9”Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,” (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 (ESV)
Along with a commitment to biblical truth, believers in Christ are to display biblical love. Accordingly, to the Apostle Paul, this was a characteristic the Thessalonians displayed well.
The word love (φιλαδελφίας; philadelphias) refers to brotherly love. It is affection for a fellow believer. The Thessalonians had learned their lessons from what the Lord taught them about the importance of this behavioral trait of God’s people. “Through Gods Word (Psalm 119:97-102) and by God Himself, they were loving believers (Rom. 5:5; I John 2:7-11; 3:14; 4:7-8, 12),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.
Paul affirmed this was what these believers in Christ were doing. Echoing his earlier remarks in this same letter, people throughout Macedonia knew their “work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:3). They were an example “to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia,” (1:7).
“Paul’s commendations of the church at Thessalonica (1 Thess. 1–2) indicate that it was one of the healthiest churches of the Apostolic era. So, the Thessalonian church is an excellent model for us where Paul speaks of it most highly,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“And in today’s passage, the Apostle commends the church for its brotherly love (4:9–10). It is not surprising that Paul praises Christians’ love where it was evident, for love is an essential component of the Christian ethic. God commanded the members of the old covenant church to show love to one another (Lev. 19:18), and this carries right through to the new covenant era.”
“Jesus told His disciples that they must love one another as He has loved them—they are to love each other so much that they are willing to die for their brothers and sisters in Christ (John 13:34–35). Love, Paul says in Colossians 3:14, “binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Christians must love one another,” concludes Dr. Sproul.
Admittedly, this is not always easy. Admittedly, we may not make it easy. Our remaining sinful nature, while no longer in control, still rears its ugly head from time to time.
“To the industrial, political, and social connections between the people of the large city of Thessalonica and those of other places in Macedonia (for example, Philippi, Berea) the faith-in-Christ relationship had now been added. To all the brothers in Christ with whom the Thessalonians came into contact, throughout the whole of Macedonia, genuine “brotherly love” was being revealed. Cf. 1:7, 8. Hence, Paul can only add: But we urge (see on 2:11) you, brothers, to abound the more,” explains Dr. William Hendriksen.
“Perfection had not yet been reached. This admonition is always timely, for in this life no Christian ever reaches the ideal of ethical perfection. Besides, in this case there were special reasons why the admonition was necessary, as is clearly intimated in such passages as 3:10; 4:3–8, 11; 5:13–15.”
Perfection will not be reached in this life, but the instruction remains; to be brotherly loving to one another.
3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3–8 (ESV)
Let us resolve to add to our faith the brotherly affection characteristic of the Lord. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 