The Persecutors. 1 Thessalonians 2:15-16.
Dear Ambassadors of the Risen Christ,
In the preceding passage, we saw the commendable devotion of the Thessalonians to the faith that they had embraced, in spite of the persecution that they had to endure. We now look at the persecutors.
Murder (v. 15a). The Jewish opponents of the gospel were part of a long line of rebels who had disobeyed God and rejected him. They had killed God’s prophets and in the ultimate act of rebellion and defiance, had crucified the Lord Jesus. That they had driven Paul out of Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-10) was therefore in keeping with their opposition to the things of God, as was their persecution of the Thessalonian Christians.
Malice (vv. 15b-16a).The opposition of the Jewish clique to the preaching of the gospel to gentiles was not only an affront to God, because he is the originator of the gospel of salvation, but it was also an attempt to deny others the privilege of benefiting from the grace of God, which was offered to all through the gospel. They had rejected the gospel and would not let anyone else benefit from the grace it offered.
Measure (v. 16b).It would be foolish to think that one can oppose God and get away with it. The opponents of the gospel were only adding to their imminent punishment. As a matter of fact, their punishment had already begun. It is not clear what specific punishment Paul is referring to here. It could be the famine in Judea (AD 44-47) or the massacre of Jews in Jerusalem following a riot (AD 48-49), the expulsion of Jews from Rome (AD 49), or some other calamitous event that would have affected the persecutors universally or locally, in Thessalonica. It is important to note that such calamities are likely to also affect the innocent.
Those who oppose God will be dealt with but they also carry the responsibility of the suffering of the innocent, which spills over when God acts to punish the guilty. Why not just obey?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.