1 Thessalonians 5:13

5:12-15 The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honour the Lord. It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be amiss. The people should honour and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls. And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. But love of peace must not make us wink at sin. The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. We must bear and forbear. We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men. Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others.

And to esteem them very highly,.... Or, as the Ethiopic version renders it, "honour them abundantly"; for such are worthy of double honour, and to be had in reputation; they should be honourably thought of, and be high in the affections of the saints, who should esteem them better than themselves, or others in the community; and should be spoke well of, and their characters vindicated from the reproach and obloquy of others; and should be spoke respectfully to, and be honourably done by; should be provided for with an honourable maintenance, which is part of the double honour due to them in 1 Timothy 5:17 and this should be in love; not in fear, nor in hypocrisy and dissimulation; not in word and in tongue only, but from the heart and real affection: the Syriac version renders it, "that they be esteemed by you with more abundant love"; with an increasing love, or with greater love than is shown to the brethren in common, or to private members: and that for their works' sake; for the sake of the work of the ministry, which is a good work as well as honourable; is beneficial to the souls of men, and is for the glory of God, being diligently and faithfully performed by them; on which account they are to be valued, and not for an empty title without labour. And be at peace among yourselves.

Esteem (ἡγεῖσθαι) Primarily to lead, which is the only sense in the Gospels and Acts, except Acts 26:2, in a speech of Paul. To lead the mind through a reasoning process to a conclusion, and so to think, to estimate. Only in this sense by Paul, Peter, and James. See 2 Corinthians 9:5; Philippians 2:3; James 1:2; 2 Peter 3:9. In both senses in Hebrews. See Hebrews 10:29; Hebrews 13:7. Very highly in love Const. very highly with esteem. In love qualifies both words. For their work's sake (διὰ τὸ ἔργον αὐτῶν) Their esteem for their superintendents is not to rest only on personal attachment or respect for their position, but on intelligent and sympathetic appreciation of their work. It is a good and much-needed lesson for the modern congregation no less than for the Thessalonian church.

Verse 13. - And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake ; that is, both on account of their labors, and especially on account of the dignity of their office, for their work is the work of the Lord. Both love for their persons and respect for their authority are here enjoined. And ; to be omitted, as not in the original. Be at peace among yourselves. A new exhortation, entirely independent of the preceding; it is not addressed to the presbyters, but to the members of the Church in general. 1 Thessalonians 5:13

13. very highly—Greek, "exceeding abundantly." for their work's sake—The high nature of their work alone, the furtherance of your salvation and of the kingdom of Christ, should be a sufficient motive to claim your reverential love. At the same time, the word "work," teaches ministers that, while claiming the reverence due to their office, it is not a sinecure, but a "work"; compare "labor" (even to weariness: so the Greek), 1Th 5:12. be at peace among yourselves—The "and" is not in the original. Let there not only be peace between ministers and their flocks, but also no party rivalries among yourselves, one contending in behalf of some one favorite minister, another in behalf of another (Mr 9:50; 1Co 1:12; 4:6).

(13) Very highly in love. —The original here is difficult; but it seems best, with most good commentators, ancient and modern, to construe “in love” with “esteem,” and to make “very highly” (a very enthusiastic word in the Greek) an expletive attached to “in love,” implying “hold in a most extraordinary degree of love.” The bond which binds the Christian community to their directors is not to be one of “recognition” and obedience only ( 1Thessalonians 5:12 ), but of holy affection above all. For their work’s sake.—Our love is to be paid them not for any social or intellectual qualities they may have in themselves; it is the work which they have to do that should attract our sympathy. The original seems to mean that we are to love them, not only because they do such work, but also ‘for the sake of their work,” i.e., to help it forward. Be at peace among yourselves.—Discipline to be observed towards equals, as well as superiors.

And to esteem them very highly in love - To cherish for them an affectionate regard. The office of a minister of religion demands respect. They who are faithful in that office have a claim on the kind regards of their fellow-men. The very nature of the office requires them to do good to others, and there is no benefactor who should be treated with more affectionate regard than he who endeavors to save us from ruin; to impart to us the consolations of the gospel in affliction; and to bring us and our families to heaven. For their work's sake - Not primarily as a personal matter, or on their own account, but on account of the work in which they are engaged. It is a work whose only tendency, when rightly performed, is to do good. It injures no man, but contributes to the happiness of all. It promotes intelligence, industry, order, neatness, economy, temperance, chastity, charity, and kindness in this world, and leads to eternal blessedness in the world to come. A man who sincerely devotes himself to such a work has a claim on the kind regards of his fellow-men. And be at peace among yourselves - See the Mark 9:50 note; Romans 12:18; Romans 14:19 notes.

13 . and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake ] exceeding highly (R. V.)—the same Greek adverb as in ch. 1 Thessalonians 3:10 , the strongest Intensive possible to the language. So deep and warm should be the affection uniting pastors and their flocks. Their appreciation is not to be a cold esteem; it has mutual “love” for its pervading element, a grace in which the Thessalonians were already “taught of God” (ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:9 ). Their “work,” described in 1 Thessalonians 5:12 , is the reason for this devoted esteem. In work this Church excelled (ch. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 ); and this it knew how to appreciate. And be at peace among yourselves ] And is wanting in the Greek. But this appeal is closely connected with the last. Looking, moreover, at the exhortation to “admonish the unruly” that follows, and at the command “study to be quiet” of ch. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 , and the measures prescribed against the idle and disorderly in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 , we can read between the lines sufficiently to see that the tendencies adverse to peace in this community were interfering with its discipline, and set the Church authorities at variance with a certain section of its membership.