1. In our text, Paul reveals how the Thessalonians suffered persecution - 1 Thessalonians 2:14
a. It was at the hand of their own countrymen - cf. Acts 17:5-10
b. In this they were imitators of the churches in Judea, who were also persecuted by their countrymen - Acts 8:1; 12:1-4
2. Mentioning the Judean persecution, Paul lists Sins of the Jews - 1 Thessalonians 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 - Romans 9:1-5; 10:1-2
3. 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.
A. THEY KILLED THE LORD JESUS
1. Which Peter was not hesitant to proclaim - Acts 2:23, 36; 3:14-15; 4:10; 5:30
2. Those who were personally involved accepted responsibility for this act - Matthew 27:25
B. THEY KILLED THEIR OWN PROPHETS
1. They killed prophets in the days of Elijah - 1 Kings 19:10
2. They killed prophets, including Zechariah, despite the reforms of Jehoida the priest - 2 Chronicles 24:14-21
3. As summarized by Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Stephen - 2 Chronicles 36:16; Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 2:30; Acts 7:52
C. THEY PERSECUTED THE APOSTLES
1. In Jerusalem the apostles had been beaten and threatened - Acts 5:40
2. Ultimately there was the death of James, and the imprisonment of Peter - Acts 12:1-5
3. Paul had been persecuted in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra - Acts 13:50; 14:1-6, 19
4. He had been run out of Thessalonica and Berea by the Jews - Acts 17:5-10, 13-14
D. THEY DID NOT PLEASE GOD
1. As rebuked by Moses in the wilderness - Deuteronomy 9:7
2. As described by God to His prophet Ezekiel - Ezekiel 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 anyone 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-- Quoted by Barnes in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:15
F. FORBIDDING THEM TO SPEAK TO THE GENTILES
1. As happened at Antioch of Pisidia - Acts 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 Acts 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 - Acts 15:5
Now it is important to stress that these were not the words of an anti-Semite. Paul loved his brethren in the flesh (Romans 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!
A. HE HAD BEEN A BLASPHEMER
1. Prior to his conversion - 1 Timothy 1:12-13
2. Compelling even others to blaspheme the name of Christ - Acts 26:9-11
B. HE HAD BEEN A PERSECUTOR
1. Wreaking havoc of the church - Acts 8:3; 9:1-2; 26:9-10
2. An indication of his zeal for his Jewish faith - Philippians 3:6
C. HE HAD BEEN AN INSOLENT MAN
1. "a violent aggressor" (NASB), "injurious" (KJV) - 1 Timothy 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 more intense significance 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)
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. 1 Thessalonians 2:14
b. Any Jew who came to Christ would be "grafted" back in - cf. Romans 11:23-24
c. The Gentiles, as a group, were not much better - cf. Romans 1:18-32
2. But there are important lessons to be learned
a. The danger of even God's chosen people falling away - Hebrews 3:12-4:2
b. The wonderful grace of God for those willing to repent
1) As seen in the life of Paul - 1 Timothy 1:12-16
2) As still extended to the Jews - Romans 11:1-5, 23
c. The wrath of God coming upon those who refuse His grace - cf. Romans 2:4-11
1) To those who obey not the gospel - 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
2) To those who persist in sin - Hebrews 10:26-31
3. 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." - 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
-- Don Treadway, September 2009 --
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