Let love be without hypocrisy. Hate what is evil; hold on to
what is good.
In this verse, Paul leaves no misunderstanding about how a
believer is to live his life. Love is to be without hypocrisy, or in
other words, love is to be sincere. A hypocritical love is a show,
not true to one's feelings or beliefs. One cannot serve two
masters! Let's take an example. You say that you believe in
the 7th day Sabbath. However, you say that Sunday is
acceptable if you don't know any better. This is a false love.
Such a person is a hypocrite. Why? Because he cannot decide
what he believes! He is straddling the fence between two
ideas. In his heart, he must serve one idea or the other.
Paul continues, Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.
Now, let's continue with our example. The Ten Commandments
tell us what is good. The 4th of those commandments tell us
that the 7th day is the Sabbath. According to Paul, we are to
hate the evil, anything opposed to the 7th day, in this instance,
and hold on to what is good – the Sabbath in our example.
Otherwise, we have a hypocritical love. To come to any other
determination is to put man's ideas above God's commands.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
This is only one of thousands, perhaps innumerable examples.
We need to be very careful to be honest in all of our dealings
with other people. If you don't care for a person, don't butter
him up and act as though he was your best friend. To be a fake
is to be evil.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to
that which is good.
Love each other with devotion and brotherly love. Set
examples for each other in showing respect.
True believers are to love each other as family. The attraction
for one another is the love of the truth. Some question why
there is not a familial love in the "church" today. One good
reason is because we don't all believe the truth! Satan has
planted those among us who are there for the express purpose
of sending up smoke screens! The enemy always tries to
confuse those against him. If the confusion tactic is successful,
it makes the mop-up operations easier. There are so many
different ideas about every conceivable Biblical subject out
there that unless one has the holy spirit, he will either be drawn
into error, or he will become stymied. Even if he has the holy
spirit, he could throw up his hands and quit, or at the least,
withdraw himself from searching for others who have the truth.
We need to understand what is going on and not become
discouraged. A good prayer session will help to clear up the
brain so we can discard that which is false and hold on to that
which is good. One tactic that may be used when one sees a
man teaching something false, in an area where even a novice
should be solid, is to discard all of his works. One must learn to
narrow down the information that is coming into his mind.
Satan will bombard one with enough information to send him off
the deep end, unless he draws the line. One basic strategy is
this: If a man is teaching that <any> one of the Ten
Commandments is not absolutely required for salvation, dump
him. This will eliminate about 95% of the false teachers. This
narrows the search for truth so one can continue without
confusion.
Once we know where the true brothers are, we can show love
one to another in a familial way. We should then live our lives
in such a way that we outdo each other in showing respect one
for another.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another;
Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve God with a heart full of
devotion.
Many of the proverbs show that laziness will bring one to
poverty. Many of us are either close to retirement, or retired.
Our working days are about over, in the area of making a
living. For those who are young, work hard for the time will
come when you cannot work. For those who are retired, work
your mind hard in the right direction. All of us can serve God
with hearts full of devotion. This would include not quenching
the spirit. Using our particular gift with a zeal. The word
<serving> means to be a slave. We are to be slaves for God. A
slave does not disregard his master's commands. He rivets his
mind on obeying what he is told, not becoming creative with his
master's words. Many good servants have lost their heads
because they had a better idea than the master. God's words
cannot be improved upon! We should seek to live them just as
they have been given to us.
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoice in hope; do not give up in the face of your troubles; and
pray at all times.
We have the hope of salvation. If we think about this hope, it
cannot help but bring us joy. We are buffeted on every side,
and our troubles have no end. But, our lives are but a moment
in eternity. Compared to the future, our lives are upon the
scale of time as nothing! It is difficult for some to be patient
when troubles mount up. But, if we can think about what is
ahead and understand that our suffering is just a moment in
time it may help us to be patient. The word <patient> means
more than an absence of grumbling! It has the connotation of
endurance. It means to abide, to remain, to not flee, in other
words, one must hold fast to the faith in the face of his troubles.
Don't ever give up.
Prayer is the key! Pray at all times. Our troubles should result
in more prayer and more contact with God. God is the answer,
and prayer is the key. In our prayers we open the way for
intercession of our High Priest to the Father. This intercession
is the daily sacrifice for our transgressions. And when we are
pure in God's eyes, He is open to helping us in our other
problems. We may be going through a trial for good reason.
God is the Potter, we are the clay. Perhaps the vessel needs to
be fired in the oven as the next step in its creation. We should
not resist God. God knows best and we should pray for all
things according to His will. But, there is nothing wrong with
asking God to show us why we are suffering! Sometimes the
suffering is less painful if we know that there is a good reason
for it! Perhaps none of us are totally happy with our prayer
life. Enoch walked with God. It would be wonderful if God was
so in our minds that when anything happened adversely to us we
could just talk to God wherever we are. And not just when
something is adverse, but when something good happens to us
we could thank God for the good thing. We need a Father-son
relationship with God.
