good, and He doth send rain on righteous and unrighteous.
giving back to no one evil for evil; providing right things before all men. If possible -- so far as in you -- with all men being in peace; not avenging yourselves, beloved, but give place to the wrath, for it hath been written, `Vengeance `is' Mine, I will recompense again, saith the Lord;' if, then, thine enemy doth hunger, feed him; if he doth thirst, give him drink; for this doing, coals of fire thou shalt heap upon his head; Be not overcome by the evil, but overcome, in the good, the evil.
So, then, the things of peace may we pursue, and the things of building up one another;
Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy,
And if Timotheus may come, see that he may become without fear with you, for the work of the Lord he doth work, even as I,
and thou, O man of God, these things flee, and pursue righteousness, piety, faith, love, endurance, meekness;
and a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil,
peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord,
Your souls having purified in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to brotherly love unfeigned, out of a pure heart one another love ye earnestly,
let him turn aside from evil, and do good, let him seek peace and pursue it; because the eyes of the Lord `are' upon the righteous, and His ears -- to their supplication, and the face of the Lord `is' upon those doing evil;' and who `is' he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators?
Beloved, be not thou following that which is evil, but that which is good; he who is doing good, of God he is, and he who is doing evil hath not seen God;
but I -- I say to you, not to resist the evil, but whoever shall slap thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other;
`When thou meetest thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou dost certainly turn it back to him; when thou seest the ass of him who is hating thee crouching under its burden, then thou hast ceased from leaving `it' to it -- thou dost certainly leave `it' with him.
`Thou dost not take vengeance, nor watch the sons of thy people; and thou hast had love to thy neighbour as thyself; I `am' Jehovah.
as saith the simile of the ancients, From the wicked goeth out wickedness, and my hand is not on thee.
If I have done my well-wisher evil, And draw mine adversary without cause,
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
Say not, `As he did to me, so I do to him, I render to each according to his work.'
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
and he saith to me, `See -- not; for fellow-servant of thee am I, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of those keeping the words of this scroll; before God bow.'
and I fell before his feet, to bow before him, and he saith to me, `See -- not! fellow servant of thee am I, and of thy brethren, those having the testimony of Jesus; bow before God, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy.'
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5
Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
The apostle, having spoken in the end of the foregoing chapter concerning the resurrection, and the second coming of Christ, proceeds to speak concerning the uselessness of enquiring after the particular time of Christ's coming, which would be sudden and terrible to the wicked, but comfortable to the saints (v. 1-5). He then exhorts them to the duties of watchfulness, sobriety, and the exercise of faith, love, and hope, as being suitable to their state (v. 6-10). In the next words he exhorts them to several duties they owed to others, or to one another (v. 11-15), afterwards to several other Christian duties of great importance (v. 16-22), and then concludes this epistle (v. 23-28).
1Th 5:1-5
In these words observe,
1Th 5:6-10
On what had been said, the apostle grounds seasonable exhortations to several needful duties.
1Th 5:11-15
In these words the apostle exhorts the Thessalonians to several duties.
1Th 5:16-22
Here we have divers short exhortations, that will not burden our memories, but will be of great use to direct the motions of our hearts and lives; for the duties are of great importance, and we may observe how they are connected together, and have a dependence upon one another.
1Th 5:23-28
In these words, which conclude this epistle, observe,