1 Thessalonians, Chapter 5, verses 9-13, 24-28
1 He proceedeth in the former description of Christ's coming to judgment, 16 and giveth diverse precepts, 23 and so concludeth the epistleLuke, Chapter 16, verses 15-18
14 Christ reproveth the hypocrisy of the covetous Pharisees16
16:15 And he said to them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men - The sense of the whole passage is, that pride, wherewith you justify yourselves, feeds covetousness, derides the Gospel, Luk 16:14, and destroys the law, Luk 16:18. All which is illustrated by a terrible example. Ye justify yourselves before men - Ye think yourselves righteous, and persuade others to think you so.
16:16 The law and the prophets were in force until John: from that time the Gospel takes place; and humble upright men receive it with inexpressible earnestness. Mat 11:13.
16:17 Not that the Gospel at all destroys the law. Mat 5:18.
16:18 But ye do; particularly in this notorious instance. Mat 5:31; Mat 19:7.
Luke, Chapter 17, verses 1-4
1 Christ teacheth to avoid occasions of offence, 3 One to forgive another17
17:1 It is impossible but offences will come - And they ever did and do come chiefly by Pharisees, that is, men who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others. Mat 18:6; Mar 9:42.
17:2 Little ones - Weak believers.
17:3 Take heed to yourselves - That ye neither offend others, nor be offended by others. Mat 18:15.
17:4 If he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return, saying, I repent - That is, if he give sufficient proof that he does really repent, after having sinned ever so often, receive him just as if he had never sinned against thee.But this forgiveness is due only to real penitents. In a lower sense we are to forgive all, penitent or impenitent; (so as to bear them the sincerest good will, and to do them all the good we can;) and that not seven times only, but seventy times seven.
5
5:9 God hath not appointed us to wrath - As he hath the obstinately impenitent.
5:10 Whether we wake or sleep - Be alive or dead at his coming.
5:12 Know them that,
- Labour among you:
- Are over you in the Lord:
- Admonish you.
Know - See, mark, take knowledge of them and their work. Sometimes the same person may both labour, that is, preach; be over, or govern; and admonish the flock by particular application to each: sometimes two or more different persons, according as God variously dispenses his gifts. But O, what a misery is it when a man undertakes this whole work without either gifts or graces for any part of it! Why, then, will he undertake it? for pay?What! will he sell both his own soul and all the souls of the flock? What words can describe such a wretch as this? And yet even this may be "an honourable man!"5:13 Esteem them very highly - Literally, more than abundantly, in love - The inexpressible sympathy that is between true pastors and their flock is intimated, not only here, but also in divers other places of this epistle.See Th1 2:7-8.For their work's sake - The principal ground of their vast regard for them. But how are we to esteem them who do not work at all?