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in
prayer;
Contribute to the needs of the holy people. Pursue the practice
of hospitality.
We are to help the saints that are in need. Most of God's
people will have times in their lives when they have fallen on
bad times and are in desperate need for help from others.
Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye
will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Perhaps it would be good to define what a saint is. According to
Psalms 50:5, a saint is one who has made a covenant with God
by sacrifice! In other words, a saint is one who has made a
covenant, through the sacrifice of the Messiah, to keep the Ten
Commandments with the help of God's holy spirit! We can tell
who these people are, for they uphold the Ten Commandments
in deed as well as in word!
Psalms 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a
covenant with me by sacrifice.
The saints are those who will possess the Kingdom forever.
Judgment will be given to them at that time to help others into
the Kingdom in the World Tomorrow! Therefore, a saint learns
how to judge properly between right and wrong.
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to
the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed
the kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?
And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the
smallest matters?
The word <saint> means to be holy. The word is translated
<holy> 161 times and saints 61 times according to Online Bible.
This is just in the New Testament. In many of these instances,
it refers to the <holy> spirit. Holy is in contrast to evil. One
cannot be evil and holy at the same time and be called a saint,
or a holy person. If we come before God in prayer and confess
our transgressions daily, God looks upon us as holy if we are in
covenant with Him.
It would probably have been better if the translation was <holy
people> rather than saint. In that way we would have
understood better who was being referred to. The following
Scriptures tell us what a <saint>, or holy person should be like.
One, who is holy, is nothing short of perfect. The Messiah told
us to become perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.
Please note that he did not say that this was something He
would do for us without our help in the matter. We are not to
be a spectator of righteousness, but a participator.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not
be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:
walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of
them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
******************************************************
40 agiov hagios hag'-ee-os
from hagos (an awful thing) [cf 53, 2282]; TDNT-1:88,14; adj
AV-holy 161, saints 61, Holy One 4, misc 3; 229
1) most holy thing, a saint
******************************************************
So, those who are holy are to contribute to others that are holy,
in their needs.
Given to hospitality. We are living in a world today when the
need to show hospitality to the saints is not near what it would
have been in Paul's day. The teachers and leaders of the
believers during Paul's time were not rich. They traveled in the
most common of ways, on foot most of the time. They would
have been strangers to many people where they were
traveling.
This admonition does not mean to take in any strangers without
references, unless you are prepared to deal with the
consequences! This admonition is given in the sense of
distributing to the needs of the saints. Therefore, hospitality
here would be in the sense of toward strangers in the faith
traveling through your area, needing a place to stay and food to
eat, etc. The essence of this phrase is to jump at the chance of
being hospitable to a holy person who is a stranger and in need
of your help. It might be good to ask a few pertinent questions
before giving a stranger, without references, hospitality. Ask
him what he thinks of the Ten Commandments! Ask him
questions about the commandments that are most revealing of
his conduct before God. It won't be long until you will know
whether this person is a saint or to the contrary! If he is a saint,
jump at the chance of being hospitable. For Abraham and Lot
were hospitable to strangers and only afterwards realized that
their guests were from heaven!
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Ask God to bless those who persecute you. Ask Him to bless
and not to curse them.
The word <bless> usually means <praise> when coming from
humans. When coming from God it usually means <bless>. God
can bless people; humans can only praise them. This verse
seems to be referring to praying for those who persecute you.
The phrase "them which persecute" is the very same word used
in verse 13 for "given" to hospitality! You are to run toward
the chance of giving hospitality. These people run at the chance
of mistreating you, showing an opposite character to the saint,
or holy person.
Paul says that we are to ask God's blessing on them. The
Messiah said, “Father forgive them for they know not what
they do”! Steven said similar words when they were stoning
him to death. To get the balance in this verse, we have to look
at the words <curse not>. To curse is to doom a person or call
evil down upon him. God wants us to be a people who do not
return evil for evil. We are to leave it in God's hands when
people persecute us. We are to carry no ill will for them. We
are not to ask God to do them evil, but to forgive them for they
know not what they do.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
To rejoice and weep with others in their joy or grief is to be
family. It shows a brotherly love for other people of the faith,
regardless of what is happening to them. We tend to weep
when others weep, but we don't always show joy over the
success and good things happening to others. Jealousy tends to
shy us away from rejoicing over the good success of others. To
have a balance, we should do both!
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but accept
humble duties. Be not wise in your own eyes.
We are to live in peace with each other, not brawling, not
cursing, not swearing and the like with each other. God's spirit
is the spirit of peace, not war.
