Matthew Henry Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward. Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings; prove all things; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 (ASV)

We are to rejoice in creature-comforts as if we did not rejoice, and we must not expect to live many years and rejoice in them all; but if we rejoice in God, we may do that forever. A truly religious life is a life of constant joy. And we should rejoice more if we prayed more.

Prayer will further all lawful business and every good work. If we pray without ceasing, we will not lack reasons for thanksgiving in everything. We will see cause to give thanks for sparing and preventing, for common and uncommon, for past and present, and for temporal and spiritual mercies. Not only for prosperous and pleasing providences, but also for afflicting ones, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though at present we do not see how they contribute to it.

Quench not the Spirit. Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He works like fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying human souls. As fire is put out by taking away fuel, and as it is quenched by pouring water or by putting a great deal of earth upon it, so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by indulging carnal lusts and affections, and by minding only earthly things.

Believers often hinder their growth in grace by not yielding to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. By “prophesyings,” understand here the preaching of the word: the interpreting and applying the Scriptures. We must not despise preaching, even if it is plain and we are told nothing more than what we already knew.

We must search the Scriptures. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good. We should abstain from sin and from whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. Anyone who is not wary of the appearances of sin, who does not shun the occasions for it, and who does not avoid the temptations and approaches to it, will not long refrain from sinning.