But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

a. Concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you: The Thessalonians were well taught about the return of Jesus and other prophetic matters. Paul taught them about the times and the seasons regarding the return of Jesus. They had an idea of the prophetic times they lived in, and they could discern the seasons of the present culture.

i. Again, we are impressed that Paul was with the Thessalonians only for a few weeks (Acts 17:2). In that time, he taught them about the prophetic times and seasons regarding the return of Jesus. Paul would be surprised that some people today consider the return of Jesus an unimportant teaching.

ii. Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day because they could not discern the signs of the times (Matthew 16:1-3). We should also study the Scriptures, and look to the world around us, so we can be aware of the times and the seasons.

b. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night: The Thessalonians knew, and had been taught, that they couldn't know the day of Jesus' return. That day would remain unknown, and come as a surprise, as a thief in the night. A thief does not announce the exact time of his arrival.

i. Paul certainly wasn't a "date setter" in regard to prophecy, and Jesus forbade setting dates when He said of that day and hour no one knows (Matthew 24:36). If someone did happen to guess the right day, God would probably change it! God wants it to be an unexpected day, but He wants us to be prepared for the unexpected.

c. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them: The unexpected nature of that day will be a tragedy for the unbeliever. They will be lulled to sleep by political and economic conditions, but they will be rudely awakened. They will hear the frightening verdict "they shall not escape."

i. This sudden coming, in a time when many say "Peace and safety!" must be distinct from the coming of Jesus described in Matthew 24:15-35. The coming of Jesus described in Matthew 24:15-35 happens at a time of great global catastrophe, when no one could possibly say "peace and safety!" Comparing passages like this shows us that there must be, in some way, two aspects to Jesus' Second Coming.

·        One aspect of His coming is at an unexpected hour, the other is positively predicted.

·        One coming is to a business as usual world, the other to a world in cataclysm.

·        One coming is meeting Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), the other is Him coming with the saints (Zechariah 14:5).

d. As labor pains upon a pregnant woman: The phrase labor pains suggest both inevitability and unexpectedness. Jesus used the same idea in Matthew 24:8, when He spoke of calamities preceding the end times as the beginning of sorrows, which is literally the beginning of labor pains. The idea is both of giving birth to a new age, and implying an increase of intensity and frequency in these calamities.

i. Even if you are ready for labor pains, you still don't know when they will come, and the pains are almost always worse than you expected.

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

a. But you, brethren, are not in darkness: Paul simply tells Christians that they should be who they are. God has made us sons of the light and sons of the day. The time when we were of the night or of the darkness is in the past. So now we simply have to live up to what God has made us. If we do, this Day of Jesus' coming for His people will not overtake you as a thief.

b. In some respect, the coming of Jesus will be surprise for everybody, because no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 24:36). But for Christians who know the times and the seasons, it will not be a complete surprise. No one knows the exact hour a thief will come, but some live in a general preparation against thieves. Those who are not in darkness, who are al sons of light and sons of the day are ready for the return of Jesus.

i. But if we are in darkness - perhaps caught up in some of the sin Paul warned against previously in this letter - then we are not ready, and need to make ourselves ready for the return of Jesus.

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

a. Therefore let us not sleep: Because we do not belong to the night nor of darkness (1 Thessalonians 5:5), our spiritual condition should never be marked by sleep. Spiritually speaking, we need to be active and aware, to watch and be sober.

i. Sober doesn't mean "humorless." It has in mind someone who knows the proper value of things, and therefore doesn't get too excited about the things of this world. The person who lives their life for fun and entertainment isn't sober.

ii. Paul doesn't have in mind the sort of people who stamp down all enthusiasm and excitement for Jesus, thinking this is "balance." Paul himself was an enthusiastic follower of Jesus, and accused of religious "fanaticism." The Roman official Festus thought Paul was mad (Acts 26:24), and the Corinthians thought he was beside himself (2 Corinthians 5:13).

b. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night: The opposite of spiritual watchfulness is spiritual sleep. The opposite of spiritual sobriety is to be spiritually drunk. As Christians we are of the day, and so we must watch and be sober.

c. Putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation: Paul uses the images of a soldier's armor to illustrate the idea of watchfulness. A soldier is a good example of someone who must watch and be sober, and he is equipped to do that with his armor.

i. Faith and love are represented by the breastplate because the breastplate covers the vital organs. No solider would ever go to battle without his breastplate, and no Christian is equipped to live the Christian life without faith and love.

ii. The hope of salvation is represented as a helmet, because the helmet protects the head, which is just as essential as the breastplate. Hope isn't used in the sense of "wishful thinking," but in the sense of a confident expectation.