We are not to be too proud to do the most humble of tasks. The
following breakdown of this verse according to its words in the
Greek shows that "to men of low estate" was translated from
the one word #5011. I am putting the definition for this word
below. If someone of low estate was in need and you would not
help them because of their lowly state, this admonition could
apply. But there are many situations where one must put aside
high thoughts of himself and serve. The person may not always
be that which is disdained! It might be the job rather than the
person. In any case, if it needs to be done, we are to be humble
enough to do the job.
Also, we are not to trip over ourselves to be in the company of
“high society”! Don't look on the man, but on God. We should
live our lives before God, serving where the need arises.
16 Be of the same <846> mind <5426> (5723) one toward another
<1519> <240>. Mind <5426> (5723) not <3361> high things
<5308>, but <235> condescend <4879> (5734) to men of low estate
<5011>. Be <1096> (5737) not <3361> wise <5429> in <3844> your
own conceits <1438>.
******************************************************
5011 tapeinov tapeinos tap-i-nos'
of uncertain derivation; TDNT-8: 1,1152; adj
AV-of low degree 2, humble 2, base 1, cast down 1, of low
estate 1, lowly 1; 8
1) not rising far from the ground
2) metaph.
2a) as a condition, lowly, of low degree
2b) brought low with grief, depressed
2c) lowly in spirit, humble
2d) in a bad sense, deporting one's self abjectly, deferring
servilely to others
******************************************************
The word <wise> in both this verse and Proverbs 3:7 can mean
more than one's education! In fact, usually a person knows
what his educated state in life is. It would be just as wrong to
call one's self “uneducated” when one is educated, as visa
versa. Probably what Paul is getting at here, seeing that most
of us who are called are of the unwise of the world, is prudence.
In other words, we are not to be wise and crafty at getting
things to turn out for our good at the expense of others. Also,
we are not to have a puffed up estimation of our own worth.
What wisdom we have, we are to share it with others for the
good of all. It is just as wrong to hold back wisdom as it is to
give the opinion that you are wiser than you are. None of us has
all wisdom. Even those who are the most intellectual of the
world have things to learn that those who have not had the
opportunity to be educated could tell them. However,
sometimes one is so smart in his own eyes that he cannot hear
the wisdom of others, though he sorely needs to!
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart
from evil.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Repay no one evil for evil. But take thought for what is honest
-- aiming to be above reproach -- in the sight of everyone.
In today's society, it is dangerous to provide a service to
another person, for if one makes a mistake, or an accident
happens, he will be sued at the law. This is a society that gives
evil for evil. We are not to return evil to a person, even if his
intent is to do us evil. We are to leave it in God's hands. God
will take up our cause, if someone determines to do us evil. We
can pray to God and ask Him to forgive them, and that His will
be done. If God determines that the time to repay has arrived,
He will repay. Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord!
The word <provide> means to <think ahead> to do the
honorable, proper and noble thing. Foresee what is coming and
take steps to do the good thing in the sight of everyone. This
does not mean that everyone will agree with what we do. For
some men prefer that we do evil! It does mean that we do that
which is good in the sight of godly men. For those who are not
godly appeal to the senses. We are to do what is right before
God and our dealings with men are to be open and honest.
Others may not agree with our decision, but they will have to
respect our integrity.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the
sight of all men.
Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with
everybody.
Sometimes it is difficult to live with our neighbors because we
are busybodies in other men's affairs! One rule of living at
peace with men is to not always be stuck in their faces! Some
people seem to thrive on being in the middle of things. One can
rest assured that he will be in constant trouble, if he finds it
impossible to stay out of the broil of things. The need to
constantly be on the go indicates a restless spirit.
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to
their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from
house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies,
speaking things which they ought not.
1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as
an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
In our little neighborhood, we have about 7 homes. There is
little contact between each of us, but we know each is there.
We speak to each other as we pass and there are no hard
feelings between us.
This is not a perfect set of people, by the way! One man lives
alone and he has a prison record. However, he is most willing to
help when he is needed. He loaned me his garden hoses so I
could reach a brush fire to keep it under check. He rescued a
small potted tree for us. A dog had carried the tree away
before it got planted and was still in the bucket. We thought
someone had stolen the tree. My wife prayed about the loss of
the tree and in a day or two this neighbor asked me if we were
missing a tree! He had rescued the tree and replanted it in a
bucket with manure and the works.
One neighbor is a widow. She has family in and out. She works
at the same place we do, and we know her well. One day the
UPS man left her package at our house. We got the package to
her the same day! Another neighbor is husband and wife. The
wife works where we do as well. They are young people. The
man is very mature and willing to be of help when there is a
need. We were trapped-in one winter with a snow. He asked
us to let him take us to town so we could get some groceries.
While we would not have starved, it was a wonderful attitude
and much appreciated.
Another neighbor is farther away, but we speak when she
passes. She has several people living in and around her for rent,
I suppose. She keeps up most of the gravel road that everyone
uses because she has friends with equipment to do so. Even
before the road gets to a point that I would think of doing
anything to it, she has it scraped, graveled, etc. Of course, she
does not gravel our part of the road, but she is giving in nature.
