2 Timothy 2:24-25a

“The Lord's Servant and His Opponents”

(2 Timothy 2:24-25a, August 21, 2011)

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness.

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

Who is the Lord's servant? The Old Testament prophet Isaiah was given much light on that topic. He wrote several songs throughout his book of prophesy about the servant of the Lord. In some of those songs the servant seemed to be a group, even the whole nation of Israel. In others the servant was a singular person who would do a job for that larger nation, a representative accomplishing certain tasks that only he could do.

When Jesus came as the Servant of the Lord, He not only won for us our inclusion in the community of those who have been saved, He also made us to be servants of the Lord forever. Any representative of Jesus is not only a son of God according to his family status, he is also a servant according to God's purposes. As Isaiah became a servant by proclaiming the true word of the Lord, the Lord's servants today have a special responsibility to communicate a message faithfully.

This is not only a matter of content, but also of method. The Lord's servant speaks volumes by the way that he lives before God and people. A messenger of the cross must not be quarrelsome. God's kindness to us in Christ is so great. We obscure that message when we are unkind. God's servant must be kind to everyone. If he is unable to endure evil, how can he accurately represent the King who died on a cross for us? This way of life and speech is an important part of what it means for a Christian to be able to teach.

25 correcting his opponents with gentleness.

While we wait for the appearance of our blessed hope: the return of Christ, the coming judgment, the new heavens and earth... we cannot insist that the church be without opponents. It is a mercy that the Lord, who knows our weakness, brings us through a series of years where we have virtually no opposition. Even that respite has a purpose, that we might again remember His kindness to us if opponents return, and bear it well.

Those opponents can come from anywhere. We do not expect outsiders to the church to believe in the resurrection and to love the message of the gospel. Those outside the body of Christ may persecute us, but this is not the worst strain that a true servant of the Lord faces. It is a brother who turns against Jesus, a friend who we ate the bread of the communion table with over many years, who can strike the deepest blow.

Even then, the servant of the Lord must correct him with gentleness, not only for the sake of the one who is being corrected, but for his own soul and for the ears of all who hear this sad dialogue. The Lord's servant does not want to see anyone perish. He would like all to come to a saving knowledge of the truth. He is not wishing for anyone to leave the kingdom of God. If a Hymenaeus and Philetus will return to the truth, there will be rejoicing in heaven. This is the heart of the One who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. This must be the way for all servants of Jesus.