2 Thessalonians 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. The Apostle meant only to express a benevolent wish on behalf of the Church at Thessalonica: but he expressed it in such terms as a person habituated to the doctrine of the Trinity would naturally use: he prayed that the Lord the Spirit would direct their hearts into the love of God the Father, and into the patient waiting for Christ. I. THE OBJECTS OF THE APOSTLE'S WISH. A very little observation of the world is sufficient to convince us that the love of God is not the supreme passion of mankind, nor a due preparation for a final advent of Christ. Nevertheless, to possess this state of heart and mind is essential to the Christian character. Of ourselves we never shall, or can, attain to this. In full persuasion of this fact, St. Paul poured out the benevolent aspiration that the Christians to whom he wrote might experience more deeply the truths they possessed. II. THE REASONS OF THAT WISH. Among the most important of these were doubtless two. 1. The attainment of such a state would prove highly conducive to their present happiness. This the Apostle knew: he knew it from the universal tenor of the Holy Scripture (Psalm 63:5; Matthew 5:3-12); and he knew it from his own experience (2 Timothy 4:7, 8). 2. It was also indispensably necessary to their eternal welfare. What is a Christian without the love of God? He cannot call himself a disciple of Christ who has no delight in following the steps of Christ, or in looking forward to His future advent. Application — (1) We express the same benevolent wish respecting you; (2) and we also request that you will adopt the same wish for yourselves. (C. Simeon, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.WEB: May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ. |
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