1Thess 5:14-15 exhortations...

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 5

[Addendum: from last time, I want to clarify, those that are over you in the Lord, those leaders in the local assembly, are not to brow beat you and you just take it – they should be teaching the Bible and the doctrine of grace; you can esteem them highly by learning your Bible and living the doctrine of grace.]

1Thess 5:14-15
Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.


And here is the exhortation:
“warn the unruly” – don’t beat them over the head with a blunt object (yet), however, do warn them with the word ( a sharp sword [Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12]) of God.
“comfort the feebleminded” – and who is the feebleminded? Those that are weak in mind, those that don’t think straight, they could be the challenged from brain underdevelopment, to dementia, from young to old. They need comfort. We should be that comfort, not a government institution.
“support the weak” – what does that entail and where does that end? There are those that have trouble getting around and doing things physically, but there are also those who have no financial means. Should the local assembly provide the support, or should we through convenience offload that responsibility to a government institution?
“be patient toward all men” – wow. “all” really? I mean some of these people are incredibly stupid and incredibly evil. ?.
To be “patient”: Having the quality of enduring evils without murmuring or fretfulness; sustaining afflictions of body or mind with fortitude, calmness or Christian submission to the divine will… or, Not easily provoked; calm under the sufferance of injuries or offenses; not revengeful… or, Persevering; constant in pursuit or exertion; calmly diligent.
Rom 5:3-4
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
(It is always a kind of joke to ask for more patience, as you see what comes with it, and that is what you want to be alleviated from as you ask for patience.)
But there it is in print, from the mouth of God, through the pen of Paul, “be patient toward all men.” So just do it.

Uh oh, “See that none render evil for evil unto any man:”; how are we to take this? I mean an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth…what gives?
Let us see what Paul says to the Romans shall we?:
Rom 12:17-21
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Let us take a peak at Proverbs shall we:
Pro 17:13
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Pro 20:22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Pro 24:17, 29
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: ...
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Pro 25:21
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

(thank you ‘Treasury of Scripture Knowledge’ for the cross references)
So, we are talking about “evil”: Having bad qualities of a moral kind; wicked; corrupt; perverse; wrong
So if we have evil done to us, we do not repay evil with evil, we leave place for the Lord to work, as he is the only person just to provide judgment and wrath in that case, we provide honest things and we do not get overcome of evil, we allow space for justice to step in and not for us to partake in that wrong doing.
And we “follow that which is good”, or “things honest”, and heaping “coals of fire” on our enemies with good conduct, and not evil.
And Paul says this statement “among yourselves” and “to all men” – so I take it that the “evil” can come within the local assembly of believers, the community, the region, the world.
I believe it is time to up our “good” game and our “good” supply in order to “overcome” what we are in store for.

Grace and Peace James
Overcome with good, provide things honest, ever follow that which is good. 

(I knew I could get this out!)