So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the Lord.
Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived? Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’ “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.