Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Thessalonians 3

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

This is a most important request. What can the ministers of the gospel do if their people cease to pray for them? Even if their own prayers are heard, as they will be, and a measure of blessing is given, it will still be only a scant measure compared with what it would be if all the saints united in their intercessions.

Whenever we see the word of God very mighty in one place, it ought to encourage us to pray that it may be the same in another place. For it is the same word, and the hearts of all people are alike. The same Spirit can give the same blessing in every place.

Hence Paul says, "Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you." Now, if any of you in your church are enjoying rich prosperity, pray for others, that they may have the same. And, if you are without it, take courage from any church that you see prospering, and ask the Lord to do the same things for you.

It is very likely that if we prayed more for ministers, they would be more of a blessing to us. There is many a man who cannot hear his minister, and the reason may be that God never hears him pray for his minister.

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

I really do not know which is the worst to put up with – an unreasonable man or a wicked man. A wicked man may do you all sorts of mischief, but you soon know him. But an unreasonable man – you do not know where to find him, and he can attack you from all sorts of places. Alas! there are some very unreasonable Christians – very good in some points, but very stupid; and a stupid man may set a village on a blaze quite as easily as a wicked man.

The stupid man's accident may be as dangerous as another man's design. Pray also that we may be delivered from wicked and unreasonable men, for all men have not faith, and all men have not sense, I may also add.

But the Lord is faithful,

There is the mercy. Whether men are fools or scoundrels, the Lord is faithful.

Who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

We are taught to pray for this grace. We are here told that we will have it. Since God is faithful, he will keep us from evil.

Finally, brethren, pray for us,

"Pray for us," says the apostle, "pray for myself and the brothers who are with me, pray for all the apostles and preachers of the Word." Finally, brethren. If this were the last word we had to say to you, we would make just this request, Finally, brethren, pray for us.

You cannot tell how much God's servants are helped by the prayers of His people. The strongest man in Israel will be the better for the prayers of the weakest saint in Zion. If you can do nothing else, you can pray for us; therefore, day and night, be at the mercy-seat on our behalf: Finally, brethren, pray for us.

That the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

"You Thessalonians enjoy the power of the Word. Pray that it may be so everywhere else." Paul is said to have written this Epistle from Corinth or Athens, and he longed that the Word of God might prevail there as it had done at Thessalonica.

Pray now that, in every part of the world, God's Word may have free course. There are many who stand in the way of it. Pray to God that they may be swept out of the way, that the Word of the Lord may have free course.

We want the gospel to run, and spread, until the whole earth shall know its blessed message.

And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

All men are not candid, or true: all men have not faith.