Another man and woman are evil and bad. They were caught in
drug dealing. The man and woman finally separated, after
many fights and brawls. Now, the man has brought in another
man who lives in a small trailer and does cabinetwork for sell.
We don't have any dealings with these people. They seem to
want to be left alone. Law cars check in every so often. But
we have stayed our distance and had no trouble with these
people so far.
Another neighbor who lives on a hill across the road is a black
lady, a widow. She seems to have plenty of money as she gets a
new car about every two years. One day I was desperate to use
the phone and climbed the hill to her home. I was out of breath,
and asked if I could use her phone. She let me do so and I was
very thankful. We had talked with her in the past about right-
of-way matters when having a branch redirected. No problem,
everything was agreeable with her. We got acquainted with her
husband before he died, so she knows us and speaks to us when
we pass.
Now, we have lived in this neighborhood for several years. I
would say that our contact with the neighbors would amount to
less than one time per year to each of them, other than waving
at a distance, etc. But this is a peaceful neighborhood.
I also feel that the group gatherings of people can be a good
place to get a "war" going. We should evaluate group
gatherings and ask ourselves if they are worth the effort in the
light of the evil that can come out of them. The type of
gathering will help in that determination. To live peaceably
with all men means that we use common sense and discretion.
Sometimes the best discretion is to be keepers at home! Of
course, if the gathering is of holy people, there should be no
problem!
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Never avenge yourselves, my friends. Rather, leave the way
open for God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the Lord.
If we are willing to leave vengeance to God, He will repay those
who seek our hurt. I recall one lady whose husband gave her
sore trial because of God's way of life. One night he was out in
a boat, drinking, and fell overboard. He was drown. God's
vengeance fell upon him for the evil he did toward his wife. If
God notices the sparrow that falls to the ground, you can be
sure that He is well aware of every injustice that comes to us.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty,
give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his
head. Do not let evil master you, but master evil with good.
Paul says, or in other words, seeing the foregoing to be true,
feed your enemy if he is hungry! Give him water to drink if he
is thirsty! For the Eternal will reward you. Paul took this from
Proverbs 25:21-22.
Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if
he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall
reward thee.
What does Paul mean by "for in so doing you shall heap coals of
fire on his head"?
It is obvious that we are dealing with a figure of speech here!
One does not literally go around heaping live coals on another
person's head. However, by doing good to someone who has
done you evil in the past, even recently, you are doing
something to his conscience!
The word <coals> is #440. The definition is given below. By
doing good deeds to one who has done you wrong, will cause his
memory of doing you wrong to be like the pain of live coals
heaped on his head! For those in the modern age, who don't
know what coals are, they are pieces of a fossilized substance
used for heat. A live coal is one that is red hot through and
through. It would burn a hole in one's head if it were placed on
a person’s head. This term is used in the Bible figuratively to
show that God will repay the evil.
Ezekiel 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go
in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with
coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city.
And he went in in my sight.
This is another way of saying that God's vengeance will be upon
the person if you return good for evil.
440 anyrax anthrax anth'-rax
of uncertain derivation;; adj
AV-coals of fire 1; 1
1) a burning or live coal
A proverbial expression signifying to call up, by favours you
confer on your enemy, the memory in him of the wrong he has
done you (which shall pain him as if live coals were heaped on
his head), that he may the more readily repent. The Arabians
call things that cause very acute mental pain "burning coals of
the heart" and "fire of the liver".
We are not to allow evil to overcome us and cause us to act in
an evil way. Rather, we are to do what is good and the evil of
others will be overcome by our good.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
In this part we have learned that we are to love without
hypocrisy. We are to hate evil and love good. We are to love
each other like family. We are to eagerly show respect for one
another. We are not to be lazy, but work hard. We are to
serve God with zeal. We are to endure our trials, never giving
up what is right. If we have joy in our hope, this will be easier
to accomplish. We must have a regular prayer life. We are to
share what we have with other brothers in need, opening our
homes to those who are strangers to us, but not strangers to the
gospel! We are to pray for those who persecute us and not
curse them. We are to rejoice with the happy and cry with
those who are sad. We are to have concern for all our
brothers. We are to put off being proud, and accept duties and
people in all humility. We are not to be conceited. We are not
to repay others for the wrong they have done to us. We are to
be honorable before all men. As much as is possible, we are to
live with others peacefully. We must not take revenge, but do
good to those who have done evil to us and in that way “heap
coals of fire on their heads”. For vengeance is mine, I will
repay says the Lord. We must not let evil overcome us, but we
must overcome evil with good.
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Seven Continued
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Eight Continued
what is good.
