MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28
Closing Words.
I. An important request.—“Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25). The most gifted saints have need of the prayers of God’s people. The great apostle, much as he prayed for himself, did not himself feel independent of the intercessions of others. His large experience of the power of prayer made him only the more anxious to strengthen his personal interest at the throne of grace. The least gifted saint in other respects may be mighty in prayer. Believers are so bound together as to be dependent on one another, and all on the great Head of the Church. The richest inheritance of the anxious minister are the prayers of his people. A praying Church will never have to complain of an insipid and fruitless ministry.
II. A Christian salutation.—“Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss” (1 Thessalonians 5:26). The “kiss of charity” in those days was a token of friendship and goodwill, something equivalent to the shaking of hands in modern times. In the Syrian Church, before communion, each takes his neighbour’s right hand, and gives the salutation, “Peace!” The greeting was “a holy kiss”—pure and chaste, such as one Christian may give to another, and not sin. Christianity is the soul of courtesy. “Forms may change; but the same spirit of brotherly love and cordial recognition of one another, under whatever diversities of temporal circumstances, should ever characterise those who know the love of a common Saviour, and have entered into the communion of saints” (Lillie). Let the love of the heart toward all the brethren be practically manifested in becoming acts of courtesy and goodwill.
III. A solemn direction.—“I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren” (1 Thessalonians 5:27). This first epistle to the Thessalonians is, in point of time, the earliest of all the canonical books of the New Testament; and here is a solemn injunction that it be publicly read to all the people. The Romish Church, if she does not deny, very unwillingly allows the reading of Scripture by the laity. “What Rome forbids under an anathema,” says Bengel, “St. Paul enjoins with an adjuration.” None should be debarred from reading or hearing the word of God. “Women and children are not to be excluded” (Deuteronomy 31:12; Joshua 8:34-35). Lois and Eunice knew the Bible, and taught it to the child Timothy. The Berœans had free access to the sacred volume, and searched it at their pleasure. The public reading of the Holy Scriptures is an important means of edifying the Church; it is enforced by apostolic authority; it familiarises the mind with the greatest truths; it keeps alive the enthusiasm of the Church for aggressive purposes.
IV. A gracious benediction.—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (1 Thessalonians 5:28). The epistle closes, as it began, with blessing. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the fountain of all the good that has flowed in upon and enriched the human race. The three great features of that grace—pardon, peace, holiness—are clearly elucidated in this epistle. The fountain is inexhaustible. Its streams of blessing are ever available for needy, perishing man.
Lessons.—
1. Prayer is an ever-present duty.
2. Christianity hallows all the true courtesies of life.
3. The word of God should be constantly read and studied.
4. The best blessings issue from the inexhaustible grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES
1 Thessalonians 5:25. Pray for Us.
I. We greatly need your prayers.—Our state, like yours, is a state of probation. We have uncommon wants. We have a strict account to give.
II. We request your prayers.—
1. You can pray.
2. God will hear you.
III. We may reasonably expect that you will pray for us.—
1. We pray for you.
2. We are labouring for your advantage.
IV. We are warranted to expect it from your own professions.—
1. You profess a high degree, not only of respect, but of love to your preachers.
2. Some of you can scarcely give us any other proof of it.
V. It will be to your advantage to pray for us.—
1. It will prepare your minds for hearing us.
2. This will make us useful to you.
VI. Your prayers will make us more useful to others.
1 Thessalonians 5:27. The Public Reading of the Scriptures.
I. To debar the Lord’s people from acquainting themselves with Scripture is a great sin.—Scripture should be translated into the native tongue of every nation where Christ has a Church, that people may read it, hear it, and be acquainted with it. They ought diligently to improve all helps to acquaint them with the mind of God revealed in Scripture, and look upon their doing so as a duty of greatest importance and weight.
II. Ministers and Church guides should see that the people of their charge be acquainted with Scripture.—Should invite them to read it in secret and in their families, and use their influence that children of both sexes be trained up at schools to read the Lord’s words distinctly in their own native language.
III. Scripture should be publicly read to God’s people assembled together for His worship.—Even though not immediately expounded and applied, the reading of God’s word allows it to speak for itself and impress its own divine authority.—Fergusson.