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Advent Season · Third Sunday of Advent · Year B

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Final Instructions

December 13, 2026

Das Tischgebet (The Mealtime Prayer), Fritz von Uhde
Das Tischgebet (The Mealtime Prayer), Fritz von Uhde, 1885Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin
A German painter who put Christ into contemporary peasant kitchens. Here a family says grace at a plain table in daylight, and the guest at the end is unmistakable.Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances: the painting is the smallest and most ordinary form of that.Fritz von UhdeA German painter and former cavalry officer who set the gospel in contemporary peasant homes, and was attacked for it.Alte Nationalgalerie, BerlinOn Museum Island, holding nineteenth-century art, and the single best place to see Caspar David Friedrich.Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJohn 1:6-8, 19-28Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Epistle1 Thess. 5:16-241 Thes 5:16-24
Old TestamentIsa. 61:1-4, 8-11Is 61:1-4, 8-11
PsalterPs. 126Ps 126 orLuke 1:46b-55Lk 1:46b-55

Overview & Insights

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Generally speaking, the report brought by Timothy concerning the church in Thessalonica was most heartening, and when Paul heard it, he offered thanks to God for their faith and love, for their hard work and hope. But in some respects there was room for improvement. Of particular concern was the relationship between the leaders of the church and the other members. Due perhaps to a restlessness provoked by uncertainty about the Parousia or by some other factor (see disc. on 4:11; 5:14; 2 Thess. 3:6–13 and note), some of the members’ conduct called for rebuke by the leaders, but the leaders did not handle the situation as tactfully as they might have, and tensions resulted. Paul’s advice to remedy this situation is found in verses 12 and 13 (on the form of this parenesis, see disc. on 4:1–12 but note that it does not conform fully to the pattern set out there, in that it has no prepositional phrase).

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Commentary

1 Thessalonians 5:16-241 Thes 5:16-24 Working Preacher

Reads Paul's rapid-fire imperatives to rejoice, pray, and give thanks as the moral shape of Advent waiting.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-241 Thes 5:16-24 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed commentary framing the commands as Advent imperatives that close with the promise of the God who will fulfill them.

1 Thessalonians 51 Thes 5 Enduring Word · David Guzik

An evangelical exposition of the closing exhortations, including testing prophecy and sanctification of spirit, soul, and body.

1 Thessalonians 5 resources1 Thes 5 resources Precept Austin

An extensive study hub with Greek word studies, cross references, and collected commentary on each verse.

Classic commentaries on 1 Thessalonians 5Classic commentaries on 1 Thes 5 BibleHub

A classic aggregator assembling historic commentators on the command to rejoice always.

Background & Word Study

Overview: 1 ThessaloniansOverview: 1 Thes BibleProject

An animated summary of the letter's setting and flow, situating the final exhortations within Paul's pastoral concern.

The Church Fathers

1 Thessalonians 5, patristic commentary1 Thes 5, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic commentary on unceasing prayer, quenching the Spirit, and the prayer for entire sanctification.

Questions preachers ask

What is Paul's charge in 1 Thessalonians 5?

Paul closes with rapid commands for the waiting church, joy, prayer, thanksgiving, testing everything and holding fast the good, trusting the faithful God to keep them blameless until Christ comes.

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