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

a. For God did not appoint us to wrath: Before we had the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8), we had an "appointment" to wrath. We no longer have an appointment to wrath, but now to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

i. Wrath: It's important to understand that this is the wrath of God. We are saved from the world, the flesh, and the devil. But first and foremost, we are rescued from the wrath of God that we deserve. Paul's whole context here is the believer's rescue from the wrath of God.

ii. Our appointment to wrath was "scheduled" in two ways. First, because of what Adam did to us and the whole human race, we are appointed to wrath (Romans 5:14-19). Second, because of our own sin we are appointed to wrath. When Jesus died on the cross, He stood in our place in our appointment to wrath, and "re-schedules" us with an appointment to obtain salvation. As believers, when we think we are appointed to wrath, we show up for an appointment that was cancelled by Jesus.

iii. Who died for us: The idea is that Jesus died in our place. Not simply that Jesus died "for" us, in the sense as a favor for us, but that He died as a substitute for us.

b. Whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him: Having obtained salvation through our Lord Jesus, we will always live together with Him. The promise of unity with Jesus can't be broken; no matter if we live or die (wake or sleep), we will always be with Him.

i. He died for us . . . whether we wake or sleep: Jesus' death isn't softened by calling it "sleep," but our death can be called sleep. His death was death, so ours would only be sleep.

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

a. Therefore comfort each other: Paul again tells us not to take comfort, but to give comfort. If all Christians have a heart to comfort each other, then all will be comforted.

b. And edify one another: Edify means to build up. When we have our first interest in building up other Christians, then God will edify us. The vision is of a church full of active participants, not passive spectators.

c. Just as you also are doing: It wasn't that there was no comfort among the Thessalonians, or as if no one was edified. But they had to continue to do it, and to do it more and more.

B. Urging and exhorting.

And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

a. Recognize those who labor among you: Christians are to recognize their leaders, and leaders are described in three ways.

i. Those who labor among you. Leaders are recognized not by their title but by their service. Titles are fine, but only if they are true, and describe what that person really is before God and man.

ii. And are over you in the Lord. Leaders are recognized as they are "over" the congregation in the sense of ruling and providing headship, as a shepherd is over the sheep.

iii. And admonish you. Leaders are recognized as those who admonish the congregation. "Admonish" means "to caution or to reprove gently; to warn."

b. Esteem them very highly in love: Christians are to esteem their leaders, and to esteem them very highly in love. Why should Christians esteem their leaders? For their work's sake. They don't deserve esteem because of their title, or because of their personality, but because of their labor on behalf of God's people.

i. Very highly in love means that Christians should love their pastors and church leaders. In his commentary on Galatians, John Calvin wrote: "It is not enough that pastors be respected, if they are not also loved. Both are necessary; otherwise, their teaching will not have a sweet taste."

ii. If a Christian can't esteem and love their pastor, they should either get on their knees and ask the Holy Spirit to change their heart or put themselves under a pastor they do esteem and love.

c. Be at peace among yourselves: With this simple command, Paul says Christians should simply put away all their squabbles and arguments. This is a great way to esteem and love the leaders of your church.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

a. Now we exhort you: To exhort is to tell someone what they must do, but without sharpness or a critical spirit. It is not rebuke or condemnation, but neither is it merely a suggestion or advice. It is urgent and serious, but associated with comfort.

b. Warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all: Paul tells the Thessalonians - the people, not only the pastor - to minister in a variety of ways, depending on the state of the person who needs the ministry. So if someone is unruly, the duty of the Christian is to warn them. Others need comfort, others need to be upheld.

i. We must be patient with all, because true Christianity is shown by its ability to love and help difficult people - we never say "perfect only need apply"

c. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone: The Christian never should seek revenge or vengeance, but let God take up our side. Instead, we must always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. When we have a forgiving heart towards others, not only is it good for them, it is good for ourselves.

i. In the following passage, Paul will write about "spiritual" matters such as prayer, thanksgiving, and worship. But before the "spiritual" or "religious" matters comes teaching about right relationships. Jesus made it plain: get things right with men before you come to worship God (Matthew 5:23-24).

