I. Paul’s Teaching On Disorderly & Lazy People
A. Sometimes We Need To Separate Vs. 6, 14, 15
1. V. 6- The idea of separating from some people isn’t a suggestion but a command.
a. First, warn them.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly…
b. Paul then commands to separate in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
c. Command- the same as when used of a military command. Also, vs. 10, 12
d. It’s to be done because both common sense and spiritual authority demand it
2. V. 6– Who Paul is concerned with.
a. Christians who walk disorderly, not according to apostolic tradition.
b. “Walks disorderly”- The word walks denotes a habitual, regular, constant manner of living. This does not speak of those who falter on occasion, but those who deliberately disregard Biblical teaching on Christian living.
c. This type of separation is not caused b/c someone doesn’t follow a particular church’s traditions or styles.
d. It doesn’t happen at a 1st failure. Speaks of one who walks disorderly.
3. V. 14- Professed Christians who disobey Biblical teaching re. the Christian life are to be noted and separated from.
a. The goal is repentance and godly living for the disorderly person
i. David Guzik- The purpose in withdrawing from these disobedient was not so much punishment, but more so simply to deny these disobedient ones the aid and comfort of the fellowship of the body of Christ until they repented. It put them out of the church into the “domain” of Satan (the world), in hope that they might miss the fellowship of the church so much they would repent of their disobedience.
ii. Guzik– Paul echoed the same idea in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5. The purpose was to bring about repentance and salvation in the disobedient ones, not to condemn or damn them.
iii. Guzik- In an indirect way, Paul showed that his vision for the church was that it should be such a place of love and comfort that it would a significant deprivation to be put out of it. Churches today should also fit that description.
b. Be ashamed- Godly sorrow & conviction is needed in such cases.
c. Godly shame is designed to bring godly change. (2 Corinthians 7:8-11)
d. Sometimes we are ashamed of sin because God speaks to us privately.
i. We may see our actions/attitudes being acted out in someone else
ii. We see how wrong it is in their life, and we regret our own sin.
e. Other times, God may have to use people to confront us.
f. The last step is when God commands Believers to withdraw from us
4. V. 15- Such people are not enemies, but brothers that needed to be admonished
a. Admonish- warn, exhort.
b. We correct our blood relatives and friends when they need it.
c. How much more our Christian siblings?
d. It is for their good, our good, God’s glory, & a good witness to the world.
e. NOTE- Non-Christians know how Christians are supposed to live.
i. They may not want Jesus or the Christian life, but they know what that life is supposed to look like.
ii. When Christians are disorderly, non-Christians notice.
5. Why do Christians sometimes refuse to do this?
a. It is unpleasant to confront others.
b. We want to avoid the counter-attack. Often, an attack turns back on us.
c. We don’t want to be seen as unloving, hyper-religious, or legalistic.
d. We don’t want to lose a friend.
e. We are convicted about our own sins & feel hypocritical.
B. The Apostolic Teaching On Lazy People Vs. 10-13
1. V. 10- Very strong command about people earning their own way.
a. Paul doesn’t say, “cannot work”, but rather, “will not work”.
b. They can work, but refuse to work.
c. Those who can’t work must be cared for; those who won’t work must be disciplined.
2. V. 11- “For we hear”- News about lazy & disorderly people is widely known
a. Disorderly- like a soldier out of rank. Ignoring the whole, living for self.
b. Busybodies- The lack of working provided time to become busybodies.
c. Ray Stedman- Someone has said those people who are willing to work are like mules: When they are pulling they cannot kick, and when they are kicking they cannot pull.
3. V. 12- Once again, we see the apostolic command in the name of Jesus
a. Work in quietness- opposite of busybody. Tending to their own life
4. V. 13- Don’t grow weary doing the good thing, i.e., working, warning, etc.
C. Paul’s Life As An Example Vs. 7-9
1. None of us is always right, but it is powerful when we are a good example
2. Our words have more authority when we speak from the place of obedience
3. Paul held himself up as an example of an orderly life
a. “We were not disorderly”.
b. “We didn’t eat anyone’s bread free of charge”. No freeloading.
c. “We worked with labor and toil night and day”.
d. The reason- “that we might not be a burden”. Concern for others
4. V.9- As an apostle and traveling preacher, Paul had the right to expect some kind of compensation, as was the custom of the day, & as is also the Biblical teaching. Instead, he passed over his rights, and taught them by example how to live.
5. Perhaps some were expecting Jesus to return at any moment and decided that they could live off the hard work of others. (Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:11, 12)
II. Paul’s Final Words To The Thessalonians Vs. 16-18
1. V. 16- The Lord of peace can give peace to those warning others, & those being warned.
a. We can have that peace even before the problem is solved.
2. V. 17- Paul usually dictated his letters but signed with his own unique mark.
a. Pretty well established that Paul was handicapped in his vision. (Galatians 4:15)
3. V. 18- Paul wishes grace upon all. The ones warning others, and the ones being warned.