In this verse, Paul leaves no misunderstanding about how a
believer is to live his life. Love is to be without hypocrisy, or in
other words, love is to be sincere. A hypocritical love is a show,
not true to one's feelings or beliefs. One cannot serve two
masters! Let's take an example. You say that you believe in
the 7th day Sabbath. However, you say that Sunday is
acceptable if you don't know any better. This is a false love.
Such a person is a hypocrite. Why? Because he cannot decide
what he believes! He is straddling the fence between two
ideas. In his heart, he must serve one idea or the other.
Paul continues, Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good.
Now, let's continue with our example. The Ten Commandments
tell us what is good. The 4th of those commandments tell us
that the 7th day is the Sabbath. According to Paul, we are to
hate the evil, anything opposed to the 7th day, in this instance,
and hold on to what is good – the Sabbath in our example.
Otherwise, we have a hypocritical love. To come to any other
determination is to put man's ideas above God's commands.
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
This is only one of thousands, perhaps innumerable examples.
We need to be very careful to be honest in all of our dealings
with other people. If you don't care for a person, don't butter
him up and act as though he was your best friend. To be a fake
is to be evil.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to
that which is good.
Love each other with devotion and brotherly love. Set
examples for each other in showing respect.
True believers are to love each other as family. The attraction
for one another is the love of the truth. Some question why
there is not a familial love in the "church" today. One good
reason is because we don't all believe the truth! Satan has
planted those among us who are there for the express purpose
of sending up smoke screens! The enemy always tries to
confuse those against him. If the confusion tactic is successful,
it makes the mop-up operations easier. There are so many
different ideas about every conceivable Biblical subject out
there that unless one has the holy spirit, he will either be drawn
into error, or he will become stymied. Even if he has the holy
spirit, he could throw up his hands and quit, or at the least,
withdraw himself from searching for others who have the truth.
We need to understand what is going on and not become
discouraged. A good prayer session will help to clear up the
brain so we can discard that which is false and hold on to that
which is good. One tactic that may be used when one sees a
man teaching something false, in an area where even a novice
should be solid, is to discard all of his works. One must learn to
narrow down the information that is coming into his mind.
Satan will bombard one with enough information to send him off
the deep end, unless he draws the line. One basic strategy is
this: If a man is teaching that <any> one of the Ten
Commandments is not absolutely required for salvation, dump
him. This will eliminate about 95% of the false teachers. This
narrows the search for truth so one can continue without
confusion.
Once we know where the true brothers are, we can show love
one to another in a familial way. We should then live our lives
in such a way that we outdo each other in showing respect one
for another.
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour
preferring one another;
Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve God with a heart full of
devotion.
Many of the proverbs show that laziness will bring one to
poverty. Many of us are either close to retirement, or retired.
Our working days are about over, in the area of making a
living. For those who are young, work hard for the time will
come when you cannot work. For those who are retired, work
your mind hard in the right direction. All of us can serve God
with hearts full of devotion. This would include not quenching
the spirit. Using our particular gift with a zeal. The word
<serving> means to be a slave. We are to be slaves for God. A
slave does not disregard his master's commands. He rivets his
mind on obeying what he is told, not becoming creative with his
master's words. Many good servants have lost their heads
because they had a better idea than the master. God's words
cannot be improved upon! We should seek to live them just as
they have been given to us.
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoice in hope; do not give up in the face of your troubles; and
pray at all times.
We have the hope of salvation. If we think about this hope, it
cannot help but bring us joy. We are buffeted on every side,
and our troubles have no end. But, our lives are but a moment
in eternity. Compared to the future, our lives are upon the
scale of time as nothing! It is difficult for some to be patient
when troubles mount up. But, if we can think about what is
ahead and understand that our suffering is just a moment in
time it may help us to be patient. The word <patient> means
more than an absence of grumbling! It has the connotation of
endurance. It means to abide, to remain, to not flee, in other
words, one must hold fast to the faith in the face of his troubles.
Don't ever give up.
Prayer is the key! Pray at all times. Our troubles should result
in more prayer and more contact with God. God is the answer,
and prayer is the key. In our prayers we open the way for
intercession of our High Priest to the Father. This intercession
is the daily sacrifice for our transgressions. And when we are
pure in God's eyes, He is open to helping us in our other
problems. We may be going through a trial for good reason.
God is the Potter, we are the clay. Perhaps the vessel needs to
be fired in the oven as the next step in its creation. We should
not resist God. God knows best and we should pray for all
things according to His will. But, there is nothing wrong with
asking God to show us why we are suffering! Sometimes the
suffering is less painful if we know that there is a good reason
for it! Perhaps none of us are totally happy with our prayer
life. Enoch walked with God. It would be wonderful if God was
so in our minds that when anything happened adversely to us we
could just talk to God wherever we are. And not just when
something is adverse, but when something good happens to us
we could thank God for the good thing. We need a Father-son
relationship with God.
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in
prayer;
Contribute to the needs of the holy people. Pursue the practice
of hospitality.
