In everything give thanks
That is, to God the Father, in the name of Christ; see ( Ephesians
5:20 ) thanks are to be given to him for all things, as the
Ethiopic version renders it; for all temporal good things; for
our beings, the preservation of them; for food and raiment, and
all the mercies of life; for the means of grace, the word and
ordinances, and the ministers of the Gospel; for spiritual
blessings, for electing, redeeming, regenerating, adopting,
pardoning, justifying, and persevering grace: for a meetness for
heaven, a right unto it, and a good hope of it; and especially
for Jesus Christ, for such an husband, such an head, such a
surety and Saviour, and advocate with the Father, as he is; and
for life, peace, joy, comfort, righteousness, and salvation in
him: and thanks should be given to God in every circumstance of
life; in adversity, as Job did; when not in so comfortable and
agreeable a frame of soul as to be wished for, since it might be
worse, and is not black despair; even under the temptations of
Satan, since they might be greater and heavier, and since the
grace of God is sufficient to bear up under them, and deliver out
of them, and since there is such a sympathizing high priest and
Saviour; and in afflictions of every kind, since they are all for
good, temporal, or spiritual, or eternal.
For this is the will of God;
which may refer either to all that is said from ( 1
Thessalonians 5:11 ) to this passage, or particularly to this
of giving thanks; which is the revealed and declared will of God,
is a part of that good, perfect, and acceptable will of his, and
what is well pleasing in his sight, and grateful to him; see (
Psalms
69:30 Psalms 69:31
) and is
in Christ Jesus concerning you;
either declared in and by him, who has made known the whole of
the will of God, and so the Arabic version, "which he wills of
you by Jesus Christ"; or which is exemplified in Christ, who for,
and in all things, gave thanks to God, and had his will resigned
to his in every circumstance of life; or, which being done, is
acceptable to God through Christ. The Alexandrian copy reads,
"for this is the will of God towards you in Christ Jesus"; that
is, with respect to you who are in Christ secretly by election,
and openly by the effectual calling; and who, of all men in the
world, have reason to be thankful for everything, and in every
circumstance.