Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Thessalonians 3:5

"And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ." — 2 Thessalonians 3:5 (ASV)

Paul realizes that the Lord’s help is indispensable. His compliment in v.4 does not imply that they are self-sufficient. Therefore he requests the Lord to direct them into a fuller appreciation of God’s love for them and of Christ’s perseverance on their behalf. To comply with Paul’s instructions to discipline the idle believers (vv.6–15) will be difficult. Thus the strongest possible motivation —recollection of God’s love and Christ’s endurance of suffering—will undergird that discipline.