We are to help the saints that are in need. Most of God's
people will have times in their lives when they have fallen on
bad times and are in desperate need for help from others.
Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye
will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
Perhaps it would be good to define what a saint is. According to
Psalms 50:5, a saint is one who has made a covenant with God
by sacrifice! In other words, a saint is one who has made a
covenant, through the sacrifice of the Messiah, to keep the Ten
Commandments with the help of God's holy spirit! We can tell
who these people are, for they uphold the Ten Commandments
in deed as well as in word!
Psalms 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a
covenant with me by sacrifice.
The saints are those who will possess the Kingdom forever.
Judgment will be given to them at that time to help others into
the Kingdom in the World Tomorrow! Therefore, a saint learns
how to judge properly between right and wrong.
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and
possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to
the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed
the kingdom.
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?
And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the
smallest matters?
The word <saint> means to be holy. The word is translated
<holy> 161 times and saints 61 times according to Online Bible.
This is just in the New Testament. In many of these instances,
it refers to the <holy> spirit. Holy is in contrast to evil. One
cannot be evil and holy at the same time and be called a saint,
or a holy person. If we come before God in prayer and confess
our transgressions daily, God looks upon us as holy if we are in
covenant with Him.
It would probably have been better if the translation was <holy
people> rather than saint. In that way we would have
understood better who was being referred to. The following
Scriptures tell us what a <saint>, or holy person should be like.
One, who is holy, is nothing short of perfect. The Messiah told
us to become perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect.
Please note that he did not say that this was something He
would do for us without our help in the matter. We are not to
be a spectator of righteousness, but a participator.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not
be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor
covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things
cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:
walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and
truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of
them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the
dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the
Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
******************************************************
40 agiov hagios hag'-ee-os
from hagos (an awful thing) [cf 53, 2282]; TDNT-1:88,14; adj
AV-holy 161, saints 61, Holy One 4, misc 3; 229
1) most holy thing, a saint
******************************************************
So, those who are holy are to contribute to others that are holy,
in their needs.
Given to hospitality. We are living in a world today when the
need to show hospitality to the saints is not near what it would
have been in Paul's day. The teachers and leaders of the
believers during Paul's time were not rich. They traveled in the
most common of ways, on foot most of the time. They would
have been strangers to many people where they were
traveling.
This admonition does not mean to take in any strangers without
references, unless you are prepared to deal with the
consequences! This admonition is given in the sense of
distributing to the needs of the saints. Therefore, hospitality
here would be in the sense of toward strangers in the faith
traveling through your area, needing a place to stay and food to
eat, etc. The essence of this phrase is to jump at the chance of
being hospitable to a holy person who is a stranger and in need
of your help. It might be good to ask a few pertinent questions
before giving a stranger, without references, hospitality. Ask
him what he thinks of the Ten Commandments! Ask him
questions about the commandments that are most revealing of
his conduct before God. It won't be long until you will know
whether this person is a saint or to the contrary! If he is a saint,
jump at the chance of being hospitable. For Abraham and Lot
were hospitable to strangers and only afterwards realized that
their guests were from heaven!
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Ask God to bless those who persecute you. Ask Him to bless
and not to curse them.
The word <bless> usually means <praise> when coming from
humans. When coming from God it usually means <bless>. God
can bless people; humans can only praise them. This verse
seems to be referring to praying for those who persecute you.
The phrase "them which persecute" is the very same word used
in verse 13 for "given" to hospitality! You are to run toward
the chance of giving hospitality. These people run at the chance
of mistreating you, showing an opposite character to the saint,
or holy person.
Paul says that we are to ask God's blessing on them. The
Messiah said, “Father forgive them for they know not what
they do”! Steven said similar words when they were stoning
him to death. To get the balance in this verse, we have to look
at the words <curse not>. To curse is to doom a person or call
evil down upon him. God wants us to be a people who do not
return evil for evil. We are to leave it in God's hands when
people persecute us. We are to carry no ill will for them. We
are not to ask God to do them evil, but to forgive them for they
know not what they do.
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
To rejoice and weep with others in their joy or grief is to be
family. It shows a brotherly love for other people of the faith,
regardless of what is happening to them. We tend to weep
when others weep, but we don't always show joy over the
success and good things happening to others. Jealousy tends to
shy us away from rejoicing over the good success of others. To
have a balance, we should do both!
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but accept
humble duties. Be not wise in your own eyes.
We are to live in peace with each other, not brawling, not
cursing, not swearing and the like with each other. God's spirit
is the spirit of peace, not war.
We are not to be too proud to do the most humble of tasks. The
following breakdown of this verse according to its words in the
Greek shows that "to men of low estate" was translated from
the one word #5011. I am putting the definition for this word
below. If someone of low estate was in need and you would not
help them because of their lowly state, this admonition could
apply. But there are many situations where one must put aside
high thoughts of himself and serve. The person may not always
be that which is disdained! It might be the job rather than the
person. In any case, if it needs to be done, we are to be humble
enough to do the job.
