Free Bible Commentary
“2 Timothy 2:20-26”
Categories: 2 Timothy“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”
---End of Scripture verses---
In such a large “house” as the church of Jesus Christ, there are bound to be some dishonorable “vessels” sitting alongside the Lord’s instruments of honor (verse 20). Unfortunately there have always been people like Hymenaeaus and Philetus who stray from the truth and upset the faith of others (2:17-18). The good news is that we can make the choice to stay sanctified regardless of how dishonorable our brethren decide to be. They can also choose to repent and turn from their wickedness, and allow the Lord to cleanse them and restore them to an honorable condition of usefulness (verse 21).
A person with a “pure heart” will have the foresight to “flee” dangerous things and situations, and “pursue” that which the Lord loves and rewards. If there is a strong weakness in your life that you are just too fragile to approach and put up a good fight against, by all means RUN AWAY! That is not cowardice it is common sense! It is also a commandment! Flee youthful lusts or whatever lusts are peculiar to your age and life condition. But don’t just run FROM the dangers of the world. “Pursue,” or run TO those things that are good and holy and blessed—“righteousness, faith, love and peace.”
“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all” (verse 24). The Lord did not enlighten our minds to the truth and welcome us into His fold of safety to equip us to be good at Bible trivia and win “religious” arguments. The people who need the truth are caught in “the snare of the devil” and are being “held captive by him to do his will” (verse 26). They need the truth that we have in order to escape and be saved, but we need to teach it to them in all kindness, patience and “gentleness” (verse 25). We may be our friends’ and family’s best shot at the kingdom, but the manner in which we approach them and speak to them makes all the difference in the world.
Please read 2 Timothy 3:1-9 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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