The Thessalonian Epistles
The Duties of Believers
Lesson XIV
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
Written: September 16, 2004
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14
(12) And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which
labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
(13) And to esteem them very highly in love for their
work's sake. [And] be at peace among yourselves.
(14) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all
[men].
The
Apostle is led by the Spirit to impress upon the minds of the Thessalonian
believers that they are ‘brethren’, and therefore members of the same family.
He
uses the word in verse 12 “…we beseech you brethren.”
In
verse 14 “now we exhort you brethren”
In
verse 25 “…brethren pray for us.”
In
verse 26 “greet all the brethren” then concludes with a
charge to “…all the holy brethren” in verse 27.
We
refrain from using the word ‘commandments’ to the brethren because of the
gracious word ‘beseech’ in verse 12. To
explain this word I have used the following illustration again. Anne and I were married in 1943 and we had an
old-fashioned-love relationship. At the
time we did not have a dish-washer and never did Anne command me to wash the
dishes. From the beginning of our life
together she would kindly ask: “Lorne,
would you like to help me wash the dishes? Of course being so much in love with her
there was nothing I would like to do more than to help her. You see she did not command me she was
beseeching me! And that is what Paul did
when he wrote the following words.
He
was beseeching the Thessalonians and all believers “to know them which labour
among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you.” In other words he was saying “get to know
your leaders.” Perhaps one of the causes
of Church problems has been the ignoring of this basic rule. Often times Churches employ leaders who are
unknown.
Acts 6:3
(3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men
of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.
When
choosing leaders to look after business matters in the first Church at
Jerusalem, the first qualification is often over-looked. Acts 6:3
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you….” Don’t miss the words,
“among you.” Throughout the years of
ministry we have learned that God has always placed men who are qualified to
lead in every local Church. Such men
need to be recognized. It is our opinion
that elders (other than the senior pastor) and deacons should all be chosen
from within the congregation to which they belong.
2 Corinthians 8:22
(22) And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have
oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the
great confidence which [I have] in you.
When
a man was being chosen to look after money matters to accompany Titus, we read
in 2 Corinthians 8:22 “And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have
often times proved diligent in many things…”, in other words a man well known
among them. Honest, well known, often
proven faithful in many things are to be chosen leaders. And of this kind of men Paul exhorts, “and to
esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake…” (1 Thessalonians 5:13).
Ephesians 6:1-2
(1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is
right.
(2) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first
commandment with promise;)
Hebrews 13:7
(7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have
spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of
[their] conversation.
In
Ephesians 6:1-2, children are instructed not only to obey but to honour thy
father and thy mother. We gather from
other Scriptures, if parents expect their children to honour them, then parents
must live honourable lives. Likewise
with Church Leaders to be esteemed highly they must earn that honour.
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which
have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith
follow, considering the end of their conversation.” In other words, considering the way they
live. There is no Scriptural ground for
following men whose walk does not equal their talk. In like manner it is not required of
believers to esteem highly men who bring shame to the gospel.
Philippians 3:18-19
(18) (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and
now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
(19) Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their]
belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Paul
writes of “enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose God
is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things,” (Philippians
3:18-19). Most certainly we are not
called upon to highly esteem such men.
Romans 12:18
(18) If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live
peaceably with all men.
Then
we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 (b) “Be at peace among yourselves.” We are glad it is written again in Romans
12:18 “if it be possible, as much as
lieth in you, live peaceably with all men,”
We have found by experience that
it is not always possible to be at peace with some men, thank God, not all. Some are not only different, they are
difficult.
1
Thessalonians
(1)
“warn the unruly”,
(2)
“comfort the feeble-minded”,
(3) “support the weak”, and
(4) “be patient to all”.
The
first exhortation “warn the unruly” that is, those who won’t keep the rules.
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them that
have the rule over you…”
At
this point we need to be reminded that government and grace go along
together.
Grace
without government becomes license.
Government
without grace becomes law.
Hebrews 13:17
(17) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that
they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for
you.
1 Peter 5:5-6
(5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the
elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
(6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Hebrews 13:17 “Obey them that have the rule over you and
submit yourselves for they watch for your souls…”
1 Peter 5:5-6 “Like wise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the elder, yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with
humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble—humble
yourselves therefore…”
Ephesians 5:21
(21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of
God.
Glen
S. McLean said: “Tragic things are
happening today. The greatest evils of
all are: (1) the type of Christianity being presented to the world; and (2) the
type of Leadership in today’s Christianity.
And in this area the greatest offending, unscriptural Leadership is
found in Pentecostal-Charismatics. These
leaders seem to know nothing about ‘submitting yourselves one to another…’ (Ephesians
5:21).”
John 1:14
(14) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.
Matthew 11:28-30
(28) Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am
meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
(30) For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.
Rev.
McLean continues:
“What
is it to be a spiritual Christian? Being
like Jesus.
John 1:14 Being ‘full of grace
and truth.’
Matthew 11:28-30 Meek, mild, loving,
humble and caring.
To
be a true servant of Jesus is to be filled with faith, hope and love. Love is the greatest of these, without it we
are ‘0’- nothing.
Unruly
Leadership will reproduce its kind.”
We
shall consider the other exhortations in another paper.