Verse 24

And let us consider one another to provoke to love and good works.

Love and good works are the fruits, effects, and evidences of the sincere profession of saving faith; therefore a diligent attendance to them is an effectual means of our constancy in our profession. This therefore the Apostle in the next place exhorts to, and from there declares the manner whereby we may be excited and enabled to them. And there is in the words, (1.) a profession of a duty, as a means to another end; (2.) the declaration of that end, namely, by and upon that consideration, to provoke one another to love and good works.

The word has been opened on chap. 3:1. A diligent inspection into, a heedful consideration of mind, intent upon it, in opposition to common, careless, transient thoughts about it, is intended. The object of it here is not things, but persons; one another. And herein the Apostle supposes,

1. That those to whom he wrote had a deep concernment in one another, their present temporal and future eternal state. Without this the mere consideration of one another would only be a fruitless effect of curiosity, and tend to many evils.

2. That they had also communion together about those things, without which this duty could not be rightly discharged. For it was not then in the world as it is now; but all Christians who were joined in church societies did meet together for mutual communion in those things wherein their edification was concerned, as is declared in the next verse.

3. That they judged themselves obliged to watch over one another as to steadfastness in profession, and fruitfulness in love and good works. Hence they knew it their duty to admonish, to exhort, to provoke, to encourage one another. Without this the mere consideration of one another is of no use.

On these suppositions this consideration respects the gifts, the graces, the temptations, the dangers, the seasons and opportunities for duty, the manner of the walking of one another in the church, and in the world. For this consideration is the foundation of all these mutual duties of warning, or admonition and exhorting, which tend to the encouragement and strengthening of one another. But those duties are now generally lost among us, and with them is the glory of the Christian religion departed.

2. The special kind of this duty as here pressed by the Apostle is that it is used to the provocation of love and good works, that is, as we have rendered the words, to provoke (that is, one another) to love and good works. Provocation is commonly used in an ill sense, namely, for the embittering of the spirit of another, moving anger, sorrow, and disquietment, and impatience of mind; so (1 Samuel 1:6, 7) to provoke one is to embitter his spirit, and to stir him up to anger. And when any provocation is high, we render it strife or contention, such as whereby the spirits of men are embittered one towards another (Acts 15:39). Howbeit, it is used sometimes for an earnest and diligent excitation of the minds or spirits of men to that which is good (see Romans 11:14). So it is here used. And there is more in it than a bare mutual exhortation; an excitation of spirit by exhortation, example, rebukes, until it be warmed to a duty. This is the great end of the communion that is among Christians in the mutual consideration of one another; considering the circumstances, conditions, walkings, abilities for usefulness of one another, they do excite one another to love and good works, which is called the provocation of them, or the stirring up of the minds of men to them. This was the way and practice of the Christians of old, but is now generally lost, with most of the principles of practical obedience, especially those which concern our mutual edification, as if they had never been prescribed in the Gospel.

The duties themselves which they are thus mutually to provoke one another to are love and good works; and they are placed by the Apostle in their proper order; for love is the spring and fountain of all acceptable good works. Of mutual love among believers, which is that here intended, as to the nature and causes of it, and motives to it, I have treated at large Chap. 6. The good works intended are those which are most commendable and praiseworthy, such as are most useful to others, such as whereby the Gospel is most exalted; works proceeding from the shining light of truth, whereon God is glorified.

1. The mutual watch of Christians in the particular societies whereof they are members is a duty necessary to the preservation of the profession of the faith.

2. A due consideration of the circumstances, abilities, temptations and opportunities for duties in one another is required hereunto.

3. Diligence, or mutual exhortation to Gospel duties, that men on all grounds of reason and example may be provoked to them, is required of us, and is a most excellent duty, which in an especial manner we ought to attend to.