Tag: meketi

Romans 14:13 – Judge Yourself

Posted on by Will

Therefore we should not judge one another anymore, but rather decide not to put a stumbling block or a hindrance in our brother's way.

Truth to Learn

Our actions should not hinder the relationship between our brother or sister and the Lord Jesus Christ; it should enhance it.

 

Behind the Words

Paul starts off this verse with the Greek word mēketi, which is made up of mē, meaning “not” and eti, meaning “anymore.” Hence, mēketi means, “not any more” or “no longer.” It carries the notion that there is something which was being done which will cease to be done.

This use of the verb “judge” is from the Greek verb krinō, which is in the subjunctive mood, implying action which is possible or probable. So this phrase is translated, “Therefore we should not judge one another anymore …”

“Decide” is also translated from krinō; however, here it is expressed in the imperative mood meaning “you must do this.” It is as if Paul were saying, “Therefore you should not judge one another anymore, but you must judge yourselves in this.”

The word translated “stumbling block” is proskomma, which refers to “something that someone hits or runs into.” Figuratively this refers to something that someone stubs their toe on or trips over.

The word translated “a hindrance” is skandalon, which is “the trigger of a trap which when touched causes the trap to close.”

 

Meaning Explained

This verse contains the second half of the conclusion that Paul started in the previous verse. There we were told that the reason we are not to judge other Christians is because each of us will give an account of ourselves, not of others, to God at the judgment seat of Christ.

Now he reiterates how we should behave toward other Christians. First, we are to stop condemning each other. Notice that Paul uses the pronoun “we” in this phrase, indicating that he, too, needs to stop judging other Christians.

The second thing that Paul tells us here is more forceful than the first. He commands us to judge our own actions so that we won’t cause other Christians to fall. And, we are to judge our own actions to ensure that we don’t do anything that will cause our Christian brother or sister to sin. In other words, we are to be constantly watching our own actions to ensure that what we do doesn’t either cause another Christian to stumble in their walk with God or cause them to become entrapped in sin.

Some translations express skandalon as “an offense.” Though this is a reasonable translation, it is often misunderstood. It does not refer to something that will offend another Christian, rather something that will cause them to be ensnared by sin.

 

Application

Are you watching your Christian brothers and sisters in order to judge their actions as right or wrong? Or are you watching and judging yourself to ensure that you do not do something that will cause your brother or sister in Christ to stumble or sin?” Again, it’s a matter of where your focus is!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 4:2 – Stop That Lust

Posted on by Will

no longer to live the rest of his time in the flesh in the lusts of men, but in the will of God.

Truth to Learn

He suffered and died for us, let us suffer and live for Him.

 

Behind the Words

In the previous verse Peter told us to “arm” ourselves with the same “mind.” Let’s look at these two words. “Arm” is translated from the Greek word hoplidzō, meaning “to equip with armament.” It is expressed in the imperative mood indicating a command. The implication of the verb is that we should start doing so right now.

The word translated “mind” is ennoia, which is a compound word made up of en, meaning “in” and nous, meaning “the mind.” Therefore this word means “that which is in the mind,” hence, “thoughts” or “understanding.”

In today’s verse, the words “no longer” are from the Greek word mēketi, made up of mē, meaning “not” and eti, meaning “anymore” or “yet.” Hence, it means “not anymore.”

“Flesh” is translated from the Greek word sarx, which refers to “the flesh of a living creature.” Hence, Peter is referring to the remainder of time that we are living on this earth.

The word “lusts” is one that we have seen before. It is translated from the Greek epithumia, which is made up of epi, meaning “over” and a form of thumos, which refers to “a violent motion or passion of the mind.” Hence, epithumia refers to “an overly strong desire of the mind.”

 

Meaning Explained

In the previous verse Peter told us, “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” This doesn’t mean that we will never commit a sin again. Rather, Peter is telling us that when we are suffering, though we have done nothing wrong, and we are doing so patiently, we are not letting our sin nature control us.

