1 Thessalonians 2
What clear and decided conversions we see in those Thessalonians, like the apostles who told them of God’s good news. It was in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance. And immediately they followed the apostles, in following the Lord, through afflictions, and shared the joy of the Holy Ghost. They turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.
Verse 1. So the apostles could write, “For ye know yourselves, brethren, that our entrance unto you was not in vain.” All the countryside about them talked about the way they now behaved themselves.
Verse 2. These servants of the Lord had been shamefully treated in the prison, and by the people in Philippi. Then they came in the strength of the Lord, and spoke to the Thessalonians the gospel of God with boldness and much contention from the Jews (see Acts 17).
Verses 3-8. It was a message from God, “Our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile.” It was the unfoldings of the heart of God according to His purposes of grace and love to unworthy sinners, and faithful to their charge, even so they spoke, not as pleasing men, but God that proves what is in every man’s heart. On no occasion or time did they use flattering words, nor seek anything from them. God, the one who delights to give, was their witness.
They did not seek glory of men—neither of them nor of others—when they might have been a charge to them as the apostles of Christ. They had been gentle among them, even as a nurse cares for her own children. And thus yearning over them, they were willing to have imparted unto them, not the gospel of God only, but would have given their lives also for them, they had become so dear to them.
Verses 9-12. “For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly, and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto His kingdom and glory.”
What an example for all who seek to serve the Lord in ministering to others. What devoted unselfishness! What love and tenderness, like a mother nursing her children; like a father guiding, advising, comforting, exhorting his children, to get them to walk worthy of God who had called them to His kingdom and glory. Blessed hope!
Verse 13. They gave therefore increasing thanks to God, because, when they received the Word of God, which they heard of the apostles, they received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which wrought effectually in those that believe. Their consciences and hearts had been well plowed up, it made good ground and brought forth fruit (Luke 8:1515But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)).
Verses 14-16. “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches (assemblies) of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews; who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men; forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved; to fill up their sins alway; for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”
The Jewish religion, though given through Moses from God, had, through the rejection of Christ, and according to the purpose of God, now been set aside, and Christianity had come in. This made the Jews exceedingly mad against the gospel, so they persecuted the Christians (Gal. 4:2929But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29)). Zealous for their religion, they became the enemies of God.
What grave charges are made against them (verses 15, 16), and now wrath had come upon them, driving them out of the land which was to be their possession.
Israel will have the land yet, but not till the assembly is in the glory with Christ, and when the Lord comes with His saints to give it to them.
Their loss has given us now a heavenly calling to a heavenly portion, and inheritance with Christ in heavenly glory.
The Jews who became Christians were greatly despised and persecuted by the Jews; and the Gentile believers were also persecuted by their own countrymen. Their separate walk from the world around them brought the hatred of the natural heart against them (John 15:18; 16:2, 33; 17:14-1818If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18)
2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. (John 16:2)
33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
14I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 18As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (John 17:14‑18)).
The religion of the Jews had become pure jealousy; their pretension to be Jehovah’s people was denied by their state, and God in His sovereign grace was blessing others who had no right claim to any blessing. Christians now are put into the enjoyment of better privileges than the Jews ever had. It is now to those who receive the Word. Hereditary privileges are not now.
Sovereign grace is working now, for God is sovereign and God is love. Christians are brought into relationship in grace, and by faith in God’s Word. It is the source of their confidence, the revelation of God who is light, and who is love, who gave His Son to save sinners.
Verse 17. “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.”
The opposition and persecution that drove the apostles away, serves to strengthen and to make manifest the love of Christ in them. It joined them together in heart, and made them look on to the coming of the Lord. Unable for the moment to satisfy the desires of his heart, he looks on to the moment they also were waiting for, when evil shall no longer be present to hinder the happiness of the new man in his enjoyment of that which is good; in his fellowship with those whom he called the beloved of God (Chapter 1:4, margin); and specially in enjoying together the presence of their glorified Lord and Saviour.
Verse 18. “Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.”
Verses 19, 20. Here we see that the apostle will enjoy, when with the Lord, the fruits of his labors in his beloved Thessalonians, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
The great joy of all the saints in glory will be to be with the Lord Jesus, to see Him and to be like Him; but there are particular fruits in connection with the Holy Spirit’s work in us, and by us in others, that have formed links which are of the same order as we see in the Apostle in those verses. (See also Phil. 2:16, 1716Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 17Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. (Philippians 2:16‑17); 1 John 2:28; 228And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. (1 John 2:28) John verse 8), and as the apostles could look forward to seeing those who had been helped and blessed through them, so will it be with other laborers in the Word. Paul’s heart will be satisfied by seeing those who were the fruit of his labors, with the Lord in glory. “For ye are our glory and joy.”