4Rejoice in the
Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be
known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6In nothing be anxious, but
in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be
made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
8Finally,
brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever
things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever
things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise,
think about these things. 9The things which you learned, received,
heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Notes:
Verse 4: Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
16Rejoice always. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.
Verses 5-9:
According to the Orthodox
Study Bible, “we handle the daily pressures of life” by:
- “faith that the Lord is at hand … (v. 5)”
- “refusing to worry, being anxious for nothing (v. 6)”
- “prayer (v. 6)”
- “thanksgiving … to God (v. 6)”
- “meditation on that which is virtuous (v. 8)”
- “imitating the godly (v. 9)”
Verse 6: Worry:
(Mt 6:25-34) 25Therefore, I tell you, don't be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn't life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26See the birds of the sky, that they don't sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you of much more value than they?
27"Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan? 28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin, 29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won't he much more clothe you, you of little faith?
31"Therefore don't be anxious, saying, 'What will we eat?', 'What will we drink?' or, 'With what will we be clothed?' 32For the Gentiles seek after all these things, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first God's Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore don't be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day's own evil is sufficient.
Verse 6: Prayer:
(Mt 6:5-13) 5"When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner chamber, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking. 8Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him. 9Pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. 11Give us today our daily bread. 12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.'
Verse 8: Meditation:
(Ps
1:1-6) 1Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the
wicked,
nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2but his
delight is in Yahweh's law.
On his law he meditates day and night.
3He will be
like a tree planted by the streams of water,
that brings forth its fruit in its
season,
whose leaf also does not wither.
Whatever he does shall prosper.
4The wicked are
not so,
but are like the chaff which the wind
drives away.
5Therefore the
wicked shall not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous.
6For Yahweh
knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall perish.