Abstaining from Evil's Appearance 1 Thessalonians 5:22

As Paul the apostle continued to share his closing words with the Thessalonian church members, he wrote how they should “rejoice, pray, give thanks, not quench the Spirit, despise not prophecyings and prove all things”. In chapter five and verse twenty-two of his letter, Paul continued his exhortations by telling the to “abstain from” “evil's appearance” where we read:

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

The verse begins, “Abstain from all...” Paul began with the word, “Abstain” which means “to hold one's self off or refrain” “from all” which refers to “each, every, any, all, the whole and everyone”. Paul desired for the Thessalonians to keep themselves from what he is about to present, and the Thessalonians were to pay attention to his directive.

The verse continues, “...appearance of evil.” Paul added what the Thessalonians were to “abstain from” as he wrote, “appearance” which means “the external or outward form, figure, shape or kind” “of evil” or “annoyances, hardships, bad nature or condition whether physical such as diseased or blind and in an ethical sense wickedness”. The church members of Thessalonica were not only to keep from “evil”, but they were to avoid any outward demonstration that looked like it could be “wicked and bad”.

When we think through Paul's words, we see the importance of keeping ourselves not only from “evil” itself, but also from the very “appearance” of it. Some of our actions and behaviors may seem innocent and pure, however, if someone else were to look upon them, they may outwardly look “wicked and bad”. We, like the Thessalonians, are to examine how something “looks” and not only what it truly is. If others were to see us in “compromised” conditions, would they deem us as involved in “evil” even if we truly are not? We must seek the Lord Jesus in our activities and discover whether there are some which “look” or “appear” to be evil, and if we find them, we should “restrain” and “hold” ourselves “off” from their “appearance”. May He give us discernment toward anything “evil” from which we should “refrain” ourselves.

Next time Paul shares with the Thessalonian church members the idea of being “sanctified” and “preserved preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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