Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

"[which is] a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, [even] eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day." — 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (ASV)

Religion, if worth anything, is worth everything; and those who have no religion, or none worth having, or do not know how to value it, cannot find it in their hearts to suffer for it. We cannot, by all our sufferings any more than by our services, merit heaven; but by our patience under sufferings, we are prepared for the promised joy. Nothing more strongly marks a person for eternal ruin than a spirit of persecution and enmity toward the name and people of God.

God will trouble those who trouble His people. And there is a rest for the people of God: a rest from sin and sorrow. The certainty of future recompense is proved by the righteousness of God. The thoughts of this should be terrible to the wicked and a support to the righteous. Faith, looking to the great day, is enabled partly to understand the book of providence, which appears confused to unbelievers.

The Lord Jesus will in that day appear from heaven. He will come in the glory and power of the upper world. His light will be piercing, and His power consuming, to all who in that day will be found as chaff. This appearance will be terrible to those who do not know God, especially to those who rebel against revelation and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the great crime of multitudes: the gospel is revealed, and they will not believe it; or, if they pretend to believe, they will not obey it.

Believing the truths of the gospel is for the purpose of obeying its precepts. Though sinners may be long spared, they will be punished at last. They did sin's work and must receive sin's wages. Here God punishes sinners by creatures as instruments; but then, it will be destruction from the Almighty—and who knows the power of His anger? It will be a joyful day for some: for the saints, for those who believe and obey the gospel.

In that bright and blessed day, Christ Jesus will be glorified and admired by His saints. And Christ will be glorified and admired in them. His grace and power will be shown when it will appear what He has purchased for, worked in, and bestowed upon those who believe in Him. Lord, if the glory put upon Your saints will be so admired, how much more will You be admired as the Bestower of that glory!

The glory of Your justice in the damnation of the wicked will be admired, but not as the glory of Your mercy in the salvation of believers. How will this strike the adoring angels with holy admiration and transport Your admiring saints with eternal rapture! The humblest believer will enjoy more than the most expansive heart can imagine while we are here; Christ will be admired in all those who believe, the humblest believer not excepted.