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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 - 3:16
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Our apostle being now to take his leave of the Thessalonians, closes his epistle with prayer.
Where note, 1. The mercy prayed for, peace; peace with God, peace with conscience, peace and unity among themselves as Christians, peace with the men of the world, strangers, yea, enemies to Christianity.
Note, 2. The person prayed to, The Lord of peace; understand Jesus Christ, the prince of peace, the purchaser of peace, the procurer of peace, the preserver of peace.
Note, 3. The perpetuity of the mercy prayed for, The Lord give you peace, not for a short time, but for continuance, always, that is, at all times, and in all places, and with all persons.
Note, 4. The way and manner of obtaining this and all other blessings, it must be in the use of means: The Lord give you peace by all means, that is, in the use of all lawful and laudable means.
Learn hence, 1. That the Lord himself is the author, procurer, and preserver of all that peace which his people enjoy; and therefore his people may boldly trust him for peace and safety, who is, and will be styled, The Lord of peace.
Learn, 2. That such as will obtain this blessing of peace, must pray for it, and endeavour after it in a diligent use of all lawful means, which is the usual way and method in which God dispenses it.
Learn, 3. That it is a lasting peace. a peace always, amongst all persons, and at all times, that a Christian should pray for and endeavour after, that it may be enjoyed without cessation, and without interruption; The Lord of peace himself give you peace always, by all means.
Observe here, 1. That in the former part of the verse he had prayed for peace on behalf of these Thessalonians, and this prayer was put up to Jesus Christ: the Lord of peace, give you peace; which, by the way, is a strong argument for the divinity of Christ, for none but God is to be prayed to, none but God can give peace, I create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace. Isa_57:19
Our apostle now having prayed for peace, next prays for the presence of God: The Lord give you peace, the Lord be with you all.
Learn hence, That God's gracious presence with his people in any plentiful measure, is annexed to their peacable frame of spirit, and to their serious endeavours after peace and love, after unity and concord, among themselves: and the contrary spirit and temper grieves the good spirit of God, and provokes him to withdraw his quickening and comforting presence from his people; for these two petitions seem to have mutual dependency upon each other. The Lord give you peace, and the Lord be with you all.