Thoughts on 1 Thessalonians 5:14

“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”

This is one of the Apostle Paul’s ending exhortations to this epistle, along with exhortations to prayer and thanksgiving. Like those exhortations it is not directed at the leadership alone, but to all believers. These exhortations are all expressed in a martial way, using words that anyone vaguely familiar with the military would understand.

1. To the unruly
We are to warn the unruly. The unruly are literally those who step out of line. The ones with attitude problems, who are insubordinate, need to be warned. They require a firm admonition that such behavior is displeasing to God and cannot be allowed.

2. To the feebleminded
It is important to discern between these two groups. Feebleminded (Greek – Small souled, faint hearted) people are those who through some spiritual or emotional trauma are discouraged. To warn one in that state would be to drive them to despair. A certain person I know was once in a very confused state of mind through several situations that had occurred. This was compounded by a warning that a well-meaning person gave. In the person’s confused state, it almost caused the person to think that he had no hope. John Bunyan was for several years in a very confused state, and at one time even thought that perhaps he had committed the unpardonable sin. When he approached a fellow believer and told him this, the man agreed. It was only God’s mercy that saved him from the pit of despair he had been plunged into then. Job’s wife was another one to whom this term could be applied.

3. Support the weak
The word support here is another military word and means to stand opposite from. A good illustration of this principle occurred at Waterloo. During this battle there was a captain of an artillery battery that contrary to usual practice stood at his guns the whole time, rather than seeking cover in infantry squares during the calvary charges. His reason was that the infantry near him were inexperienced, and if they saw him taking cover, they would break and run. It is important for those wavering to see someone stand so that they know it is possible to stand.

The most important part of this exhortation is given at the end. “Be patient (or longsuffering) to all.” If you have been in any position of responsibility for people for longer than two weeks, you probably realize that the 3 things given above require repetition. Mr. Unruly is not going to become Mr. Saint instantly because you spoke to him, even if he listens and obeys in one area, he will likely still be unruly for a time in other areas. Feebleminded people will be that way for a time, and weak people will need support until they can stand themselves. So to continue to do these things until God can produce a change in them requires longsuffering. It is worth it, a unruly person can become a Hudson Taylor, a feebleminded one a John Bunyan, a weak one a Peter. That is why longsuffering is so important.