Also, we are not to trip over ourselves to be in the company of
“high society”! Don't look on the man, but on God. We should
live our lives before God, serving where the need arises.
16 Be of the same <846> mind <5426> (5723) one toward another
<1519> <240>. Mind <5426> (5723) not <3361> high things
<5308>, but <235> condescend <4879> (5734) to men of low estate
<5011>. Be <1096> (5737) not <3361> wise <5429> in <3844> your
own conceits <1438>.
******************************************************
5011 tapeinov tapeinos tap-i-nos'
of uncertain derivation; TDNT-8: 1,1152; adj
AV-of low degree 2, humble 2, base 1, cast down 1, of low
estate 1, lowly 1; 8
1) not rising far from the ground
2) metaph.
2a) as a condition, lowly, of low degree
2b) brought low with grief, depressed
2c) lowly in spirit, humble
2d) in a bad sense, deporting one's self abjectly, deferring
servilely to others
******************************************************
The word <wise> in both this verse and Proverbs 3:7 can mean
more than one's education! In fact, usually a person knows
what his educated state in life is. It would be just as wrong to
call one's self “uneducated” when one is educated, as visa
versa. Probably what Paul is getting at here, seeing that most
of us who are called are of the unwise of the world, is prudence.
In other words, we are not to be wise and crafty at getting
things to turn out for our good at the expense of others. Also,
we are not to have a puffed up estimation of our own worth.
What wisdom we have, we are to share it with others for the
good of all. It is just as wrong to hold back wisdom as it is to
give the opinion that you are wiser than you are. None of us has
all wisdom. Even those who are the most intellectual of the
world have things to learn that those who have not had the
opportunity to be educated could tell them. However,
sometimes one is so smart in his own eyes that he cannot hear
the wisdom of others, though he sorely needs to!
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart
from evil.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Repay no one evil for evil. But take thought for what is honest
-- aiming to be above reproach -- in the sight of everyone.
In today's society, it is dangerous to provide a service to
another person, for if one makes a mistake, or an accident
happens, he will be sued at the law. This is a society that gives
evil for evil. We are not to return evil to a person, even if his
intent is to do us evil. We are to leave it in God's hands. God
will take up our cause, if someone determines to do us evil. We
can pray to God and ask Him to forgive them, and that His will
be done. If God determines that the time to repay has arrived,
He will repay. Vengeance is mine, I will repay says the Lord!
The word <provide> means to <think ahead> to do the
honorable, proper and noble thing. Foresee what is coming and
take steps to do the good thing in the sight of everyone. This
does not mean that everyone will agree with what we do. For
some men prefer that we do evil! It does mean that we do that
which is good in the sight of godly men. For those who are not
godly appeal to the senses. We are to do what is right before
God and our dealings with men are to be open and honest.
Others may not agree with our decision, but they will have to
respect our integrity.
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the
sight of all men.
Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with
everybody.
Sometimes it is difficult to live with our neighbors because we
are busybodies in other men's affairs! One rule of living at
peace with men is to not always be stuck in their faces! Some
people seem to thrive on being in the middle of things. One can
rest assured that he will be in constant trouble, if he finds it
impossible to stay out of the broil of things. The need to
constantly be on the go indicates a restless spirit.
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to
their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own
business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1 Timothy 5:13 And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from
house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies,
speaking things which they ought not.
1 Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as
an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
In our little neighborhood, we have about 7 homes. There is
little contact between each of us, but we know each is there.
We speak to each other as we pass and there are no hard
feelings between us.
This is not a perfect set of people, by the way! One man lives
alone and he has a prison record. However, he is most willing to
help when he is needed. He loaned me his garden hoses so I
could reach a brush fire to keep it under check. He rescued a
small potted tree for us. A dog had carried the tree away
before it got planted and was still in the bucket. We thought
someone had stolen the tree. My wife prayed about the loss of
the tree and in a day or two this neighbor asked me if we were
missing a tree! He had rescued the tree and replanted it in a
bucket with manure and the works.
One neighbor is a widow. She has family in and out. She works
at the same place we do, and we know her well. One day the
UPS man left her package at our house. We got the package to
her the same day! Another neighbor is husband and wife. The
wife works where we do as well. They are young people. The
man is very mature and willing to be of help when there is a
need. We were trapped-in one winter with a snow. He asked
us to let him take us to town so we could get some groceries.
While we would not have starved, it was a wonderful attitude
and much appreciated.
Another neighbor is farther away, but we speak when she
passes. She has several people living in and around her for rent,
I suppose. She keeps up most of the gravel road that everyone
uses because she has friends with equipment to do so. Even
before the road gets to a point that I would think of doing
anything to it, she has it scraped, graveled, etc. Of course, she
does not gravel our part of the road, but she is giving in nature.