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

a. Rejoice always: Not only happy things, but in sorrows also. The Christian can rejoice always because their joy isn't based in circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, but God doesn't.

b. Pray without ceasing: Christians are to pray continually. We can't bow our heads, close our eyes, and fold our hands without ceasing, but those are customs or prayer, not prayer itself. Prayer is communication with God, and we can live each minute of the day in a constant, flowing, conversation with God.

i. There is significant, important value in a time where we shut out all other distractions and focus on God in a time of "closet" prayer (Matthew 6:6). But there is also room - and great value - in every-moment-of-the-day fellowship with God.

c. In everything give thanks: We don't give thanks for everything, but in everything. We recognize God's sovereign hand is in charge, not blind "fate" or "chance."

d. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you: After each one of these exhortations - rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks - we are told to do them because it is the will of God. The thought isn't "this is God's will, so you must do it; the thought is rather "this is God's will, so you can do it." It isn't easy to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, but we can do it because it is God's will.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

a. Do not quench the Spirit: We can quench the fire of the Spirit by our doubt, our indifference, our rejection of Him, or by the distraction of others. When people start to draw attention to themselves, it is a sure quench to the Spirit.

b. Do not despise prophecies: We recognize that the Lord speaks to and through His people today, and we learn to be open to His voice. Of course, we always test prophecies (test all things), but we do not despise them.

c. Test all things; hold fast what is good: Evil and deception can show itself even in a "spiritual" setting, so it is important for Christians to test all things. When the test has been made (according to the standard of God's Word and the discernment of spirit among the leaders), we then hold fast to what is good.

C. Conclusion.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

a. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely: The idea behind the word "sanctify" is "to set apart" - to make something different and distinct, breaking old associations and forming a new association. For example, a dress is a dress; but a wedding dress is sanctified - set apart for a special, glorious purpose. God wants us to be set apart to Him.

b. Himself sanctify you: Paul makes it clear that sanctification is God's work in us. He puts this emphasis in the words Himself, in be preserved, in He who calls you is faithful, and in who will do it. This emphasis completes Paul's previous exhortations. In all that he told the Christian to do in 1 Thessalonians 4:1 through 5:22, he never intended that they do them in their own power. More Christians are defeated on account of self-reliance than Satanic attack.

c. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless: Paul's use of spirit, soul, and body in this passage has led many to adopt what is called a trichotimist view of man, believing that man is made up of three distinct parts: spirit, soul, and body.

i. This view has some merit, but also has problems. One might say that Mark 12:30 divides man's nature into four parts (heart, soul, mind, and strength), and that 1 Corinthians 7:34 divides man's nature into two parts (body and spirit). In some passages the terms soul and spirit seem to be synonymous, other times they seem to be distinct and hard to define precisely.

ii. Greek scholar Dean Alford does a good job in making the distinction. "The SPIRIT is the highest and distinctive part of man, the immortal and responsible soul, in our common parlance: the SOUL is the lower or animal soul, containing the passions and desires which we have in common with the brutes, but which in us is ennobled and drawn up by the spirit."

Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.

a. Brethren, pray for us: Paul was an apostle, and the Thessalonian church was made up of young Christians. Paul still believed he needed their prayers, so he simply says "pray for us."

b. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss: The idea is that Paul wants those who read the letter to greet all the Christians in Thessalonica on his behalf. If he was there in person, he would greet all the brethren with a holy kiss himself, but since he is not there, he will send the greeting through this letter.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

a. I charge you by the Lord: Paul uses a strong phrase here. It was important that this epistle be read among Christians.

b. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you: Nearly all Paul's letters begin and end with grace. This is also true of almost everything God has to say to His people.

i. Grace is God's unmerited favor, His bestowal of love and acceptance on us because of who He is and what Jesus has done. Grace means that He likes us, and all the reasons are in Him. Grace means we can stop working for His love and start receiving it.