(6) В¶ Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (7) For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; (8) Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: (9) Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. (10) For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. (11) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. (12) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
In order for the better apprehension of this part of the Epistle we must consider Christ's Church as one family. And a family wisely regulated and ordered, must be guided by one uniform plan, for the comfort of the whole body, in temporal things as well as spiritual. It appears from what the Apostle saith here, that there were some which had joined the Church, who had not first joined the Lord. And it is worthy our observation, that notwithstanding the Apostle possessed a divine gift of discerning spirits in matters of moment; yet, even in the Churches under his own direction, some men crept in who had no part in the matter. In the Church of the Romans, we find the Apostle reproving such who served not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly. Romans 16:18, see also Philippians 3:18-19. There have been such in all professing Churches of the saints in all ages. Nay, Paul himself saith, there must be also, even heresies among them, that they which are approved may be made manifest among them. 1 Corinthians 11:19. Reader! do not overlook these things. In the present day the view is highly profitable. It is a great point to make a right distinction between real and nominal Christians, as well as between the professor and the profane. When idle and disorderly persons creep into a Church, and cover themselves over with a name to live, while virtually dead before God; we may expect all such consequences will follow, as Paul hath here described. And it is a melancholy consideration when this conduct is found among the humbler walks of life, who follow the ordinances, as those of old did the Lord himself, not because they saw the miracles, but because they did eat of the loaves and were filled. John 6:26
But the Apostle, not only speaks in this scripture, of the idle among the poor, but the disorderly also. And, it is more than probable, that these were chiefly among the rich; as riches, and what is called the good things of this life, are more likely to open temptations to indulgence, in things disorderly. It is a sad, sad thing, when wealth, and worldly rank, tempt churches to admit into their community, any whom God hath not admitted. Such men may fill the coffer, but they themselves add nothing to the real number of Christ's Church. How blessedly our great Apostle speaks of his fears on this ground. I am jealous over you, said he to the Corinthian Church, with a godly jealousy, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2. It is one thing to entertain suspicious opinions, ungrounded, and ill-formed, of any professor, and another, to be jealous over one another, with a godly jealousy. But if Churches professing the eternal, and unalterable truths of God, were to admit none into Church fellowship, but such as had fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ there would be no idle among the poor, neither disorderly among the rich. And very blessedly then, would the whole body, holding the Head and being knit together, increase, with all the increase of God. Colossians 2:19.