Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 4:5

"Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." — Philippians 4:5 (ASV)

Let your moderation be known to all men.

Be men who are God-governed, because God governs those who run to excess in nothing. Some go to excess in one way, and some in another; but all excess is to be avoided: Let your moderation be known to all men.

Let your moderation be known unto all men.

The word moderation, in the Greek, is a very difficult word to translate into English. It does not mean moderation in the sense in which some people use the word, for they make it, as I think, almost an accursed one.

Let your moderation – your gentleness, your willingness, your forbearance – be known unto all men. That is what it means.

Do not push your own rights too far; stop short of what you might fairly demand, and when you feel, at any time, a little vehement in temper, check yourself, hold yourself in, bear and forbear.

Do not go as far as you may, nor even as far as some think that you ought, in defending your own rights; let your gentleness, your yieldingness, be known to all men.

The Lord is at hand.

Christ is coming; why are you so troubled? The Lord is near you to help you; why are you so excessively anxious? Why are you so carried away with the present temporary trial? The Lord is at hand.