Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Thessalonians 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
1 Thessalonians 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
1 Thessalonians 1
"Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention [of you] in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father; knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election, how that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and [in] much assurance; even as ye know what manner of men we showed ourselves toward you for your sake." — 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (ASV)
Just as all good comes from God, so no good can be hoped for by sinners, except from God in Christ. And the best good may be expected from God, as our Father, for the sake of Christ. We should pray, not only for ourselves, but for others also, remembering them without ceasing. Wherever there is a true faith, it will work; it will affect both the heart and life.
Faith works by love; it shows itself in love to God, and love to our neighbour. And wherever there is a well-grounded hope of eternal life, this will be evident in the exercise of patience. It is also a sign of sincerity when, in all we do, we seek God's approval. By this we may know our election: if we not only speak of the things of God with our lips but also feel their power in our hearts, mortifying our lusts, weaning us from the world, and raising us up to heavenly things.
Unless the Spirit of God comes with the word of God, it will be to us a dead letter. Thus they received it by the power of the Holy Spirit. They were so fully convinced of its truth that their minds were not shaken by objections or doubts; and they were willing to leave all for Christ, and to venture their souls and everlasting condition upon the truth of the gospel revelation.
"And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit; so that ye became an ensample to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith to God-ward is gone forth; so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come." — 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10 (ASV)
When careless, ignorant, and immoral persons are turned from their carnal pursuits and connections, to believe in and obey the Lord Jesus, to live soberly, righteously, and godly, the matter speaks for itself. The believers under the Old Testament waited for the coming of the Messiah, and believers now wait for his second coming. He is yet to come. And God had raised him from the dead, which is a full assurance to all people that he will come to judgment.
He came to purchase salvation and will, when he comes again, bring salvation with him, full and final deliverance from that wrath which is yet to come. Let all, without delay, flee from the wrath to come and seek refuge in Christ and his salvation.
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