In the current verse, Peter completes that thought. Since we have the same understanding as Christ, that this suffering is God’s will, then each of us should:

no longer … live the rest of his time in the flesh in the lusts of men, but in the will of God.

In other words, for the remainder of the time that we are living our earthly life, we should not be living for the lusts of men but for the will of God. Well, what are these lusts of men? According to the Apostle John they are:

 the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16)

So it’s not just sexual lust we are talking about, but all those desires that we have that cause us to focus on ourselves rather than God. It includes the overly strong desire for food, for pleasure, for “stuff” like a new car or a new house, or a new kitchen, or a new boat, or the desire to be admired because of a position of prominence. It’s anything that focuses on “me.”

 

Application

Let us not waste our few remaining years on this earth satisfying ourselves, that is, our fleshly lusts. Let us, instead, seek out ways to be obedient to the will of God so as to bring Him glory! After all, He suffered and died for us, let us suffer and live for Him!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 3:5 – Faith Strengthening Trials

Posted on by Will

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Truth to Learn

Trials and temptations can be good for us.

 

Behind the Words

“No longer” is translated from the Greek word mēketi, which is made up of mē, a particle of negation and eti, meaning “still” or “yet.” This word primarily means “not anymore.”

The word translated “endure” is stegō, which we saw in the first verse of this chapter literally means “to cover.” It can also mean “to forbear” or “to endure.”

Mēpōs is the Greek word translated “lest by some means.” It is made up of mē, a particle of negation and pōs, meaning “somehow” or “by some means.”

The word “tempter” is based on the verb peiradzō, which is derived from peira, meaning “a test, temptation, or trial.” In the Greek this is written as ho pairadzōn, which literally means “the tempting one.”

“Had tempted” is from the same verb, peiradzō. It is expressed here in the imperfect tense, indicating past continuous or repeated action.

 

Meaning Explained

Earlier in this chapter Paul told the Thessalonian Christians that he could no longer endure his forced separation from them and his inability to personally return to them. As a result, he said that he stayed in Athens and sent Timothy there to ensure that they were firmly grounded in the faith and to act as a coach to help them succeed in the building of their faith.

Now he tells them another reason for his sending Timothy. He says he wanted to know for sure how strong their faith was. You may recall that the Thessalonian Christians were being persecuted by their fellow countrymen in the same manner as Paul. Paul was well aware that Christians suffering persecution will either grow stronger in their faith or weaker in their faith.

Whenever we are suffering persecution for exhibiting our faith in God, our enemy Satan knows that we are very vulnerable to temptations. The most destructive temptations we face at times like these involve thinking that God has deserted us or doesn’t care about us. This is particularly true of young Christians who haven’t yet learned the value of difficulties. These difficulties force us to rely on faith to get through; they make us stronger.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 we learned that the name Satan means “accuser” or “adversary.” We also learned that one of his actions against us is to “hinder” us from doing the work of our ministry. Now we learn that Satan also tempts us in order to weaken our faith. The more we learn about him and his methods, the better prepared we are to resist him. Keep in mind what James said:

“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2, 3)

 

Application

Don’t despair when you encounter opposition to your ministry. God allows this to strengthen you. Also, don’t think that because you are tempted to sin when you are weak that God doesn’t care. God loves His children and wants us to grow stronger. Remember that trials and testing can be good for us!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2016 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 3:5 – Faith Strengthening Trials

Posted on by Will

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Truth to Learn

Trials and temptations can be good for us.

Behind the Words

“No longer” is translated from the Greek word mēketi, which is made up of mē, a particle of negation and eti, meaning “still” or “yet.” This word primarily means “not anymore.”

The word translated “endure” is stegō, which we saw in the first verse of this chapter literally means “to cover.” It can also mean “to forbear” or “to endure.”

Mēpōs is the Greek word translated “lest by some means.” It is made up of mē, a particle of negation and pōs, meaning “somehow” or “by some means.”

The word “tempter” is based on the verb peiradzō, which is derived from peira, meaning “a test, temptation, or trial.” In the Greek this is written as ho pairadzōn, which literally means “the tempting one.”

