Free Bible Commentary
“1 Timothy 4:1-5”
Categories: 1 Timothy“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”
---End of Scripture verses---
Just a few more important points before we move on to the next few verses. We are living in the “later times” right this very moment, and these times have been in existence since the time that Paul wrote this letter. Hebrews 1:1-2 reads as follows: “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” The “last days” started when God began to reveal His will through His Son Jesus.
The Apostle Peter declared under inspiration of the Holy Spirit that when the Apostles miraculously preached the Gospel in a multitude of different languages on that Pentecost day in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago, they did so as a fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of things that would take place in “the last days” (Acts 2:17). Many people consider our current world events to be evidence of the fulfillment of biblical, end-time prophecies concerning the “last days”. But the truth is that mankind has been living in the “last days” since the church of Jesus Christ began, and the final dispensation of God’s dealings with humankind will end when the Lord returns to judge the living and the dead, and destroy the earth and everything in it.
“Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (verse 5). There are no such things as “unclean” foods in this final dispensation of time (Acts 10:14-15; Romans 14:14). God has declared that all foods may be eaten, unless, of course, you should somehow violate your conscience by eating certain things, or tempt someone else to do the same (1 Corinthians 8:7). That is not to say that all foods are equally healthy for your body and mind! But, food will not affect our relationship with God (1 Corinthians 8:8), as long as we do not disregard our conscience, or behave in gluttonous or addictive behaviors.
So, receive your food with thankfulness knowing that God has declared it good in His word and by your gratitude-filled heart (verse 5)! “Eat your bread in happiness” (Ecclesiastes 9:7)!
Please read 1 Timothy 4:6-10 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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