Let’s Talk About 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 — You Have To Work To Eat!

Scripture: “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.”

‭‭2 Thessalonians ‭3‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

This blog post could go so many different ways, but this is how Ruach Holy Spirit guided me to go.

This scripture is Paul the Apostle, who is an Israelite belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, talking to the Thessalonians with a warning against idleness. Let’s stay in context, as we always should when reading scripture, but as you step back a couple of verses into verse 4, you will read where Paul is talking about what the Lord is concerning us all.

2 Thessalonians ‭3‬:4 says, "We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command." Paul is letting the Thessalonians know that they trust the Lord with full confidence in what is concerning them, that they will do what they ought to do and what is commanded of them to do, not on their own ability. Going into verses 5 & 6, 5 "Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us."

The transition goes back again, starting with the Lord directing their hearts into the love of YAH and into the patience of Christ... THEN a command is after Paul "withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us" because Paul then gives them the exact example he did to show that even if he commands, he commands and backs it up!

Now let's keep reading, 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 says: "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." If you read carefully, Paul is saying to them, "we hear," which means this was told by the Thessalonians and that they used the verbiage themselves. Paul is repeating back what they said and that these "busybodies," which, again, they consider disorderly, working not at all, are walking among them. Then Paul goes on to say in verse 11, "now them that are such" - in other words, those that you are calling disorderly "we command and exhort by our Lord Yahusha (Jesus) Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." Paul is saying, we still command and exhort, which means strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something, by who? our Lord Yahusha (Jesus) Christ. Now because that is so, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread and goes on to assure them, they even still eat their own bread when the Thessalonians think they are disorderly, working not at all. Paul made sure to add in there, with the quietness... they are still working!

For example, in cross-referencing, if you look at Genesis 49:14-15, it says, "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute." In the cross-referencing here for 'that with quietness they work,' the Tribe of Issachar is a strong masculine male that is being stretched out between a stall for cattle. Adding to that, Issachar comes in to observe and inspect that 'rest was good' here and also quietness to work because the land that was observed was also pleasant, which made Issachar incline out to his shoulder that was already holding the 'burdens' and bear that load and became a servant unto tribute.

That means the body of forced laborers (a person doing unskilled manual work for wages) task-workers, forced service, task-work. Issachar's name may also be read in two ways: either he is wages or for he brings wages.

Here are a few more scriptures that are connected cross-references: Proverbs 17:1 says "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of sacrifices with strife."; Ecclesiastes 4:4 says "Better is a handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit."; Ephesians 4:28 says "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;"; 1 Timothy 2:2 says "For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

In the beginning of verse 10, Paul says, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat." The way he says this first, before going in on what the Thessalonians said and what Paul heard them say, shows that in the end of verse 12, "and eat their own bread." is the result of trying to figure out if "busybodies" are good or bad. Paul also confirms they even eat their bread; in order to get bread (eat), you have to work!

I hope this helps you realize that when you analyze scripture and study as Yahuah (God) intends, with Ruach Holy Spirit beyond just meditating and reading, it reveals that it's acceptable to learn new things and let go of old ones. Did you relate to this?

What tribe are you from of the 12 tribes of Israel, Yahuah God STILL has purpose in this and everything connected. Thank you for reading my blog, there's more where this came from. Subscribe for more like this or purpose-driven business content.

Thanks,

Gabrielle Naomi

Subscribe