"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"
The Sins Of The Jews (2:14-16)
INTRODUCTION
1. In our text, Paul reveals how the Thessalonians suffered persecution
- 1Th 2:14
a. It was at the hand of their own countrymen - cf. Ac 17:5-10
b. In this they were imitators of the churches in Judea, who were
also persecuted by their countrymen - Ac 8:1; 12:1-4
2. Mentioning the Judaean persecution, Paul lists the sins of the Jews
- 1Th 2:15-16
a. This passage might be construed by some as anti-Semitic
b. But it really isn't, for it comes from the heart of one who
loved his Jewish brethren - cf. Ro 9:1-5; 10:1-2
[A careful consideration of these verses and related passages can
provide food for thought, especially regarding the grace of God, His
longsuffering, and the danger of despising it. Let's begin our
consideration by looking more closely at what this passage says
about...]
I. THE SINS OF THE JEWS
A. THEY KILLED THE LORD JESUS...
1. Which Peter was not hesitant to proclaim - Ac 2:23,36; 3:
14-15; 4:10; 5:30
2. Those who were personally involved accepted responsibility for
this act - Mt 27:25
B. THEY KILLED THEIR OWN PROPHETS...
1. They killed prophets in the days of Elijah - 1Ki 19:10
2. They killed prophets, including Zechariah, despite the reforms
of Jehoida the priest - 2Ch 24:14-21
3. As summarized by Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Stephen
- 2 Chr 36:16; Neh 9:26; Jer 2:30; Ac 7:52
C. THEY PERSECUTED THE APOSTLES...
1. In Jerusalem the apostles had been beaten and threatened
- Ac 5:40
2. Ultimately there was the death of James, and the imprisonment
of Peter - Ac 12:1-5
3. Paul had been persecuted in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra
- Ac 13:50; 14:1-6,19
4. He had been run out of Thessalonica and Berea by the Jews
- Ac 17:5-10,13-14
D. THEY DID NOT PLEASE GOD...
1. As rebuked by Moses in the wilderness - Deut 9:7
2. As described by God to His prophet Ezekiel - Ezek 2:3
E. THEY WERE CONTRARY TO ALL MEN...
1. Tacitus describes them as "cherishing hatred against all
others"
2. Juvenal says "They would not even point out the way to any one
except of the same religion; nor, being asked, guide any to a
fountain except the circumcised."
3. Diodorus Sicuhs describes them as "those alone among all the
nations who were unwilling to have any intermingling with any
other nation, and who regarded all others as enemies"
-- As quoted by Barnes in his commentary on 1Th 2:15
F. FORBIDDING THEM TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES...
1. As happened at Antioch of Pisidia - Ac 13:42-51
2. The idea that Gentiles could now be included among God's
people was abhorrent to many Jews, as indicated by their
reaction in Ac 22:21-22
3. Even some Jewish Christians demanded that Gentiles had to be
circumcised and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved
- Ac 15:5
[In this manner the Jews as a nation of people had been filling up the
measure of their sins, and the fullness of God's wrath was about to
come upon them (perhaps the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD - cf. Mt
23:29-39).
Now it is important to stress that these were not the words of an anti-
Semite. Paul loved his brethren in the flesh (Ro 9:1-5; 10:1-4). They
are simply facts of history, given objectively by a Jew who himself had
been guilty of the same things! Consider how Paul described
himself...]
II. THE SINS OF ONE JEW (PAUL)
A. HE HAD BEEN A BLASPHEMER...
1. Prior to his conversion - 1Ti 1:12-13
2. Compelling even others to blaspheme the name of Christ
- Ac 26:9-11
B. HE HAD BEEN A PERSECUTOR...
1. Wreaking havoc of the church - Ac 8:3; 9:1-2; 26:9-10
2. An indication of his zeal for his Jewish faith - Php 3:6
C. HE HAD BEEN AN INSOLENT MAN...
1. "a violent aggressor" (NASB), "injurious" (KJV) - 1Ti 1:13
2. "It does not mean merely doing injury, but refers rather to
the manner or spirit in which it is done. It is a word of
intenser signification than either the word 'blasphemer,' or
'persecutor,' and means that what he did was done with a
proud, haughty, insolent spirit. There was wicked and
malicious violence, an arrogance and spirit of tyranny in what
he did, which greatly aggravated the wrong that was done."
(Barnes)
CONCLUSION
1. So what is the point? Certainly Paul was not anti-Semitic...
a. What he says was not true of all Jews
1) Many had become Christians (e.g., the apostles, Paul himself)
2) There were churches "in Judea" - cf. 1Th 2:14
b. Any Jew who came to Christ would be "grafted" back in
- cf. Ro 11:23-24
c. The Gentiles as a group were not much better - cf. Ro 1:18-32
2. But there are important lessons to be learned...
a. The danger of even God's chosen people falling away - He 3:12-4:2
b. The wonderful grace of God for those willing to repent
1) As seen in the life of Paul - 1Ti 1:12-16
2) As still extended to the Jews - Ro 11:1-5,23
c. The wrath of God coming upon those who refuse His grace
- cf. Ro 2:4-11
1) To those who obey not the gospel - 1Pe 4:17; 2Th 1:7-9
2) To those who persist in sin - He 10:26-31
As we are therefore reminded of how some of the Jews fell from grace,
may it serve to caution us not to receive God's grace in vain:
"We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to
receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: `In an acceptable
time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped
you.' Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation." (2Co 6:1-2)
