Matthew Henry Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." — 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (ASV)

We may and should direct our prayers, not only to God the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, but also to our Lord Jesus Christ himself. And we should pray in his name to God, not only as his Father, but as our Father in and through him.

The love of God in Christ Jesus is the spring and fountain of all the good we have or hope for. There is good reason for strong consolations, because the saints have good hope through grace. The free grace and mercy of God are what they hope for, and what their hopes are founded on, and not any worth or merit of their own.

The more pleasure we take in the word, and works, and ways of God, the more likely we will be to persevere in them. But if we are wavering in faith, and of a doubtful mind, halting and faltering in our duty, no wonder that we are strangers to the joys of religion.