“If Any Would Not Work, Neither Should He Eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3)

Scripture reading – 2 Thessalonians 3

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.

2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Your Pastor (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

Pray for Pastors to Have Liberty to Preach and Teach (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

Paul’s second letter to the believers in Thessalonica concluded on a loving, pastoral note. Once again, evidencing his “shepherd’s heart,” Paul began the third chapter with a prayer request for himself and those who ministered with him. Verses 1-2 expressed what every dedicated pastor should long for.

First, believers should pray that the “word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Amid growing opposition and persecution wherever the Word of God was preached, Paul urged believers to pray that God’s Word would go forth with power and be readily received, as it had been in Thessalonica.

Pray for Pastors to be Delivered from Wicked Men (2 Thessalonians 3:2)

A second request acknowledged that some men violently opposed the Gospel. Paul asked believers to pray that he and his fellow ministers would be “delivered from unreasonable [out of place; perverse] and wicked men” (likely the unbelieving Jews who opposed him at Corinth, where he wrote this letter; Acts 18:6, 12-13). Paul observed that such men “have not faith” (2 Thessalonians 3:2).

Paul Urged Obedience to Spiritual Truths and Principles (2 Thessalonians 3:3-4)

Facing enemies outside the church and disorder within the congregation, Paul reminded his readers that “the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3).

Friends may fail you, and foes may oppose you. Still, the apostle assured the believers that “the Lord is faithful… and [will] keep you from evil” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Paul then affirmed, “We have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you” (2 Thessalonians 3:4).

An Exhortation to Spiritual Growth and Ministry (2 Thessalonians 3:5-9)

After praying that the Lord would “direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5), Paul concluded his letter with a direct, practical tone (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11).

Paul’s command addressing the lack of spiritual discipline and poor work ethic among some in the congregation was not new. He had warned them in person (2 Thessalonians 3:10) and in his first letter (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 5:14). Some, perhaps unsettled by false teaching about the day of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:2), had laid down their work altogether. As in our day, some in the first century professed faith yet were disobedient (“walketh disorderly,” a term used of a soldier who breaks rank) and refused to live by the principles and precepts Paul taught (2 Thessalonians 3:6). Paul commanded the church to withdraw from those who refused to walk in truth (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

What disorderliness or wrong was Paul addressing in the congregation? The answer was so practical and elementary that some might call his concern “petty.” In essence, he addressed a character flaw among believers that remains epidemic today: laziness!

Reminding the people of his example, Paul wrote, “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; ⁸Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: ⁹Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).

As an apostle, Paul had the authority and right to be supported by believers and to have his needs met (2 Thessalonians 3:9). Yet he chose to “labour and travail night and day” (2 Thessalonians 3:8). Why? First, to ensure no one could accuse him of being a burden: “that we might not be chargeable to any of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:8). Second, to set an example: “to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:9).

“If Any Would Not Work, Neither Should He Eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12)

Having presented the sin (laziness; an unwillingness to work), Paul commanded a righteous course of action for believers to follow to address the sin in their midst. Paul wrote, “If any would not work, neither should he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Because they were not busy working, they had fallen into another sin… meddling in the affairs of others! They were “working not at all, but are busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:11). They were busy about everything except their own work!

Laziness is a seed that invariably bears bitter fruit (discontentment, malice, and gossip). Paul later wrote to Timothy about some younger widows who “learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not” (1 Timothy 5:13).

Paul observed the same spirit among the Thessalonian congregation, noting that the lazy, spiritually undisciplined members were “disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.” He commanded them to “with quietness… work, and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:11-12). In other words, stop talking and get to work!

Closing Thoughts

A Word of Caution (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15)

Our world is filled with slothfulness and an unwillingness to work. This laziness is also present in our churches. Paul encouraged believers not to tolerate spiritual lethargy in the church. Furthermore, let those who work and minister “be not weary in well doing” (2 Thessalonians 3:13).

What are we to do about someone who is idle and does not contribute to his family’s support (1 Timothy 5:8) or to the work of the Lord? Paul exhorted, “If any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14). Nevertheless, don’t allow resentment to well up in your heart, tempting you to see the lazy as an enemy. Instead, “admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:15). 

A Benediction and Prayer (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)

Finally, because some had been troubled by a letter falsely bearing his name (2 Thessalonians 2:2), Paul closed with his own handwriting, a benediction and a prayer:  “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. ¹⁷The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. ¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (2 Thessalonians 3:16–18).