Another man and woman are evil and bad. They were caught in
drug dealing. The man and woman finally separated, after
many fights and brawls. Now, the man has brought in another
man who lives in a small trailer and does cabinetwork for sell.
We don't have any dealings with these people. They seem to
want to be left alone. Law cars check in every so often. But
we have stayed our distance and had no trouble with these
people so far.
Another neighbor who lives on a hill across the road is a black
lady, a widow. She seems to have plenty of money as she gets a
new car about every two years. One day I was desperate to use
the phone and climbed the hill to her home. I was out of breath,
and asked if I could use her phone. She let me do so and I was
very thankful. We had talked with her in the past about right-
of-way matters when having a branch redirected. No problem,
everything was agreeable with her. We got acquainted with her
husband before he died, so she knows us and speaks to us when
we pass.
Now, we have lived in this neighborhood for several years. I
would say that our contact with the neighbors would amount to
less than one time per year to each of them, other than waving
at a distance, etc. But this is a peaceful neighborhood.
I also feel that the group gatherings of people can be a good
place to get a "war" going. We should evaluate group
gatherings and ask ourselves if they are worth the effort in the
light of the evil that can come out of them. The type of
gathering will help in that determination. To live peaceably
with all men means that we use common sense and discretion.
Sometimes the best discretion is to be keepers at home! Of
course, if the gathering is of holy people, there should be no
problem!
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Never avenge yourselves, my friends. Rather, leave the way
open for God's wrath. For it is written, Vengeance is mine, I
will repay, says the Lord.
If we are willing to leave vengeance to God, He will repay those
who seek our hurt. I recall one lady whose husband gave her
sore trial because of God's way of life. One night he was out in
a boat, drinking, and fell overboard. He was drown. God's
vengeance fell upon him for the evil he did toward his wife. If
God notices the sparrow that falls to the ground, you can be
sure that He is well aware of every injustice that comes to us.
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto
wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty,
give him drink: for in so doing you shall heap coals of fire on his
head. Do not let evil master you, but master evil with good.
Paul says, or in other words, seeing the foregoing to be true,
feed your enemy if he is hungry! Give him water to drink if he
is thirsty! For the Eternal will reward you. Paul took this from
Proverbs 25:21-22.
Proverbs 25:21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if
he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall
reward thee.
What does Paul mean by "for in so doing you shall heap coals of
fire on his head"?
It is obvious that we are dealing with a figure of speech here!
One does not literally go around heaping live coals on another
person's head. However, by doing good to someone who has
done you evil in the past, even recently, you are doing
something to his conscience!
The word <coals> is #440. The definition is given below. By
doing good deeds to one who has done you wrong, will cause his
memory of doing you wrong to be like the pain of live coals
heaped on his head! For those in the modern age, who don't
know what coals are, they are pieces of a fossilized substance
used for heat. A live coal is one that is red hot through and
through. It would burn a hole in one's head if it were placed on
a person’s head. This term is used in the Bible figuratively to
show that God will repay the evil.
Ezekiel 10:2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go
in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with
coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city.
And he went in in my sight.
This is another way of saying that God's vengeance will be upon
the person if you return good for evil.
440 anyrax anthrax anth'-rax
of uncertain derivation;; adj
AV-coals of fire 1; 1
1) a burning or live coal
A proverbial expression signifying to call up, by favours you
confer on your enemy, the memory in him of the wrong he has
done you (which shall pain him as if live coals were heaped on
his head), that he may the more readily repent. The Arabians
call things that cause very acute mental pain "burning coals of
the heart" and "fire of the liver".
We are not to allow evil to overcome us and cause us to act in
an evil way. Rather, we are to do what is good and the evil of
others will be overcome by our good.
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him
drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
In this part we have learned that we are to love without
hypocrisy. We are to hate evil and love good. We are to love
each other like family. We are to eagerly show respect for one
another. We are not to be lazy, but work hard. We are to
serve God with zeal. We are to endure our trials, never giving
up what is right. If we have joy in our hope, this will be easier
to accomplish. We must have a regular prayer life. We are to
share what we have with other brothers in need, opening our
homes to those who are strangers to us, but not strangers to the
gospel! We are to pray for those who persecute us and not
curse them. We are to rejoice with the happy and cry with
those who are sad. We are to have concern for all our
brothers. We are to put off being proud, and accept duties and
people in all humility. We are not to be conceited. We are not
to repay others for the wrong they have done to us. We are to
be honorable before all men. As much as is possible, we are to
live with others peacefully. We must not take revenge, but do
good to those who have done evil to us and in that way “heap
coals of fire on their heads”. For vengeance is mine, I will
repay says the Lord. We must not let evil overcome us, but we
must overcome evil with good.
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