“Had tempted” is from the same verb, peiradzō. It is expressed here in the imperfect tense, indicating past continuous or repeated action.

Meaning Explained

Earlier in this chapter Paul told the Thessalonian Christians that he could no longer endure his forced separation from them and his inability to personally return to them. As a result, he said that he stayed in Athens and sent Timothy there to ensure that they were firmly grounded in the faith and to act as a coach to help them succeed in the building of their faith.

Now he tells them another reason for his sending Timothy. He says he wanted to know for sure how strong their faith was. You may recall that the Thessalonian Christians were being persecuted by their fellow countrymen in the same manner as Paul. Paul was well aware that Christians suffering persecution will either grow stronger in their faith or weaker in their faith.

Whenever we are suffering persecution for exhibiting our faith in God, our enemy Satan knows that we are very vulnerable to temptations. The most destructive temptations we face at times like these involve thinking that God has deserted us or doesn’t care about us. This is particularly true of young Christians who haven’t yet learned the value of difficulties. These difficulties force us to rely on faith to get through; they make us stronger.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:18 we learned that the name Satan means “accuser” or “adversary.” We also learned that one of his actions against us is to “hinder” us from doing the work of our ministry. Now we learn that Satan also tempts us in order to weaken our faith. The more we learn about him and his methods, the better prepared we are to resist him. Keep in mind what James said:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2, 3)

Application

Don’t despair when you encounter opposition to your ministry. God allows this to strengthen you. Also, don’t think that because you are tempted to sin when you are weak that God doesn’t care. God loves His children and wants us to grow stronger. Remember that trials and testing can be good for us!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 14:13 – Judge Yourself

Posted on by Will

Romans 14:13 – Judge Yourself

Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

Truth to Learn

Our actions should not hinder the relationship between our brother or sister and the Lord Jesus Christ; it should enhance it.

Behind the Words

Paul starts off this verse with the Greek word mēketi, which is made up of mē, meaning “not” and eti, meaning “anymore.” Hence, mēketi means, “not any more” or “no longer.” It carries the notion that there is something which was being done which will cease to be done.

This use of the verb “judge” is from the Greek verb krinō, which is in the subjunctive mood, implying action which is possible or probable. So this phrase could be translated, “Therefore we should not judge one another any more, …”

“Resolve” is also translated from krinō; however, here it is expressed in the imperative mood meaning “you must do this.” It is as if Paul were saying, “Therefore you should not judge one another anymore, but you must judge yourselves in this.”

The word translated “stumbling block” is proskomma, which refers to “something that someone hits or runs into.” Figuratively this refers to something that someone stubs their toe on or trips over.

The word translated “a cause to fall” is skandalon, which is “the trigger of a trap which when touched causes the trap to close.”

Meaning Explained

This verse contains the second half of the conclusion that Paul started in the previous verse. There we were told that the reason we are not to judge other Christians is because each of us will give an account of ourselves, not of others, to God at the judgment seat of Christ.

Now he reiterates how we should behave toward other Christians. First, we are to stop condemning each other. Notice that Paul uses the pronoun “we” in this phrase, indicating that he, too, needs to stop judging other Christians.

The second thing that Paul tells us here is more forceful than the first. He commands us to judge our own actions so that we won’t cause other Christians to fall. And, we are to judge our own actions to ensure that we don’t do anything that will cause our Christian brother or sister to sin. In other words, we are to be constantly watching our own actions to ensure that what we do doesn’t either cause another Christian to stumble in their walk with God or cause them to become entrapped in sin.

Some translations express skandalon as “an offense.” Though this is a reasonable translation, it is often misunderstood. It does not refer to something that will offend another Christian, rather something that will cause them to be ensnared by sin.

Application

Are you watching your Christian brothers and sisters in order to judge their actions as right or wrong? Or are you watching and judging yourself to ensure that you do not do something that will cause your brother or sister in Christ to stumble or sin?” Again, it’s a matter of where your focus is!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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