2 Thessalonians 3:7

7 We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.

2 Thessalonians 3:7 Meaning and Commentary

2 Thessalonians 3:7

For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us
The apostle goes on to dissuade from that which denominates persons disorderly walkers, and exposes them to the censure of the church, and that partly by the example of the apostles, and partly by their command. He appeals to them, to their knowledge and judgment, it being a thing well known to them, that they ought to walk as they had the apostles for ensamples; for who should they follow but their spiritual fathers, shepherds, and guides? and especially so far as they were followers of Christ, as they were, in the case referred unto, working with their own hands:

for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
they could appeal to them as witnesses, and God also, how holily, justly, and unblamably they walked among them; see ( 1 Thessalonians 2:10 ) and particularly, that they did not live an idle and inactive life among them.

2 Thessalonians 3:7 In-Context

5 May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God's love and Christ's endurance.

6 Our orders - backed up by the Master, Jesus - are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don't permit them to freeload on the rest.

7 We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it.

8 We didn't sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn't be burdened with taking care of us.

9 And it wasn't because we didn't have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.