2 Thessalonians 3:5

Text (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.

Translation and Paraphrase

5.

(We desire not merely that you perform those things which we command you,) but may the Lord (actually) guide your hearts (by a straight path) into (an attitude of mind in which you will truly possess) the love of God, and into the patience and steadfastness) of Christ. (These divine qualities are needed by us all.)

Notes (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

1.

Again the apostle is on his knees: His prayer in this verse expresses the longing so often stated in the Thessalonian letters that they might be made perfect and become like the Lord.

2.

Our feelings toward all men should not be mere human feelings, but we should have within us the love of God and the patience of Christ. These were the feelings that Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have.

3.

The word direct (kateuthuno) means to make straight, guide, direct. (Thayer). In the N.T. it is found only here and in Luke 1:79. In the Gr. O.T. it is found in Solomon's prayer: Prepare their (the people'S) hearts unto thee. 1 Chronicles 29:18; 2 Chronicles 19:3. King Jehoshaphat prepared his heart to seek God.

Like a bee making a straight line to his hive, our hearts should be so prepared and directed by the divine nature within us that they will go straight and without wavering into the will of God.

4.

Paul prayed that the Lord would direct their hearts into two things:

(1)

The love of God. This does not mean that they should come to be loved by God, for they had already shared His love when they were saved. Rather it means that they should come to have so much of the love of God within them that it would shine forth out of them.

(2)

The patience of Christ. The word patience (hupomone) here means steadfastness or endurance. It is not limited to patiently waiting for Jesus to come back, but it signifies that we should have the same patient disposition that Christ had. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1.