1 Thessalonians 2- a pure heart motive

In this article I share my thoughts on 1 Thessalonians 2, which is all about having a a pure heart motive.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor -- a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

When Paul and Silas spoke, their focus was on pleasing God who tries the hearts. What pleases God? A pure heart motive. Hence their encouragement of the Thessalonians was not for the purpose of deception. At no point did they use “flattering words” as a “cloak of covertness”. They was not trying to get money out of them. Neither were they seeking glory for themselves.

On the contrary, Paul said…

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

Nurse means “nourish” and cherish means to “make warm” thus we have here the image of a nursing mother, holding her child close.

Now let’s look at Galatians 4

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 …born after the Spirit…

Here we see that “Jerusalem which is above” is “mother" to all those “born after the spirit”.

Hebrews 12 sheds light on Galatians 4, by connecting “heavenly Jerusalem” to “the church of the first born”.

Hebrews 12

22 But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…

23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn…

Thus “the church” is a loving mother who gently nurses and cherishes her children. 

I nursed my own child till she was 3 1/2. 

I know a lot of woman struggle with breastfeeding for a variety of reasons. 

For one thing it’s VERY time consuming. You’re on baby time. 

Breast fed babies also wake up frequently at night. Its hard getting out of a nice warm bed in winter every few hours to sit in a chair and breastfeed your baby back to sleep.

Breast feeding can also be painful, straining your back and arms. 

Then there’s the physical closeness which is just too much for some woman.

However physical touch and eye contact are essential for a babies development. They learn that relationships are good. 

They develop a neural pathway between their limbic system and pre frontal cortex that enables them to regulate their emotions. 

Through breastfeeding both mother and baby release oxytocin known as the love hormone, that cements their bond. 

The milk itself is extremely nourishing, changing according to the child’s needs and preparing their stomach to digest solid food.

1 Peter 2

2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Babes in Christ need to be nursed with sincere words, foundational truths that nourish their inner-man.

Back in 1 Thessalonians 2, notice the warmth in these verses…

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Paul and Silas not only wished to impart the gospel to the Thessalonians but their own souls. 

Like a nursing mother they laboured “night and day”, imparting the gospel from a pure heart.

Let’s jump ahead to 1 Thessalonians 5 where Paul said…

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Then in Ephesians 4 we see similar words… 

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Forbearing 

430. ἀνέχω anéchō;…to bear up.

Like a nurse “makes warm” her children, “the church” bears up babes in Christ, nourishing them with the sincere milk of the word.

The church “mothers”, not for any selfish reason, but for the purpose of preparing her children to digest solid food and feed themselves.

1 Corinthians 13 

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

We all have access to the bible and if born-again, the holy spirit to guide us into all truth thus there is no excuse to remain perpetual babes in Christ. 

We need to graduate from milk to meat. Learn to feed ourselves and eventually others.

In conclusion,

The “mother of us all” (Galatians 4:26”), is the “church of the firstborn” (Hebrews  12:23).

Thus the “church” is a loving mother who “bears up”, nurses and cherishes her children until they’re able to digest solid food and feed themselves. The church mothers from a pure heart motive.