1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
The Authorized King James Version of the Bible places verses 11-15 in the same paragraph. Probably because verse 11 begins with the word, “therefore.” And as we are taught by our pastor and by many others from the pulpit, we must always ask, ‘What is the word ‘therefore’ there for?” The Apostle finished describing two great “end times” events: (1.) the Second Coming of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which is the rapture of the elect, and (2.) the Day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, which is Christ return with all his saints to judge the wicked. After each description of Paul’s teaching and instructions, the Apostle encourages each of us to comfort others. Another reason for placing verse 11 with 12-15 may be because verses 11-15 all refer to our responsibility and accountability to each other in the body of Christ, especially in light of the “end times” when Christ will make all things right!
Matthew Henry said in his commentary on these verses, “We should not only be careful about our own comfort and welfare but to promote the comfort and welfare of others also.” Henry says the original language of the command does suggest both nuances. Strikingly so, our Lord Jesus Christ says in all three gospels (Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:30-31, and Luke 10:27), “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” Yes, our love and the prize our affections must be in our Lord God most of all. Additionally, however, we must love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the command to encourage others, we must love and comfort others as much as we love and comfort ourselves. According to Henry, that is what the text is saying in the original language. Be encouraged, dear soul! Take comfort in this: Christ will come to collect His elect and then He will return with all His saints to judge the wicked! Amen! Hallelujah! Now comfort others!
Henry continues in his commentary to say, “And it is the duty of every one of us to study that which is for the edification of those with whom we converse, to please all men for their real profit. We should communicate our knowledge and experiences one to another. We should join in prayer and praise one another. We should set a good example one before another. And it is the duty of those especially who live in the same vicinity and family thus to comfort and edify one another; and this is the best neighbourhood, the best means to answer the end of society.” This conveys the comfort and joy we must have as we trust in God’s Holy Work for life, faith, and practice!
In the remaining verses, we must remember that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians because he was torn away from them because of persecution. Nevertheless, there were qualified men of God who remained with the church in Paul’s absence, These men were the assigned spiritual leaders or pastors. In verses 12-13, Paul instructs the church on their duty to these overseers. The church is to respect those who labor among them and who are over them in the Lord and who admonish them (verse 12). They are to esteem those very highly with love because of the work they do for the Lord (verse 13). Paul gives the qualifications of elders to Timothy and Titus in his instructions to appoint elders in the churches. In 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul says, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” We all have a responsibility to our pastors and elders, to those who labor and who are our spiritual guides. Therefore, as members of the body of Christ, the church, we are to respect and esteem our elders with love. This is the duty of all believers.
In verse 13b-15, the Apostle now turns his attention to give us all general instructions that is worthy to ourselves and to all in the church. First, we are to be at peace amongst each other. This is a difficult plea, and on first inspection, the average Christian may nod his head with approval; but then, due to stubbornness of will and ungodly pride, some may stir up strife and discord among the brothers. “But I was just joking!” they may say. In this exhortation we must remember, Christians were first called Christians because they were Christlike. Christ is who we must imitate (Ephesians 5:1). Therefore, we must be at peace amongst each other.
However, as we strive for peace, there is a place for admonishment in the Lord. Paul urges the believers in verse 14 to “admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all” I love how the Authorized King James Version describes this very eloquently, by saying, “warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” do not work. To those who are not able to work, we must cherish and support them at all costs. And to those who have the means, yet neglect their responsibility to work and provide for their families, we must correct them. They violate this command by being dependent on others ( 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). Therefore, we must realize the word ‘admonish’ means to rebuke, reprimand, scold, or urge. Second Thessalonians 3:10 says, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” There is a balance between loving and admonishing, and we are taught this by the Lord. To those who are idle, discouraged, and weak, we must be patient with all. We must remember that our God is patient and longsuffering. As patient, as He was with us, we also have an obligation to be patient with others. And finally, in verse 15, we must ensure that no one repays evil for evil. That is childish. We must seek to do good to all. For we were created in Christ Jesus for good works. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Christian Hymn: Rescue the Perishing by Fannty J. Cosby in 1869
