“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality…” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3.
The above has been added for context, this post will be concerned with 1 Thessalonians 4:4-12.
“…that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor…” 1 Thessalonians 4:4.
It is unclear what “his own vessel” means because it is used to describe both a man’s wife as his vessel, and men have been called a vessel as well.
“Likewise you husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7.
Note that this verse calls the wife the weaker vessel, indicating that the man is also considered a vessel.
Verses 3-6 are all one sentence in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, so it would be helpful to quote them as one to understand the use of the word vessel in this passage.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality [fornication]; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter [adultery], because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6.
The fact that the words “his own vessel” is framed by the words “sexual immorality [fornication]” and the warning not to “defraud his brother” indicating adultery shows that “his own vessel” most likely means the wife.
But whether it is his own body or his wife’s that is being referred to, we are told to possess “it in sanctification and honor”. Scripture tells us that the marriage bed is honorable and undefiled.
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4.
“… not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:5-6.
Consider carefully the context of this message so far in that it has been entirely about turning away from sexual immorality. The reason for this is that we are about to consider the word defraud in the text above.
This word defraud is normally used in reference to business matters and Thessalonica was a city with great dealings in trade and business, so the Greek word would have been understood clearly by the brothers in this city.
When used in this manner it would mean not to defraud in business by reneging on a contract, price manipulation, different weights and measures, bait and switch tactics, in general, cheating, defrauding a brother in Christ who would normally trust another Christian businessman.
This idea would also extend to our dealings with unbelievers, because Christians should be trustworthy, as Christ was.
However, when used as it is in the context of chapter four, verses three through eight, it still means defraud, but in a sexual way by wrongful sexual liaisons.
So to defraud here means to defraud a brother by coveting his wife, or defiling the marriage bed by adultery – even the intent to engage in sodomy (in a homosexual relationship), among other things all of which were practiced by the heathen around them.
So to defraud, to, “…take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter” is meant in a sexual way, because the words, “…this matter” is referring back to the unrestrained passion of lust of the Gentiles mentioned in the previous verses.
Finally we are warned that, “…the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.” How does the Lord avenge sexual immorality?
He allows the things that He would normally protect us from to happen; pregnancy, venereal disease (STDs), legal problems, jail, divorce, financial ruin, and finally death if it comes to that.
Do not blame God in this case; we open the door to disaster when we engage in sexual immorality.
“For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8.
A person may reject some of the interpretation of Scripture given in this study, but they cannot reject the words of Scripture themselves, because they are the word of God. If they do reject them, it is not the rejection of anything I have written, and it is not the words of the Apostle Paul that are being rejected; it is the word of God.
“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more…” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10.
This brotherly love is for other Christians (brethren) and is not just a hug or handshake on Sunday, but a desire take an interest in others, listening to them, meeting a need if possible.
Advising them, not just in Scriptural matters but if you are a mechanic, plumber, electrician, computer technician, dressmaker, or cook; you may be able to make suggestions, or recommend resources, even help.
You can visit or take food to the bedridden. If you are bedridden, you can pray for others, send letters or emails. “…for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another” and if you listen to His Holy Spirit, you can show that love in many ways.
The first step though is to yield yourself to the Holy Spirit, so He can love others through you, and those others will also include the unbelievers around you because God loves them.
“…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.
Today there are many Christians who have had to go on welfare or some other type of assistance, and considering the current rate of unemployment one can sympathize.
But for the Christian it should never stop there, it is God’s plan that man should work, and as can be seen above, he calls believers to do so.
Christians have something that men of the world do not have, prayer. Yes, yes, they have tried prayer, it did not work.
Why? Have people in this position ever asked themselves honestly, why?
There are numerous reasons for a lack of answer to prayer. For one thing it may be to test and perfect their faith in Jesus; in which case it may be over soon.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” 1 Peter 1:6-7.
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4.
A half-hearted Christianity has a relationship with God that says You go Your way and I will go my way, and I will call You when I need You; see You next Sunday.
Kind of reminds one of the Little Red Hen; “Who will help me plant the corn? Who will help me water the corn? Who will help me pick the corn? Who will help me grind the corn? Who will help me cook the corn? Who will help me eat the corn?” Ah! No lack of volunteers to help her eat it!
The half-hearted Christian wants to reap the benefits without the work of having a relationship with God.
Even worldly fathers will eventually tell their children, “Either you help around the house or forget about movie tickets, or going to Disneyland, or having cake after dinner tonight.”
“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.
Oftentimes prayers go unanswered because of the way the husband treats his family.
“Likewise you husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7.
Some prayers are unanswered for the very reasons we found in this study, sexual immorality.
“…the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6b-8.
Whether it is sexual immorality or some other reason, it is this same Holy Spirit who can tell us why our prayers are not being answered. How badly do we want to know?
Sorry, but the answer to that question only comes through prayer and genuine soul searching; even prayer and fasting if need be.
Fasting, by the way, is a powerful tool to get answers to prayer, or even just receiving answers.
Sometimes though, when the question comes to your mind, why are my prayers not answered? The first thing that pops into your head is the reason your prayers are not answered.
This passage also exhorts us to work with our own hands, live a quiet life and mind our own business.
To work with our own hands can mean being an accountant, policeman, carpenter, plumber, or missionary. The point is to work, and to do our work well so that no one can complain about the slovenly Christian.
Often on union jobs you will find workers sitting around and talking or loafing because they get paid whether the job is done on time or not. It is easy to fall into the same sloppy work ethic. This is not what you were called to do.
You do not need to flaunt your hard work in front of them, but you do need to work as though Christ were your boss.
“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:22-24.
God’s reward for this hard work is “…that you may lack nothing.” People who have satisfied themselves with welfare have consigned themselves and their children to permanent generational poverty.
This is not God’s way, nor is it His desire for a person to live their life this way, unless they really are disabled.
Christians are also told to lead a quiet life and to mind their own business. This latter statement means that we are to mind our own business and not try to run the life of another, or to gossip about them.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:12-17.
Sexual Immorality, 1 Thessalonians 4:4-12 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 9-11-13, updated on 1-12-21.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.