Rev. Michael Sumbry, Pastor
Office Hours:
Tuesday - Friday
5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
"Preach the Word!!"
2 Timothy 4:1 - 5
July 25, 2010
In our previous study, we dealt with the “profitable” aspects of the scriptures, it tells us things that can change, encourage, straighten, correct, and empower us. But what is the preacher’s great and high calling? To what task or to what responsibilities is he held accountable before Him who Paul even here says, “…shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom...”? We are to “Preach the Word.” This applies to pastors and parishioners.
In this week’s lesson, Paul administers a solemn charge to Timothy, to be faithful in preaching the gospel, and in the whole work of the ministry. The particular reason given for this charge was that the time was approaching when men would not endure sound doctrine, but would turn away from the truth. We will explore this notion further in our study, but preceding that our attentions are first drawn to the stage, or the setting, upon which this charge is given.
Notice that this solemn charge is administered “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The administration of such a serious charge to his protégé occurs in full knowledge that heaven is watching and observing us. Let us not make superfluous, inane, unrighteous, irresponsible, unethical or immoral commands, but rather let us levy such directions and guidance as would gain full approval of those powers that at the first appointed and commissioned us, and who now hold us accountable for that which we leave in charges to our successors. Therefore he charges Timothy “...before God.”
Secondly, Jesus Christ, in accordance with a plethora of Biblical references, will sit as Judge in His kingdom. Let there be no mistake as to his role then or now. This theme is found at Matthew 25:31-34: “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, ‘Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’”
In Acts 10:42, we find “And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
At the culmination of time, when all history shall be wrapped up and the sojourn of this earth, time, and humanity is terminated, Jesus Christ will be revealed from heaven and throughout the earth as that eternal Judge of everything. That is why we preach as concerning the General Resurrection, irrespective of what school of eschatology we may subscribe – all schools stand in agreement that He is the Judge. Well said the Preacher in Ecclesiastes 3:17, “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
To be “instant” in preaching, the meaning here is that he should be constant in this duty. Literally, to stand by, or to stand fast by; that is, he was to be pressing or urgent in the performance of this work. He was always to be at his post, and was to embrace every opportunity of making known the gospel, whether the timing of such preaching is convenient or seasonable to him or whether the timing is “out of season” – when it is least convenient to himself or his hearers. At all cost and at every opportunity, “Preach the Word!!”
