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A Disorderly Brother Must Be Disciplined

January 22, 2006

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

The context is in a church

2 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

The brethren belong to a church

Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

The church is a family

1 Timothy 3:5 For if a man know not how to rule (or manage) his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?

Family terms are used in the church

1 Timothy 5:1-2 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

Brethren defined

Luke 8:21 And he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear (present active) the word of God (“the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” 8:10), and do it (present active).

The holy brethren

1 Thessalonians 5:27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

The church should be holy

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

A brother can become a “sinner”

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Immorality can be among members of the church

1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.

God appoints leaders to watch over His flock

Acts 20:28Take heed (present active imperative) therefore unto yourselves (“the elders of the church,” v.17), and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers [one who keeps watch over], to feed [to tend or shepherd a flock] the church of God (in Ephesus), which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Keep in mind that leaders must give an account

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Admonish the disorderly

1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we exhort you, brethren, admonish the disorderly, encourage the fainthearted, support the weak, be longsuffering toward all. (ASV)

admonish -noutheteo – (present active imperative) to warn strongly in regard to ones behavior; provide instruction to correct one’s behavior. To counsel (another) against something to be avoided; caution. Admonish implies the giving of advice or a warning in order to rectify or avoid something. To reprove gently or kindly, but seriously.

Disorderly – ataktos -The term "disorderly," originally, was spoken of soldiers who desert their ranks; and means, to be neglectful of one’s own duties; to abandon recklessly one’s own proper place and labor.

Withdraw from the brother that walks disorderly

2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (His authority), that ye withdraw yourselves from [or avoid] every brother that walketh [a steady course of action or lifestyle] disorderly, and not after the tradition [or doctrinal teaching] which he received of us.

No fellowship with a sinning brother

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

The disorderly are lazy and irresponsible

2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 For we hear that there are some which walk among you (in the local church) disorderly, working not at all (lazy and irresponsible), but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ (His authority), that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

We judge those inside the church

1 Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside?

Inside the church – they are members by baptism

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all (the many members, v.12) baptized into one body (that is the local church)-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free -- and have all been made to drink into one spirit.

The elders in the church must shepherd that flock

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you (in one local church) I exhort… 2 Feed [shepherd, tend, guide, rule, guard or govern] the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof [looking diligently, inspect, look after the care of], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

Rebuke sharply the irresponsible

Titus 1:12-13 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply (Why?), that they may be sound in the faith.(NKJ)

The church must separate from wicked members

1 Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without [or outside the church – non members] God judgeth. Therefore put away [or remove] from among yourselves (the members of that particular local church) that wicked person.

Seeking restoration

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

God’s love is expressed by His correction

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently).

Jesus rebukes those He loves

Revelation 3:19 Jesus said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten [train or correct]: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Love is first holy

John 14:15 If ye love me (present active subjunctive), keep my commandments (holiness).

Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord

Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him.

Separation delivers guilt upon the disorderly

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 And if any man obey not (present active) our word by this epistle (he walks disorderly, v.6,11), note [or put a mark on] that man (present imperative), and have no company with him (present imperative), (Why?) that he may be ashamed. (“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation,” 2Cor.7:10) 15 Yet count him not as an enemy (keep an open door), but admonish him as a brother.

Separation maintains purity in the flock

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

The church disciplines so others in

the flock may fear

1 Timothy 5:20 Those (members in the church) who are sinning (present active) rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

To be put out of the church is to

be delivered unto Satan

1 Corinthians 5:4-5 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye (the church at Corinth) are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power [or authority] of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan (“put away from amongyourselves that wicked person,” v.13) for the destruction of the flesh (he would learn not to live in his sinful appetites), that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The church has authority to discipline

Matthew 18:15 Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector (removed from membership). 18 Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind (or close) on earth will be bound (closed) in heaven, and whatever you loose (or open) on earth will be loosed (opened) in heaven. 19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.

“While exclusion from the church seems, to the eye of sense, poor and trifling punishment, to the eye of faith, as involving the loss of the millennial kingdom, it is of intense importance.”

Robert Govett, Entrance Into The Kingdom

“The keys of the kingdom of heaven"

are with the church

Matthew 16:18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Beware! Not every one enters into the kingdom

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth [or practices] the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Which side of the door do you desire to be on?

Luke 13:24-28 “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.25 “Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’26 “Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’;27 and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers (“workers of the unrighteousness,” YLT).’28 “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being cast out. (NAS)