What is the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:20? Do not Paul opens with an urgent negative command—an immediate call to stop a harmful tendency before it starts. In the flow of the letter, it follows “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), showing that resisting the Spirit’s work often begins with a simple “no.” • Scripture often warns against the danger of a hardened “no.” Hebrews 3:15 urges, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Jesus highlights the same mindset: “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). The plain force of “Do not” places the responsibility on believers to remain open, alert, and engaged whenever God speaks. Treat “Treat” points to our habitual attitude and manner of handling something precious. How we handle prophetic words reveals the condition of our hearts. • Paul elsewhere commends the Bereans because they “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day” (Acts 17:11); their posture was receptive yet discerning. • Conversely, Israel’s leaders were rebuked for mishandling God’s word: “You have turned a blind eye to My law” (Jeremiah 6:19). Right treatment involves: – An open ear (Proverbs 1:5) – A teachable spirit (James 1:21) – A willingness to obey (John 14:23) Prophecies Here Paul speaks of Spirit-given messages that declare God’s will, comfort, or warning for His people—always in harmony with completed Scripture. • Peter affirms, “For no prophecy was ever brought about by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). • Joel’s promise, quoted at Pentecost, says, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Acts 2:17), showing that the Spirit’s voice did not end with the apostolic age. • Yet prophetic utterances must be tested: “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said” (1 Corinthians 14:29). Biblically, prophecy: – Aligns with written Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16) – Exalts Christ, not the speaker (Revelation 19:10) – Builds up, encourages, and consoles the church (1 Corinthians 14:3) With contempt “Contempt” pictures an attitude that makes light of, mocks, or dismisses what God values. Such scorn silences conviction and invites spiritual drought. • When God’s servants were despised, “the wrath of the LORD was aroused” (2 Chronicles 36:16). • Jesus Himself “was despised and rejected” (Isaiah 53:3), showing how contempt blinds people to God’s greatest revelation. Signs of contempt today include: – Cynical jokes about prophetic gifts – Automatic disbelief without examination – Selective hearing—accepting only comfortable words (2 Timothy 4:3) Paul pairs this warning with the balance of verse 21: “but test all things; hold fast to what is good.” The antidote to contempt is careful discernment, not blanket rejection. summary 1 Thessalonians 5:20 commands believers to resist every impulse to scoff at the Spirit’s prophetic voice. Instead of a hard “no,” we cultivate a receptive heart, treat every claimed word from God with respectful examination, and welcome authentic prophecy that exalts Christ and aligns with Scripture. In doing so, we honor the Holy Spirit, nourish the church, and keep our own hearts sensitive to the living voice of God. |
    |